US Ski Team – Page 65

Romanian Runs Away With U-23 Men’s Pursuit; Elliot Leads but Fades to 21st

Nathaniel HerzJanuary 30, 2010

After Petr Sedov’s domination of the junior 20k pursuit here yesterday, it seemed unlikely that anyone would be able to outdo that performance in the 30k U-23 version today. Enter Paul Constantin Pepene of Romania. As a dense, 30-skier group made its way up the course’s big climb on its sixth of eight laps, Pepene put in a huge acceleration—the biggest that second-place Ole Marius Bach said he had ever seen. Using a quirky skate...

General Juniors News Racing US Ski Team

Oestberg Wins World Juniors Pursuit on Hectic Day; Americans Put Three in Top-25

Nathaniel HerzJanuary 29, 2010

It took her three tries, but Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg would not be denied. Undefeated at the World Junior Championships last year, Oestberg had been relegated to silver in this week’s skate sprint and distance classic races. But today, despite having to race in soft-snow conditions that don’t suit her, she easily stamped her authority on the women’s 10k pursuit here, leading a Norwegian sweep with the help of her teammates Heidi Weng and Tuva Toftdahl....

General Juniors News Racing US Ski Team

Sedov Dominates World Junior Pursuit; Patterson 20th

Nathaniel HerzJanuary 29, 2010

The snow fell furiously during the men’s 20k pursuit at World Junior Championships—as hard as Scott Patterson said he had ever seen it snow during a race. But there was another force of nature here today that was stronger than the weather: a tall, stocky 19-year-old Russian named Petr Sedov. At the end of the classic leg of the 20k pursuit here, Sedov had already dropped the entire field except for one: his teammate, Evgeni...

Olympics Racing US Ski Team

One More Spot for US – Hamilton Joins 2010 Olympic Team

FasterSkierJanuary 28, 20103

PARK CITY, UT (Jan. 28) – A final skier has been added to the 2010 Olympic Cross Country Ski Team. Simi Hamilton (Aspen, CO), a former All American from Middlebury College, was announced Thursday after the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association received an 11th and final quota spot. Two athletes were named Tuesday in addition to the original eight announced last week. Hamilton, who is now training with coaches Travis Jones and Rick Kapala in...

General News Racing US Ski Team

Skobelev Takes U-23 15k on Tough Course; Sandau 13th; Hoffman 20th

Nathaniel HerzJanuary 28, 2010

With some big climbs and minimal recovery, the 3.75k course in Hinterzarten demands some restraint and smart pacing. That’s no accident, according to Karl-Heinz Lickert, the FIS official who laid out the loop that was used in the U-23 men’s 15k. “We don’t want athletes who are only physically strong,” he said. The winner here, Vladislav Skobelev (RUS), clearly had both the brawn and brains Lickert was looking for—though he also wasn’t hurt by the...

General News Racing US Ski Team

Canada’s Webster Takes Fifth in U-23 10k; Niskanen Wins; Rorabaugh 24th

Nathaniel HerzJanuary 28, 2010

After a day of respite, nature hit back at the U-23 Championships this morning with a four-inch dose of snow, then with the same wet fog that already plagued two of three races here. The shifty weather didn’t upset the established hierarchy in Hinterzarten, though, and it was a Finn, Kerttu Niskanen, who took the second win in a row for her country at this level. She was followed by two Russians in second and...

General Juniors News Racing US Ski Team

3 of 4 U.S. Women Notch Top Thirties in WJ Classic; Lahteenmaki Wins

Nathaniel HerzJanuary 27, 2010

After a strong day by the U.S. U-23 team yesterday, the American junior women said they were feeling the pressure for a strong performance today in the 5k classic. “We’ve got to step it up and show that we mean business here,” said Annie Hart. While they didn’t exactly match yesterday’s fourth place by Ida Sargent, the juniors did manage a decent show of depth today, putting three of their four women in the top...

General Juniors News Racing US Ski Team

Patterson Leads American Juniors with 17th in Hinterzarten; Norway’s Golberg Wins

Nathaniel HerzJanuary 27, 2010

They’re not the Northug family yet, but give them some time. After Caitlin Patterson skied to a 17th place showing in this morning’s women’s 5k classic at the World Junior Championships, Scott Patterson wouldn’t be shown up, matching his older sister’s position in the men’s 10k in the afternoon. According to Matt Whitcomb, the head coach of the American juniors here, Scott had told his sister that he would beat her placing in his own...

Olympics Racing US Ski Team

Its Official – Olympic XC Team Expanded!

FasterSkierJanuary 26, 20103

PARK CITY, UT (Jan. 26) – A week after naming the 2010 Olympic Cross Country Ski Team, two additional athletes have been added to the roster with expanded quotas received Tuesday by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA). Named to the Olympic Team were Holly Brooks (Anchorage) and Garrot Kuzzy (Minneapolis). The additional quotas expand the team to 10 athletes, according to USSA Nordic Director John Farra. “Both Holly and Garrot had outstanding early...

General News Racing US Ski Team

Hard Luck Hamilton Loses Grip in Quarters; Norwegian Wins U-23 Skate Sprint

Nathaniel HerzJanuary 26, 2010

After a mishap in a race in Canada, Simi Hamilton said that he secured the grips on his Swix Stars with “about a pound” of glue. It still wasn’t enough. Leading his heat through the initial downhill in the U-23 skate sprint today, a Norwegian skied over one of Hamilton’s baskets as he came out of a tuck. The grip came off, and the whole pack went by. Hamilton was left screaming at the fans...

