There was no shortage of excitement in the women's 10 k freestyle at the 2015 U.S. Cross Country Championships on Sunday, as Caitlin Gregg earned her first win of the season after returning from Europe. It wasn't without contest, however, as a strong APU team of Rosie Brennan, Chelsea Holmes, and Jessica Yeaton were also in the hunt.
Since Scott Patterson (APU) was impaled by Erik Bjornsen's ski in October he has dealt with a surgery, pulmonary embolism, and a long recovery. Despite facing what looked to be a season-ending string of health issues, Patterson is racing at U.S. Nationals in Houghton and looking to see what he can do.
When Holly Brooks traveled to Livigno, Italy, the former U.S. Ski Team member was focused on the La Sgambeda 42 k freestyle that marked the first FIS Marathon Cup race of the season. As fate would have it, however, Brooks exited the weekend as a member of a professional Norwegian team, Team Santander, alongside famed skier Anders Aukland, wax tech Magnar Dale, and manager Nils Marius Otterstad.
The USST was ready to make some big moves Sunday when five of its athletes had strong qualification in the 1.4 k freestyle sprint in Davos, Switzerland. However, with four of five athletes crashing, the American squad was left wanting more. Kikkan Randall led the day in 9th, making her first semifinal appearance of the year. “It was a weird start to the season so I'm glad to be feeling like I am coming back,” she said of the day.
Liz Stephen entered Saturday’s 10 k freestyle in Davos, Switzerland with a goal of placing in the top-10. While she missed her target by 4.9 seconds and earned a 12th place on the day, the result was a promising step for the 27-year-old as she continues to improve with every race.
Anders Gløersen had planned to sit out Saturday’s World Cup 15-kilometer freestyle interval start in Davos, Switzerland in order to rest for Sunday’s sprint. However, as fate would have it, several teammates came down with illness and Gløerson was placed on the start list. It turns out fate was in the Norwegian’s favor, as he earned his first World Cup distance victory in convincing fashion.
American Caitlin Gregg had big plans to before heading to the World Cup this winter as the SuperTour leader, with qualification for World Championships at the top of the list. Disappointed in her results the last two weekends, she's got one more World Cup weekend then will try to make a statement at U.S. nationals.
While Bryan Fletcher's strategy didn't pan out in Sunday's Nordic Combined World Cup 10 k in Lillehammer, Norway, he was able to earn the second fastest time to place eighth overall. The result was his best since January, 2014.
Alex Harvey skied a strong 15 k pursuit Sunday to improve his standing to tenth in the Lillehammer World Cup mini tour. Teammates Ivan Babikov and Devon Kershaw overcame low rankings to place 28th and 41st, leaving the Canadians confident but wanting more as they prepare for newt weekend's World Cup races in Davos, Switzerland.
Jessie Diggins demonstrated that the US Ski Team still has what it takes to post a top result Saturday as she skied to 15th place in the World Cup 5 k freestyle interval start in Lillehammer, Norway. Along with Sadie Bjornsen and Liz Stephen, Diggins broke into the top-30 to set up the women's team for strong results in Sunday's classic pursuit.
The USST came up short in Friday's freestyle sprint in the first stage of the Lillehammer World Cup mini tour, with only one skier qualifying for the heats. Despite lack of results from the team as a whole, Sadie Bjornsen demonstrated that her training is paying off after placing 16th in qualification and 21st overall.
U.S. Ski Team Head Coach Chris Grover was in West Yellowstone for the first time in nine years last week, and FasterSkier checked in with him to get his take on the races. "This is my first time actually seeing the younger athletes in particular, so it’s exciting to see who’s coming up," he explained.
Saturday's 10/15 k freestyle individual starts marked the final day of racing in the SuperTour opener in West Yellowstone, Mont. In the men's race it was a game of strategy which ultimately favored Matt Gelso (SVSEF), who won the race by 9.6 seconds of Brian Gregg (Team Gregg/Madshus).
SuperTour racing began Friday with a 1.5 k freestyle sprint in West Yellowstone, Mont. With warm temperatures and strong winds, two Canadians, Heidi Widmer and Alysson Marshall, were able to top the American women's field led by Jennie Bender.
How will domestic skiers qualify for World Championships? Who's racing this year? What an we expect from the 2015 SuperTour? To answer these questions and more here is FasterSkier's SuperTour preview, which gives you and in-depth look at how competition will shape up on the domestic front.
As excitement grows for the first World Cup races in Kuusamo, Finland, the U.S. Ski Team stands as one of the most talented and experienced teams America has ever fielded. While only time will tell if the team can live up to their own high expectations, our World Cup preview aims to give you an update and some insight into this U.S. team.
While the Yellowstone Ski Festival is a time for team bonding, catching up with old racing buddies, and improving fitness and technique, it’s also a celebration of the nordic community. People of West Yellowstone gives insight into the people who make this yearly event truly special, whether they are nationally acclaimed athletes or employees at our favorite local businesses.
This week's Wednesday Workout comes from West Yellowstone, where skiers are adjusting to altitude in order to prepare for Friday and Saturday's SuperTour races. FasterSkier caught up with the Montana State University Ski Team as they did their first Level 4 workout since arriving in West Yellowstone.
While the Yellowstone Ski Festival is a time for team bonding, catching up with old racing buddies, and improving fitness and technique, it’s also a celebration of the nordic community. People of West Yellowstone gives insight into the people who make this yearly event truly special, whether they are nationally acclaimed athletes or employees at our favorite local businesses.
As the Far West Elite Team heads into the 2014/2015 season, self-described program "recruiter" Martin Benes and team manager Roger Chaney reflect on the development of the team over the past four years.