World Cup Period II starts on Saturday when the Tour de Ski kicks off in Oberhoff, Germany. FasterSkier takes a quick look at the Red Group rankings heading into the next World Cup period.
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Information about the United States Ski Team.
After a slow start to the season, the U.S. men have stepped up. Following Andy Newell's 5th place in the sprint, the distance skiers placed three in the top-30 and two in the top-10 in Sunday's skaithlon.
Sargent Bounces Back with top Skate Sprint Result, Bjornsen, Caldwell Continue to Roll
FasterSkierDecember 16, 2012
Ida Sargent earned her second top-10 result of the 2013 season, setting a personal best in a World Cup skate sprint. She was joined in the heats by teammates Sadie Bjornsen and Sophie Caldwell, both of whom had strong days.
Andy Newell made his second consecutive sprint finals appearance, following up a 5th in Quebec City with the same result in Canmore. Teammate Skyler Davis finished 24th for his first World Cup points.
Kikkan Randall nearly pulled off what appeared impossible — breaking away on the climbs and holding on to the lead in the women's skate sprint. Maiken Caspersen Falla responded and bested Randall in the homestretch.
Alex Harvey (CAN) and Kris Freeman (USA) recorded their best results of the season Thursday at the Alberta World Cup opener, a 15 k classic mass start, to build some confidence and lead their respective teams in Canmore.
Kikkan Randall turned in her best World Cup classic distance result, placing sixth in the 10 k mass start in Canmore. Teammates Sadie Bjornsen and Holly Brooks joined her in the top 30 while Liz Stephen and Jessie Diggins were late scratches.
If you watched last weekend’s Québec World Cup live via the USSA website, you’ll be happy to know that there’s more where that came from – potentially close to 20 more. In the immediate future, USSA will stream live footage from the Canmore World Cup, which includes races Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
For someone who’s never raced a World Cup individual skate sprint before, Sophie Caldwell of the Stratton Mountain School T2 Team didn’t show it. The 22-year-old placed 14th on Saturday, leading the rest of the U.S. women behind winner Kikkan Randall.
Randall’s Quebec Sprint Victory ‘One of the Coolest Things I’ve Ever Done’
Alex KochonDecember 8, 2012
With her sixth individual World Cup victory in the bag, Kikkan Randall says the novelty hasn't worn off. In fact, Saturday's 1.6 k freestyle sprint win will be one of her most memorable with one of the best crowds she's ever seen.
“Today is as good or better, probably, than I felt or finished in any sprint last year,” said U.S. sprinter Andy Newell after racing to fifth place in Quebec City on Saturday.
At the top of a hill in Quebec City on Friday were the parents and brother of American sprint star Kikkan Randall; nearby was a retired ski coach on his "fantasy tour" of the World Cup.
A team sprint win by Kazakhs Denis Volotka and Nikolay Chebotko was not what thousands of face-painted, flag-clad Canadians came to see Friday - but it was what they got.
The World Cup's transatlantic swing has upended the typical order on the circuit, and for the first time in years, North Americans will enjoy the perks of racing on their home turf.
For Gällivare Native and USST Head Serviceman Peter Johansson, Recognition Following Women’s Success
Chelsea LittleDecember 4, 2012
Inside the waxroom with Peter Johansson, who recently took over as the U.S. Ski Team's head of service after joining the staff in 2006. "I think he's one of the best wax techs out there," said Kikkan Randall, who has been working with him personally for years.
Hoffman Lone Bright Spot in Kuusamo Pursuit for US Men
FasterSkierDecember 3, 2012
Noah Hoffman (USA) wrapped up a breakthrough weekend of racing in Kuusamo, Finland, placing 26th in the Ruka Triple mini-tour. Hoffman's teammates did not fare as well, with Kris Freeman and Andy Newell both abandoning the race, and Tad Elliott and Sylvan Ellefson finishing toward the pack of the field.
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Weekend Roundup: More History, Norwegian Dominance, and World Cup Starts
Chelsea LittleDecember 3, 2012
Norway's Petter Northug and Marit Bjørgen won World Cup mini-tours, while Tora Berger swept three biathlon races; JP Le Guellec made history for Canada by winning a biathlon World Cup. In North America, exciting racing in Bozeman and Canmore helped national teams decide which athletes to send to the upcoming Quebec and Canmore World Cups.
The most successful member the US Nordic Combined Team so far this season, Bryan Fletcher shares some insight on Kuusamo, Finland, and what went down on the second weekend of World Cup competition.
The results keep rolling in. Kikkan Randall placed fifth to lead a quintet of American women in the top 25 of the Kuusamo mini-tour and send the team back to North America riding high.
Definitely Back, Randall Grabs Silver in Kuusamo 5 k Skate; Four U.S. Women in Top 20
Alex KochonDecember 1, 2012
Kikkan Randall led a quartet of U.S. women in the top 20 on Saturday, demonstrating that last week's third place in Sweden was no fluke. Randall set a new U.S. mark, becoming the first woman to place second in a World Cup distance race.