For the U.S. Biathlon Association (USBA), the winter of 2010 was one of ups and downs. High points included Tim Burke’s podium performances in the early season, which culminated with his donning of the yellow bib of World Cup overall leader after a race in Slovenia. The Olympics were less successful, with Jeremy Teela’s ninth-place leading the way—but the team’s dissatisfaction with a single top-ten is a testament to how far the program has come...
From strippers to Cirque Du Soleil, there’s a lot to see in Las Vegas. But one spectacle setting up for this July is strange even by Sin City’s standards: a rollerski race between Olympic gold medalists Petter Northug (NOR) and Marcus Hellner (SWE). “Hopefully this will be something new in Las Vegas,” said Alex Øystå, editor-in-chief of the Norwegian magazine Vi Menn. “I don’t know how many people use skis there, but I guess not...
Polish cross-country skier Kornelia Marek has been banned for two years by the Polish Ski Federation. Marek tested positive for the banned substance EPO following the women’s 4x5km relay at the Olympics. Marke skied very well at the Olympics – a level above anything she had done before. Following a positive A sample, Marek denied any wrongdoing, but has now issued an apology to her fans and has stated her intention to race at the...
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that all three cities applying to become candidates to host the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in 2018 have submitted their responses to the IOC Candidature Acceptance Procedure questionnaire. Annecy (FRA), Munich (GER) and PyeongChang (KOR) all had until 15th March to submit their files to the IOC headquarters in Lausanne and met the deadline. The completed questionnaire provides the IOC with an overview of each Applicant City’s project...
Before the NBC video feed of the cross-country skiing events at the 2010 Vancouver Games reaches a single American household, it must first flow through a cramped, spare, six by eight foot room perched above the bleachers at Whistler Olympic Park. Inside, off two small monitors, is where announcers Al Trautwig and Chad Salmela call the action, with the help of their three producers and researchers. No room for lunchboxes—those are outside the door. Fifty...
As writers and commentators deconstructed the decision to sit Brian McKeever in the men’s 50 k classic on Sunday, the four Canadians in the race got down to business. It wasn’t a good day for Alex Harvey and Ivan Babikov, who were dropped from the lead pack early on. But Devon Kershaw and George Grey had a pair of strong performances, skiing at the front and asserting the team’s status as a force to be...
Whistler, British Columbia – The US men’s cross-country ski team concluded a disappointing Olympics with two very different performances in the 50km classic. Kris Freeman, who inexplicably struggled the entire Games, dropped out after 20 kilometers. He spent the first 15km with the lead pack, but was always at the back, hanging on. He lost contact, and with a month of World Cup racing potentially ahead, he opted to save his body. “My coaches said...
Whistler, British Columbia – With five k to go before the finish of the men’s 50 k classic Sunday morning, the front of the pack looked remarkably similar to the way it did five k from the start. Dario Cologna (SUI), Petter Northug, (NOR), Alexander Legkov (RUS)—all the heavy hitters were there. It wasn’t until 400 meters to go that things really started heating up, when Germany’s Axel Teichmann threw down a hard attack, stringing...
Whistler, British Columbia – And so it all comes to an end. Two weeks after the first 2010 Olympics cross-country ski race, the final event is just over an hour away – the men’s 50km classic. The weather is better today – but only in relative terms. Instead of the heavy downpour of yesterday, the rain can be characterized as a light drizzle. Conditions are slow again, and ski switching will again play a major...
As much as anyone might begrudge Team Canada coaches Dave Wood and National Inge Braten’s decision to sit Brian McKeever in Sunday’s 50 k classic, it’s hard to disagree with the fact that the two were presented with an agonizing choice. While starting McKeever would have meant making history—the Canadian would have been the first athlete to compete in both the winter Olympics and Paralympics—it also would have meant holding a potential medal contender out...
Saturday’s race at Whistler Olympic Park was about 20 times as long as Kikkan Randall’s best distance. But no matter: the Alaskan more known for her sprinting put in another outstanding performance Saturday in the 30 k classic, finishing 24th—a career-best in the event. It was Randall’s first time competing in the long-distance race at the Games, and only her third time racing over 15 k on the World Cup. Coming into the Games, she...
Whistler, British Columbia – A combination of relatively extreme weather and the ability to switch skis mid-race led to an interesting wax day in the women’s 30km classic. Wax techs were kept busy during the races testing skis, while racers were faced with tactical decisions of whether or not to take the time to switch. Skiers were allowed to switch up to three times during the race, and could do so only in the “pit”...
Whistler, British Columbia – Pouring rain, heavy snow, back to pouring rain, classic Whistler weather, and no one was more happy than Justyna Kowalczyk. She plowed her way through the muck to earn the first Polish gold in Olympic cross-country ski history. Kowalczyk’s Olympics to date had hardly been poor. She won the silver in the sprint, bronze in the pursuit, and skied well in the 15km, and has made no bones about the fact...
Tomorrow we will leave Whistler for Vancouver. Therefore, this will be the last blog of the 2010 Olympic Games. In summary, it remains to be said that the organizers have provided us with a really decent games. They were well organized with motivated and friendly volunteers who always made one feel more than welcome. The Olympic Games are something special for every athlete and participation alone is an experience which remains unforgettable. Regarding the results,...
Whistler, British Columbia – Heavy falling snow and the ability to swap skis during the race await the field in the final women’s cross-country ski race of the 2010 Olympic Games. 55 women will take to the start line in the 30 km classic mass start event at Whistler Olympic Park. Despite the absence of two of the top skiers, the race should be hotly contested over the 3x10km course. Petra Majdic (SLO), who has...
There are very few athletes in the U.S. brimming with potential like Simi Hamilton. With a national championship in the skate sprint, a win in the qualifying round of the same event at the U-23 World Championships (punctuated by an
With all of the serious commentary and discussion that revolves around the Olympics we thought it might be useful to lighten things up for a moment. Every Olympics new product is revealed on this largest of international stages, among them are the uniforms worn by the athletes. In our sport the race suits have very practical purposes, but we are not considering those at this time. This is all about fashion! So what are the...
Whistler, British Columbia – Olympic biathlon racing comes to a close today with the final event of the 2010 Olympic Games, the men’s 4×7.5km relay. More so than any other event, good shooting is critical to success in the relay, and strong performances are needed form all four athletes. In the biathlon relay, each skier gets three extra shots per shooting stage. This means a biathlete has eight bullets to hit five targets. The catch,...
Today I dedicate my blog to two sports that so far we have reported on very little. Snowboard and Nordic combined. Today was the last competition in the Nordic combined. The American team had very high ambitions to win the team competition yesterday conducted. In their eyes winning the silver medal was a disappointment. This shows what the team has for high ambitions. They were here on a clear mission for gold. Today, the dream...
Whistler, British Columbia – The US relay teams did not distinguish themselves in the overall standings, but that was not unexpected. The men’s team featured four athletes who are usually considered sprinters, and the women’s team three Olympic rookies. So there were few expectations for a top overall result, though on the right day, the women could have battled for the top-8. Despite the men finishing 13th of 14 teams, and the women 11th out...