With World Cup starts ahead of him, U.S. classic sprint champion Eric Packer talks about his successes this season and how he overcame a scary setback last June. "Everyone has to deal with adversity, what matters is how you respond," he explained.
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Continental Cup
Continental Cups are one step below the World Cup. Each year the top ranked male and female skiers in each Continental Cup series qualify to race on the World Cup. The use Continental Cup series is the SuperTour. The Canadian series is the Nor-Am.
Eastern Canadian Champs Recap: Somppi, Shields, Beatty, and Browne Top Podium
Gabby NaranjaFebruary 11, 2016
Eastern Canadian Championships drew nearly 800 racers in a FIS points race leading up to the Ski Tour Canada, and on the second and third days of racing last weekend, several top racers traded spots atop the podium. Michael Somppi handed Kevin Sandau his first distance loss, and Andy Shields won the classic mass start.
‘Fake It Until You Make It’, Flowers and Freeman First in Craftsbury SuperTour 10 k Classic
Gabby NaranjaFebruary 9, 2016
A few new competitors broke through on the second day of SuperTour racing in Craftsbury, Vt., in both the men's and women's 10 k classic event. In the women's race, Erika Flowers made a debut SuperTour win, while Liz Guiney and Julia Kern tied for second. Kris Freeman double poled to first in the men's race, ahead of two UVM skiers.
Crossing Off the List: Anne Hart, Paddy Caldwell Top Craftsbury SuperTour 5/10 k Freestyle
Gabby NaranjaFebruary 9, 2016
In the SuperTour 5 /10 k freestyle events this past Saturday held in Craftsbury, Vt., Anne Hart beat out Chelsea Holmes by less than three seconds for first, and Paddy Caldwell achieved his first victory of the season. "It was my first ever SuperTour win, so it's nice to cross that off the list,” Hart explained.
Browne Dominates M.S.A. NorAm Distance Weekend; NDC Thunder Bay Tops Men’s Races
Gerry FursethFebruary 2, 2016
Cendrine Browne used home-course advantage to command the women's classic individual start and freestyle pursuit last weekend at the NorAm at Mont Sainte-Anne, Quebec. She won the latter by nearly a minute and a half. Meanwhile, Bob Thompson led an NDC Thunder Bay podium sweep on Saturday, and Andy Shields skied away to the pursuit win on Sunday.
Norris Makes It a Double; Phinney and Patterson Take Wins at Lake Placid SuperTour
Kaitlyn PattersonFebruary 1, 2016
David Norris and Kelsey Phinney broke through on Day 1 of the Lake Placid SuperTour this past weekend in the Adirondacks of northern New York, while Caitlin Patterson rolled to another distance victory in the classic individual start on Day 2.
Photos from U.S. Nationals: Classic Sprint
FasterSkierJanuary 12, 2016
U.S. nationals in Houghton, Mich. concluded last weekend with the 1.5 k classic sprints on the Michigan Tech Trails. Here are a collection of photos recapping the final day of the 2016 championships. Special thanks to Christopher Schmidt.
Photos From U.S. Nationals: 20/30 k Mass Start
FasterSkierJanuary 8, 2016
An assortment of photos featuring some of the top moment's from Thursday's 20 and 30 k freestyle mass starts at 2016 U.S. nationals in Houghton, Mich.
Bender Steals the Show, Claims Third Sprint Title of Her Career Ahead of Hart
Kaitlyn PattersonJanuary 4, 2016
Jennie Bender was the fastest of the day in every sense possible at U.S. nationals on Monday, winning the skate-sprint qualifier followed by her quarterfinal, semifinal and ultimately, the final by 0.61 seconds over Anne Hart. Runner-up Hart achieved a career-best result, and Caitlin Patterson secured her second-straight podium in Houghton.
Patterson Siblings Dominate First Day of U.S. Nationals, Tally 10/15 k Classic Titles
Kaitlyn PattersonJanuary 3, 2016
After her brother Scott Patterson won the opening race of U.S. nationals on Sunday, the men's 15 k classic, Caitlin Patterson joked that she had to match him. "That was encouraging, but also a little bit of competition," she said. Both rose to the top spot of their respective men's and women's podiums.
For the second year in a row, U.S. Cross Country Championships are being hosted in Houghton, Mich. While the snow situation hasn't been ideal, organizers are optimistic for the week of races, which starts Sunday: “The conditions are really nice. ... It is really mid-season form," said Chief of Competition Jim Tervo.
Jump, ski, repeat. That was the mantra in Park City and Midway, Utah, last weekend as some of the world’s best nordic combined skiers converged for a series of three Continental Cup races. Taylor Fletcher placed third, second and finally first to secure a fifth quota spot for the U.S. team at the World Cup.
The Sovereign Lake NorAm wrapped up on Sunday with the women's 10 k and men's 15 k freestyle distance races. Both race winners, Dahria Beatty and Kevin Sandau said it was a good way to end 2015.
The NorAm opened with three races in four days in Canmore, Alberta, with two distance races on short loops -- one of which the men double poled. Kevin Sandau won the first two men's races, and another Alberta World Cup Academy skier, Dahria Beatty won the women's skate mass start and classic sprint on days 2 and 3.
With a tough psyche and plenty of team support, Chelsea Holmes raced to her first win of the season during the women's SuperTour 10 k classic mass start on Sunday in Sun Valley, Idaho, ahead of APU teammate Becca Rorabaugh in second and Craftsbury's Caitlin Patterson in third.
Patterson Drops Pack for Sun Valley 15 k Win; Strøm Outlasts Packer for 2nd
Austin CobbDecember 7, 2015
After rebounding from separate scary incidents, APU's Scott Patterson and Eric Packer showed their desire to be back on top of the SuperTour, placing first and third in Sunday's 15 k classic mass start in Sun Valley. Patterson won by more than 30 seconds and CU's Mads Strøm edged Packer for second.
Rorabaugh Strides to Sun Valley Sprint Win, Holds Off Craftsbury’s Miller and Patterson
Austin CobbDecember 6, 2015
On a bluebird day in Sun Valley, APU's Becca Rorabaugh skied to her strengths to win the women's SuperTour classic sprint final, while Craftsbury skiers Kaitlynn Miller and Caitlin Patterson fed off their teammates' success to round out the podium in second and third.
Sun Valley Videos: Chatting with USST Rookies Kern and Ogden (+ Sprint Course Preview)
Gabby NaranjaDecember 4, 2015
FasterSkier sat down with the youngest members of the U.S. Ski Team, the Stratton Mountain School's Julia Kern and Katharine Ogden, both 18, to talk about their training seasons and outlook, and Kern helped us preview the Sun Valley SuperTour classic sprint.
With plenty of shovels and smiles, the Sun Valley crew is working hard to make both SuperTour races happen at the Lake Creek trails. "Putting the work in here gives the athletes an opportunity to test themselves appropriately on the kinds of courses that they need to be prepared to ski on," SVSEF Nordic Director Rick Kapala explains.
Bonus Photos from West Yellowstone SuperTour
FasterSkierDecember 2, 2015
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.