While the $1,200 check for the winner of each race isn’t anything to complain about, the real prize awaiting competitors at the end of the 2010 U.S. Nationals isn’t the money. Instead, it’s a spot on the U.S. team for the Olympic Games in Whistler, which kick off a little more than a month from now. Currently, the U.S.’s quota for the Games stands at eight, and just who gets the last few positions (most...
After four years in college, Simi Hamilton isn’t supposed to know how to sprint. Try telling that to Mike Hinckley. With 500 meters to go in the freestyle sprint at Kincaid Park in Anchorage, Hinckley made a huge move on the field, passing Hamilton on the outside of the last significant hill on the course. After finishing second last year, it looked like Hinckley had this one in the bag. But on the ensuing downhill,...
If Kikkan Randall had noticed that the laces on her ski boots had come loose in the middle of her sprint qualifying round, she probably would have had time to stop and re-tie them without losing a single spot on the result sheet. On a cold morning at Kincaid Park in Anchorage, Randall demonstrated the blazing speed that earned her second place at the World Ski Championships last year in the Czech Republic, winning the...
ANCHORAGE – With two days two go before the opening of the 2010 U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships in Anchorage, Alaska, FasterSkier brings you a preview of the 1.4/1.5km freestyle sprint course where the racing will unfold on Saturday, the first day of competition. Mike Hinckley gives the tour of the course. An Anchorage native, Hinckley spent his last four years skiing for Denver University, earning second-team All-American honors at the NCAA Championships last year...
Christmas has come and gone, and the next phase of the season is just around the corner. The Cross-Country World Cup continues with the Tour de Ski, starting on January 1st in Oberhof, Germany. The first three events of the Tour are in Oberhof – the Prologue, a 10/15km classical pursuit and a classic sprint. The Nordic Combined World Cup also picks up in Oberhof, overlapping with the Tour. Two competitions are on the 2nd...
CANMORE, Alta.—Canada’s Brian McKeever has done his part, and is ready for an opportunity to hit the start line at Whistler Olympic Park in February and ski into the history books as the first-ever athlete to compete at the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The 30-year-old McKeever won the men’s 50-kilometre Haywood NorAm individual start classic-ski race in convincing fashion on Tuesday which boosts his chances of securing a spot on Canada’s Olympic Cross-Country Ski...
After completing one of her best seasons of racing last winter, Dasha Gaiazova has continued to build on her success this winter. She has been tearing up the Continental Cup this season, standing on the podium in every race she has entered by taking 1st place four times, 2nd place twice, and 3rd place twice. Though sprinting is her strongest suit – all her wins so far this season and all her top World Cup races last year were...
The third race in the Hayward NorAms, a 30/50km individual start classic, took place this morning at the Canmore Nordic Center. Madeleine Williams won the women’s race by almost 30 seconds over Brittany Webster. Dasha Gaiazova, who has won the two previous sprint races this weekend, was third, two minutes behind Williams. In the men’s race Brian McKeever topped the field with a comfortable 1 minute, 12 second margin. Brent McMurtry and Kevin Sandau rounded out the podium in second...
At this weekend’s NorAms in Canmore Drew Goldsack and Stefan Kuhn were able to sprint their way to victory – Kuhn in Saturday’s classic sprint and Goldsack in Sunday’s classic sprint – all but ensuring a spot on the Canadian Olympic Team. Kuhn will also race in the third NorAm held this morning, a 50km classic race. Watch for Kuhn to be a contender, as he has proven himself strong at this event by winning the 50 km...
Canmore, Alberta – Drew Goldsack and Daria Gaiazova dominated the NorAm classic sprint qualifier this morning. Goldsack skied to a stunning 6.36 victory over Mark Iversen (APU/Rossignol). Gaiazova was a just-as-impressive 6.16 seconds up on second place qualifier Perianne Jones. Complete Qualification results are now available on-line. The top 30 advance to this afternoon’s heats. Men’s NorAm Classic Sprint – Results
Canadians swept the finals in both the mens and womens finals of the Haywood NorAm sprint with the exception of Laura Valaas (US) who placed 6th and was the only US skier in the top 10. In the men’s race Stefan Kuhn outsprinted his competition for the top of the podium. Drew Goldsack and Sean Crooks followed in second and third, respectively. Mark Iverson was the first US skier, in 7th. The women’s race saw a...