General News Racing US Ski Team

Sargent Sprints to Fourth at U-23’s; Finnish Biathlete Skis Away With Title

Nathaniel HerzJanuary 26, 2010

When Simi Hamilton lost a pole and was bounced from his quarterfinal heat, it was up to Ida Sargent to salvage the American hopes in the U-23 skate sprint. She didn’t disappoint. After qualifying in fourth, Sargent advanced easily through the quarters and semis, faltering only midway through the A-final. After some bad luck and tactical errors by the Americans over the last two days, you could almost hear the sigh of relief from her...

General News Racing US Ski Team

Hamilton Wins U-23 Sprint Qualifier; Sargent 4th as All Four Women Make Heats

Nathaniel HerzJanuary 26, 20101

He’s the real deal. That’s what U.S. Ski Team Development Coach Matt Whitcomb said this morning about Simi Hamilton, after the skate sprint national champ took first place in the qualifying round of the same event here in Hinterzarten. After some drizzle overnight, the race trails at the Notschrei Nordic Center were covered with a thin icy crust this morning, which made for some slick skiing and a fast qualifying round—Hamilton’s time was around 2:20....

Interviews News Olympics Racing US Ski Team World Cup

Game On at the Games, Freeman is Ready

FasterSkierJanuary 22, 20101

Olympian Kris Freeman is ready for the Olympic Games. He is training back at home in New Hampshire on the trails he grew up on, and soon will be on his way to Canada. Kris took the time to answer some questions about his goals for the Olympics and where he is in his preparation. You’ve stated that your training this season is focused on staying healthy and not overdoing things. This seems like it...

General News Olympics Racing US Ski Team

USSA Announces 2010 Olympic Team

FasterSkierJanuary 19, 20107

PARK CITY, UT – World Championship medalist Kikkan Randall (Anchorage), along with Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT) and Kris Freeman (Andover, NH) headline a group of eight athletes announced Tuesday by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) for the 2010 Olympic Cross Country Ski Team. USSA President and CEO Bill Marolt, together with the U.S. Olympic Committee and Team partner Visa, announced the roster of athletes to compete in the cross country events at the...

Canadian National Ski Team Olympics Racing US Ski Team

Additional Quota Analysis – US and Canada to Gain Spots

Topher SabotJanuary 19, 20108

Now that FIS has announced the quotas for the 2010 Olympics, focus has shifted to the potential for additional spots due to reallocation. The US currently has 8 spots and Canada 11. The maximum that any country can have is 20 – currently Russia, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Italy are at the maximum. Germany is not far behind with 18. But if these countries (or any other for that matter) choose not to take their...

Canadian National Ski Team General News Olympics US Ski Team

U.S. Olympic Team Stays at Eight on Final FIS List; Canada Gets 11

Nathaniel HerzJanuary 18, 20101

In the final FIS quota allocation for the Olympics released this afternoon, the United States held steady with eight spots for its team in Whistler in February. That’s one more than the U.S. had earlier this year, but perhaps not quite as many as the American ski community had hoped for. Races over the weekend were the last events to count toward the quota – if results were submitted to the FIS on time. Finland,...

General News Racing US Ski Team World Cup

Newell Knocked Out in Otepaa Quarters; Joensson Holds Off Hattestad

Nathaniel HerzJanuary 17, 2010

Jesse Vaeaenaenen sure is a mouthful of a name. Apparently he’s a lot to handle in a classic sprint, too. In Otepaa, Estonia today, Vaeaenaenen (FIN) edged Andy Newell in their quarterfinal by a tiny margin, relegating the American to third place in the heat and ending his day. While it was an unexpected early departure from the rounds for Newell, he wrote in an e-mail that the race didn’t leave him too disappointed. His...

Olympics Racing US Ski Team

US Olympic Qualifying: How it Works

Nathaniel HerzJanuary 14, 201015

When the U.S. National Championships ended on Friday, Pete Vordenberg’s job started getting complicated. As the head coach of the U.S. Ski Team, it’s his responsibility to pick the group of athletes that will get to compete in February at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler. On January 19th, after four years of hard work by the nation’s top athletes, his announcement will simultaneously crush some dreams and bring others to fruition. In his deliberations,...

Racing US Ski Team World Cup

World Cup Mass Start: US Report

Topher SabotDecember 20, 20091

Rogla, Slovenia – The US Ski Team did not have a great day on the trails today, but still managed to turn in some solid results. Andy Newell set a personal-best with a 41st in the men’s 30km classic mass start, and Kikkan Randall finished 30th in the women’s 15km event. Neither, however, were thrilled with their performances. Lars Flora was 47th, and Kris Freeman dropped out due to blood sugar issues. Solid For Newell...

US Ski Team

USST Notes: Where in the World is the USST…and other tidbits

Topher SabotDecember 18, 2009

With one more race weekend on the docket for the first World Cup period, the US Ski Team has dispersed to various spots around the globe. On the Road Again The World Cup Team has been split in half, with Andy Newell, Kikkan Randall, Kris Freeman, Torin Koos and Lars Flora, along with coaches/servicemen Wadsworth, Augustson, and Johanson made the nine hour drive to Rogla, Slovenia yesterday. Newell describes the first-time World Cup venue as...

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