Earlier this week, just two days after returning to Europe, Andy Newell realized he had a problem. His elbow was the size of an orange and so painful that he needed to go to a hospital. After an overnight stay at a second, larger hospital, Newell's bacterial infection is on the mend and he's confident he'll be ready to go for next weekend's World Cup opener.
Five days after Biathlon Canada’s team selection time trials, Biathlon Canada finalized its team for Trimester 1 of IBU World Cup racing. National-team members Megan Tandy and Sarah Beaudry secured the final two spots on the women’s squad, joining their teammates Rosanna Crawford and Julia Ransom. "I am really excited to head to Europe and improve on my performances from trials," Beaudry explained.
Canadian biathlete Scott Gow has been harder on himself than ever in training this year. Will it pay off? Well, in 50 years, the World Championships bronze medalist will be a "rich baller who can ski wherever I want."
Adam Loomis on the benefits of doing nordic combined: "Cooking (and eating) are honestly some one of my favorite activities. Fortunately, I’m not a special jumper." He's been training with his younger brother Ben and focusing on speed in cross-country skiing.
On Tuesday, Biathlon Canada posted its final roster for the first trimester of the IBU World Cup, IBU Cup and Jr. IBU Cup. Two women, Megan Tandy and Sarah Beaudry, recently secured their spots on the World Cup team.
Joanne Reid's approach to off-season training, and life: "All of those things were my favorite thing to do in that moment, so I did them." She's headed to compete on the World Cup for the U.S. biathlon team this season.
Devon Kershaw was the lone Canadian with the option to compete last Sunday in Gällivare, Sweden, after the race dates were rescheduled. While the field was small, he explained it was a great opportunity "to put a bib on and blow out the cobwebs."
Paddy Caldwell of the Stratton Mountain School and Dartmouth College is looking forward to giving U23 racing one last hurrah at Soldier Hollow this winter. "I think my top-end speed has improved since last year," he explains.
Citing poor air quality which irritated airways, a Norwegian team doctor says he provided competitors with asthma medication at Junior and U23 World Championships in Romania last season. But American and Canadian competitors and coaches do not remember having such problems, and expressed surprise that such medications were being given to young athletes with no medical history of asthma.
In Finland to get in some race time before the World Cup begins, Ida Sargent of the U.S. Ski Team and Craftsbury finished ninth in the classic sprint in Muonio. Teammate Caitlin Patterson placed 16th and Sargent 19th in the 5k classic the next day.
The previously scheduled rally to #savealaskaskiing suddenly became more a celebration than a wake, as local supporters gathered in Anchorage on Thursday afternoon to celebrate that morning’s decision and talk about what comes next. Another gathering was held in Fairbanks at the same time.
After finishes of 11th and 12th at last year's World Junior Championships, nordic combined athlete Jasper Good is focusing on the jumps while he transitions to more senior competition categories. And - "I started taking classes at the University of Utah, got to start sometime!"
After hosting IBU World Championships last season and thinking ahead to the 2018 Olympics, the Norwegian biathlon team is in sort of an "in-between season" as Norwegian Biathlon Association President Erlend Slokvik described. Still, its men's and women's teams are aiming for the top-two overall come next March.
#savealaskaskiing may have achieved its mission, as the NCAA’s decision not to take any action on the University of Alaska’s waiver request has led the school’s president to recommend against eliminating any sports on either campus.
With the IBU season opening this weekend with preseason races in Sjusjøen, Norway, FasterSkier contributor Aleks Tangen checked out the venue and spoke with some of the movers and shakers at the venue.
After addressing various back issues and logging a solid summer of training, Biathlon Canada's Brendan Green, who turned 30 last week, feels ready to go for the 2016/2017 IBU World Cup season.
Soldier Hollow and Park City are as ready as they're going to be to host the first Junior/U23 World Championships in the U.S. in 31 years. “If we did nothing from now to January 30, facility-wise, we’re ready to go,” Greg Porier said in early August. “If athletes showed up tomorrow, we’re ready.”
U.S. biathlete Lowell Bailey joined the new-parent club this year - and is finding ways to take his daughter, Ophelia, on training runs and skis with him.
After top-20 individual finishes at the last two World Junior Championships, Torchia is moving into the U23 category and pumped up to do it in Utah: "Time to defend our home turf from the Russians and Norwegians."
UAA nordic coach Andrew Kastning may have a new baby and a new job search arrive at the same time next spring. His athletes may need to apply to college again for the second time in two years. Behind the dollars and cents, the human cost of the proposed end of UAA skiing.