Canmore, Canada – With Olympic spots on the line, Stefan Kuhn and Daria Gaiazova started the day on the right note, winning the classic sprint qualifier at the Canmore Nordic Center. Gaiazova posted her usual strong qualification, besting runner-up Shayla Swanson by 3 seconds. Canada took the top 7 spots, with Laura Valaas (APU) in 8th. Kuhn was 1.5 seconds ahead of fellow Canadian Drew Goldsack. Favorite Garrott Kuzzy (USST/CXC Team Vertical Limit) qualified 7th....
Yet another big weekend of racing is already underway, with a Nordic Combined World Cup this morning. In addition to two more NoCo races, you can take your pick of World Cup XC, World Cup Biathlon, NorAm sprints, and US Biathlon World Team Trials. Add to that a bevy of regional events and if it was on cable, your weekend would be set. Just a quick overview this week… World Cup Cross-Country The cross-country World...
An excellent video form Team Homegrown of them men’s SuperTour races in Bozeman. Worth watching just to see how dominant Garrott Kuzzy was in the sprint.
Vernon, BC – Phil Widmer and Daria Gaiazova displaced the Americans at the top of the NorAm podium, winning the freestyle sprint at the Silver Star resort today. Widmer, who qualified 11th edged Garrott Kuzzy (USST/CXC Team Vertical Limit) in a photo finish to take the men’s crown. Sean Crooks (CAN) was third, giving the Canadian men 2 of the top 3 spots, a day after getting shutout by the Americans. In the women’s race,...
Vernon, BC – Simi Hamilton and Daria Gaiazova (CNT) posted the fastest qualifying times in today’s NorAm freestyle sprint. Gaiazova was an impressive 5.2 seconds ahead of the second qualifier, Laura Valaas (APU). Holly Brooks (APU) was third, just .4 seconds behind Valaas. Mike Sinnott (SVSEF) took the second seed for the men, and SuperTour leader, Garrott Kuzzy (USST/CXC Team Vertical Limit) was third. Women’s Top 30 Daria Gaiazova Laura Valaas Holly Brooks Heidi Widmer...
Pro North American racing continued today at Silver Star Resort in Vernon, BC. Holly Brooks (APU) won the womens' race just 8 seconds in front of Canadian Dasha Gaiazova. American Rebecca Dussault (CXC/Team Vertical Limit) took the last podium spot in third. On the mens' side Garrot Kuzzy (USST/CXC Team Vertical Limit) finished in first place 50 seconds in front of second place finisher James Southam (APU), with Math Liebsch in third.
Silver Star, British Columbia – Holly Brooks (APU) stayed hot, winning her fourth Continental Cup race of the season. Daria Gaiazova cemented her spot as the top Canadian on the CC circuit, finishing 2nd. Rebecca Dussault (CXC Team Vertical Limit) was 3rd. Brooks has four victories in six starts, as well as a 2nd and a 4th. Women’s 10km Freestyle NorAm – Top 10 1. Holly Brooks 2. Daria Gaiazova 3. Rebecca Dussault 4. Madeleine...
Silver Star, British Columbia – Garrott Kuzzy (USST/CXC Team Vertical Limit) was back on top of the Continental Cup podium after sitting out the last race to train. James Southam (Atomic/APU) followed up last week’s victory in Bozeman with a strong 2nd today. Matt Leibsch (CXC Team Vertical Limit) was 3rd, his first podium finish of the season. Kuzzy continues to dominate the North American Continental Cup circuit, winning his 4th race in five starts. ...
