The 2008-2009 ski season gets its official start for the us Ski Team, when sprinters Andy Newell, Torin Koos, and Chris Cook line up for an FIS classic sprint. The team arrived in Muonio, Finland on Monday after an exhausting trip (see TeamToday.org). The plan is for all three of the male sprinters to race, if they are recovered from the travel and healthy.
The sprint is followed by consecutive days of 15km races – classic on Saturday and Freestyle on Sunday. Kris Freeman is currently scheduled to race the freestyle event, and some of the sprinters may also race in one of the distance competitions.
Kikkan Randall will not be joining the team until the second World Cup stop in Kuusaamo, Finland.
Start lists are not available for the Muonio FIS races, but the field is said to include members of the German, Finnish, and Russian National Teams. The Norweigan team will not have a presence as Norway hosts the traditional early season Beitostolen FIS races. The weekend starts with a freestyle sprint tomorrow – most of the big Norweigan names are competing, and several top Swiss skiers will join them. Competition continues over the weekend with a 10/15km freestyle on Saturday and a 5/10km classic on Sunday.
 on the World Cup last season (Photo: FasterSkier)</font></center></p>
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