Beitostolen, Norway – The start of 2009-2010 season officially began for the US Ski Team with a classic FIS sprint in Beitostolen, Norway. With excellent snow, and the World Cup opener just a week away at the same location, many of the top skiers in the world are using this weekend to prepare. 56 women and 104 men took to the course on a cold day in central Norway. The US started 3 skiers – Andy...
(translated from langrenn.com on 11-13-09, ““Dahl til topps på Beitotsølen” and “Majdic vant overlegent”) When two of the favored winners, Simen Ostensen and Petter Northug, fell in the heats, it was a fight between John Kristian Dahl and Timo Andre Bakken in the sprint final at Beitostølen today. Dahl edged Bakken for the win, while Alexander Legkov finished third. In the prologue Andy Newell and Torin Koos of the US placed tenth and thirteenth, respectively,...
Conditions in Beitostolen, Norway, the site of the 2009/2010 World Cup opener, are excellent. “Sick” to be precise, in Andy Newell’s words. Vegard Ulvang reports a base of artificial snow with an additional 45 centimeters of natural snow on top.
This week, all of Aino-Kaisa Saarinen's doping tests from the beginning of the training season be published. Thereafter the site will be updated for each and every test she takes. "I will increase the public's knowledge of a number of tests, such that they get to know how often we actually are tested. I want to show that I am a clean athlete, and that it is possible to achieve results without doping. It's tight between the tests, and the system works," believes the ski racer.
(translated from Langrenn.com) In response to the article in langrenn.com on Wednesday, “Ulvang mener Northug må få sin del av landslagskaka”, Terje Julusmoen on behalf of Press Team Northug issued a statement saying that Petter Northug’s relationship with the Norwegian Ski Federation was very good, he was happy to have a place on the team, and was also proud to be part of the best team in the world. The press release further stated that Northug would...
(translated from ski-nordique.net 11-4-09, “Northug et Cologna sous le même maillot ? ” and langrenn.com “Ulvang mener Northug må få sin del av landslagskaka” 11-4 09) Leaders of the nordic ski world often look to cycling for ideas on how to advance the sport of skiing. Could the next similiarity come in the creation of more private teams ? With many national teams experiencing financial problems, the incentives to join a private team with larger funding could...
Defending World Cup Champion, and Tour de Ski winner, Dario Cologna (SUI) is back in action after recovering form a severe muscle injury to his thigh. Cologna’s recovery has progressed faster than expected – he was initially expected to miss at least 6 weeks of training, but is now back on snow after 5, and is feeling good. He got back on his skis at Schnalstal, Italy, and is spending November training in Sjusjoen, Norway. ...
CANMORE, Alta. – A pair of ski boots designed to control pain may be one key to Chandra Crawford’s bid to return to Olympic cross-country skiing glory. The young skier from Canmore created Canadian elation at the 2006 Turin Winter Games, stunning more experienced rivals with a 1.1-kilometre dash to a sprint gold medal. She stood atop the podium and belted out the national anthem, a clip that remains on YouTube, attracting about 137,000 hits....
Reuters reports that Italian cities Rome and Milan are interested in hosting World Cup cross-country ski races.
(translated by Aubrey Smith from langrenn.com: “Alsgaard bedre enn på seks år” 11-1-09 by nrk.no, “Therese utnytter dagene på hjemmebane” 11-1-09 by teamturbo.no, “Jeg er trygg på det jeg har gjort” 11-2-09 by Ivar Haugen. All photos from langrenn.com taken by Ivar Haugen) After a severe bike accident in June that broke bones in both her back and face, Astrid Jacobsen set about on a long road to recovery. She recently returned to training by...
