Where does the development of a strong ski program begin? U.S. Ski Team Development Coach Bryan Fish talks about the importance of engaging youth in nordic skiing. "Keep them moving and keep them active, keep challenging them, that’s what brings them back," Fish said last week in West Yellowstone, Mont.
The 2015 Crested Butte Thanksgiving Camp took place last week, Nov. 26-29. Here are a collection of photos from this year's event.
20-year-old Sean Doherty surprised himself by breaking into the World Cup points in a race he doesn't consider a favored format - yet there he was, attacking his way to 17th place. Lowell Bailey was close behind in 24th and Nathan Smith led Canada in 27th.
Ole Einar Bjørndalen swore that this would be his last season - and after missing six weeks of training due to illness, he had doubts whether he would make Norway's World Championships team. But the 41-year-old is back and won big on the World Cup, and now teammates and competitors are wondering if he has another Olympics in him.
Top skiers' message to world leaders: we want to keep having winter, so make a legally-binding climate agreement. And the message to ski fans? Andy Newell says: "We need to get on the backs of the guys and women in the U.S. who make these decisions, and put some pressure on them.”
The first SuperTour races of the season have come and gone in West Yellowstone, but this photo gallery captures the essence of much of the racing -- including some shots that didn't make it into the race recaps.
Brian Gregg won't be racing the SuperTour this weekend in Sun Valley, Idaho, and shooting for the overall SuperTour lead for Period 1. Instead, he's already been awarded a World Cup start in Davos, the 30 k skate, on Dec. 12.
Is Norway taking advantage of a partnership get around new FIS rules limiting the number of team staff allowed on course? Or is Great Britain actually taking advantage of them, to get more expert wax testing? Either way, FIS says that a new partnership that rubs Sweden the wrong way is a-okay.
What's hot this winter? FasterSkier took inventory of some of the latest gear and equipment displayed at this year's West Yellowstone Expo, including seamless suits, Kikkan poles and Diggins-designed race wear.
Regardless of when winter officially starts, it's here as far as the ski world is concerned, and there's a lot to be excited about in North American racing. Canadian biathletes Rosanna Crawford and Nathan Smith jumped out to a relay podium in the first IBU World Cup race, and Canadian cross-country skier Alex Harvey took second in the men's 10 k skate in Kuusamo, Finland, for his first early season podium.
Rosanna Crawford has been shooting for the World Cup podium for a long time now. And on the first day of the season, she got there, along with teammate Nathan Smith. "It feels amazing," she said. "I feel so lucky to share the podium with my teammate who I’ve trained with for so long."
Martin Johnsrud Sundby didn't waste any time squashing the field on Sunday in the final stage of the Ruka Triple and won the men's 15 k classic pursuit by 44.7 seconds over a late-charging Petter Northug. Canada's Alex Harvey started sixth and ended up seventh for his best finish in the Kuusamo mini tour.
Whatever Sadie Bjornsen was doing the first lap of Sunday's 10 k classic pursuit wasn't working for her, so she revamped and tackled the final three laps with a whole new attitude. "I gave myself a little smacking and realized I had to make my opportunity today," she said after placing 14th in the Ruka Triple for her best overall finish in Kuusamo, Finland.
Despite a rocky start, Canada's Rosanna Crawford and Nathan Smith rose through the field to capture second place in the World Cup single mixed relay in Östersund, Sweden, the first competition of the World Cup season.
As Norway raced to another relay win thanks to near-perfection by Johannes and Tarjei Bø, Canada and the United States finished ninth and tenth in the four-person mixed relay in Östersund, Sweden.
Longtime friends Brian Gregg and Matt Liebsch took the top-two SuperTour podium spots in Saturday's 15 k freestyle, while Scott Patterson (APU) finished third his first time racing in West Yellowstone.
Katharine Ogden didn't realize what kind of race she was having, or how close she was to winning, until she saw her coach at the bottom of the last climb in Saturday's SuperTour 10 k skate. There, she kept Chelsea Holmes in her sight and beat the veteran skier by 1.8 seconds.
It was a fight for every second in the women’s 5-kilometer freestyle on Saturday. Sadie Bjornsen led the U.S. women in 14th and teammate Jessie Diggins was less than two seconds back in 16th. “The difference between a good race and your best race ever here can be ten seconds,” U.S. coach Matt Whitcomb explained.
After today's 5 k skate in Kuusamo, Finland, Therese Johaug laughed remembering how short races used to be such a weak point for her. Not anymore: the Norwegian skied to a dominating 17.6-second victory over Charlotte Kalla of Sweden. That's 2% back in an 11-minute race.
Alex Harvey enjoyed the leader's chair for quite some time during Saturday's 10 k freestyle, the second race of the Ruka Triple World Cup. He ended up second to Martin Johnsrud Sundby, but the Canadian was pleased with his podium in a hilly skate race, especially in the first distance race of the season.