The 2014 Olympics in Sochi were an unmitigated disaster for German cross country skiing and biathlon. We look back on why, using our own observations and a 235-page Germany Olympic committee analysis of the country's performance in Sochi. With problems identified, the question becomes: what about now?
As excitement grows for the first World Cup races in Kuusamo, Finland, the U.S. Ski Team stands as one of the most talented and experienced teams America has ever fielded. While only time will tell if the team can live up to their own high expectations, our World Cup preview aims to give you an update and some insight into this U.S. team.
Kazakh star Alexey Poltoranin already started working with Andrus Veerpalu last season. But he's now going one step farther, distancing himself from the Kazakh federation by moving to Estonia and working with famed coach Mati Alavar and three Estonian training partners. After disappointment in Sochi, he's eyeing the 2018 Games.
Mikey Sinnott grew up in Sun Valley, came up through the junior ranks, excelled at Junior Nationals and reached the highest levels of elite competition on the World Cup. After missing the Olympics last season and feeling like he never hit his stride, Sinnott, 29, had some decisions to make this spring: to keep racing or embark on a new path.
Norwegian ski star Petter Northug has been sentenced to 50 days of jail, among other punishments, for driving while intoxicated, crashing his car, and then lying to police about what happened. It's unclear how this will affect his quest for gold at Falun World Championhips in February.
A new study assessed the exposure to airborne particles by 45 different World Cup wax techs across three disciplines - cross country, biathlon, and nordic combined. The results are scary, but the team also demonstrated that a custom-built ventilation system can reduce exposure by 95%.
Despite being diagnosed as a diabetic when he was a kid, Robin Bryntesson is still one of the top skiers in the world. And one of the busiest: in the summer he runs a camp for children with diabetes, he's constantly producing funny videos, and his downloadable technique app just went live.
When Callum Watson crashed in the sprint at Australian National Championships, it seemed like any other crash. But the consequences were devastating: the other racer's ski punctured and collapsed his lung. Watson is looking towards the future as he recovers, but is set back by the cost of the ambulance helicopter flight that saved him. This article includes a link to his fundraising page.
Organizers of the 2015 FIS Nordic World Championships in Falun, Sweden announced August 27 that the culminating event of the 2014/2015 ski season has received the ISO 20121 certification of sustainability.
Looking for motivation to get in tip-top ski shape for next winter? Check out these photo montages of the 2013/2014 FIS World Cup season.
Second of two photo montages recapping the 2013/2014 FIS World Cup season.
What happens when you live in a ski-crazy country and have a breakout race on home soil? We talked to Roman Schaad, a 20-year-old Swiss sprinter who shot into the top 10 in his very first World Cup in Davos last December. That day, it took him 2 hours to finish interviews before he could go home - to his apartment literally next to the finish line. Sponsors and an Olympic appearance followed.
All eyes were likely on Brazil this past Sunday to watch the gut-wrenching World Cup soccer game between the U.S. and Portugal. However, FIFA was not the only organization to host a World Cup this weekend. The opening races of the International Ski Federation’s (FIS) Rollerski World Cup in Oroslavje, Croatia began June 20, and unlike the World Cup in Brazil the competition had few surprises.
Canada will be hosting a season-end World Cup tour in 2016. An exciting development for North American skiing, the proposal cleared yet another hurdle at the International Ski Federation’s (FIS) 2014 Congress in Barcelona, Spain after receiving a set program.
While a plan to host a 2016 World Cup in New York City was quickly dismissed when USSA withdrew its bid for the event last week, there is still a possibility that the international racing circuit could come to the Big Apple in the future.
Tor-Arne Hetland is officially part of the Canadian crew after wrapping up his first training camp with the Canadian World Cup Team in May. Onboard since April, he says he's eager to give the perspective and stability that Cross Country Canada wants. "It is asked for new ideas into the team and I’m ready to give this," Hetland says. "And also more stability in the World Cup."
Changes are coming to the FIS World Cup schedule in the 2014/2015 season. The schedule was confirmed at the 2014 FIS Congress held in Barcelona, Spain, which concluded Friday June 6th. There were also some exciting new developments for North American skiers as the FIS Congress added the Tour du Canada to conclude the 2015/2016 season.
When the International Ski Federation (FIS) Congress began Sunday in Barcelona, Spain, there was a lot to go over. Not only was the international-racing circuit speculated to come back to North America in the 2015/2016 season, but there was also talk of a World Cup being held in Central Park, New York City.
Finnish skier Tero Similä has tested positive for the blood-doping drug EPO. While the case will likely put Finland back in the spotlight again after the 2001 disqualifications of six top athletes at World Championships for the same offense, Similä wasn't on the national team and one possibility is that he turned to doping to try to make the Olympic team (he did not).
While Tor Arne Hetland is just starting as Canada's World Cup coach, his wife, Guri Hetland, is no longer head coach of the Swiss National Team. Swiss-Ski Sports Director Mark Wolf referred to negotiations that "ended in disaster" after Hetland and the association could not agree on team decisions. Dario Cologna had already committed to a new personal coach, Ivan Hudáč.