Bjornsen Rips Qualifier, Sargent Just Misses Semi Spot
Topher SabotNovember 29, 2013
While teammate Kikkan Randall (USA) stole the headlines with her first classic sprint podium, both Sadie Bjornsen and Ida Sargent had excellent days of their own.
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World Cup
The cream of the crop. The best in the world compete all winter long on the World Cup. We follow them at every stop with article and results. We also post occasional reports from North America’s best as they travel the globe.
Eirik Brandsdal (NOR) won the first World Cup race of the 2014 season, besting Anton Gafarov (RUS) and Teodor Peterson (SWE) in a classic sprint the kicked off the Ruka Triple mini-tour.
Norway’s Flatland Climbs to the Top in Women’s 7.5 k Biathlon
Seth AdamsNovember 29, 2013
A win in today's 7.5km women's biathlon for Norwegian Ann Kristin Flatland, a solid 16th place finish for American Susan Dunklee, and exciting 22nd place finish for Megan Imrie, which completes her Olympic qualification for Sochi.
Newell Lone North American in Kuusamo Heats
Pasha KahnNovember 29, 2013
For the North American men, it was a challenging day in qualifying as the World Cup season got under way in Finland, with only Andy Newell (USA) cracking the top-30 in the classic sprint.
Canadian World Cup Team Preview: Regenerated, Refocused and Ready to Go
Alex KochonNovember 29, 2013
Moving on from last season, the Canadians are a calculated bunch and ready to get the World Cup season started -- with a goal of not overemphasizing early results in order to peak for the Olympics. For the entire team, the Tour de Ski is part of the plan.
In windy conditions in Ostersund, Martin Fourcade of France skied to a 2-minute win in the men's 20 k individual while Gabriela Soukalova of Czech Republic eked out a victory over Anastasiya Kuzmina of Slovakia. JP Le Guellec of Canada led the North Americans in fourth place.
Injury-Free This Fall, Randall Balances Training with Publicity Storm in Sochi Leadup
Chelsea LittleOctober 21, 2013
You saw what Kikkan Randall could do last season when hampered by a six-week injury that interrupted fall training. This time around, she’s healthy and ready to show the world what she can accomplish. Randall is doing just that in a blitz of media and commercial appointments.
There's just one season separating Jean Philippe Le Guellec from retirement, but the recent World Cup winner is hardly complacent about his form as a biathlete. Instead, he's aggressively making changes to his technique, shooting, and strength as part of a resurgent Canadian men's squad - and finding extra motivation for Sochi in the process.
Noah Hoffman didn't check the elevation on the Stelvio Pass glacier in the Italian Alps while packing for a two week training camp with Kris Freeman and the Maine Winter Sports Center Olympic Development Team. It turned out to be just shy of 11,000 feet, the highest Hoffman and Freeman have ever lived and trained.
Patterson Working Toward Olympics One Step at a Time
Steven McCarthySeptember 14, 2013
She might make it to the Olympics this year, four years from now, or never in her career. But Caitlin Patterson of the Craftsbury Green Racing Project is enjoying the process of her development as a skier, wherever it may take her.
Dario Cologna finally won World Championships gold in February. But his craving for medals has hardly been satisfied, and he has one goal on his mind: the Olympics in Sochi. Even his beloved Tour de Ski is falling by the wayside. We dropped in on a training session in Davos and chatted with Cologna about the upcoming winter.
Ever wonder how skiers from places like Argentina get to go to the Olympics? The meet qualifying standards just like everybody else, while also meeting their own nation's criteria. Even in a place like New Zealand, it's not easy. " I do not understand New Zealand's reluctance to support winter sport, other than those in the top 16 in the world,” national-team member Sarah Murphy says.
In Tiny Switzerland, an Emphasis on U23 Development: ‘It’s Our Only Chance’
Chelsea LittleAugust 14, 2013
Switzerland has a population just a bit smaller than the state of Virginia, and despite the Alps and Jura mountains faces some of the same challenges in developing World Cup skiers that you might find in North America. We chatted with Swiss U24 coach Christian Flury, formerly of Alberta World Cup Academy, about how his squad represents his country's future, and how he manages it.
Japanese Men’s Team Puts in Hours on the Glacier in Quest for Olympic Qualification
Chelsea LittleAugust 6, 2013
Japan sets draconian Olympic qualification standards for its athletes: if they can't land at least three top-12s in World Cup racing, then skiers are stuck at home and quota spots handed out by FIS go unfilled. The Japanese men have qualified as a relay team, but are working extra hard to prepare for early season World Cups where they hope for results that will allow them individual starts as well. For now, that means many hours on snow in Stelvio, Italy.
For Andrew Young and British Team, Preparing for a Once-In-Four-Years Opportunity to Reach Their Public
Chelsea LittleJune 21, 2013
Despite the Scottish location, Andrew Young grew up skiing the way many readers probably did too: in a club, with friends, trying to get fast enough to beat their older sisters. After becoming the youngest man to race a World Cup in 2008, Young relocated to Norway for better training and coaching, and is a lock for his second Olympics this winter.
Looking back on last season, anyone who watched Johan Olsson ski away from the pack and win the 50 k classic mass start at World Championships would be hard-pressed to forget it. Other inspiring performances include Marit Bjørgen's 30 k win, Therese Johaug's Holmenkollen domination, Petter Northug's individual-start victory, and Alexander Legkov making history at the Tour de Ski.
Kikkan Randall was an easy choice for her fifth Skier of the Year Award, while Andy Newell took his second title.
Just over a week ago, Tad Elliott heard the news he had an inkling was coming: he was not re-nominated to the U.S. Ski Team. With two seasons of international skiing behind him, he's decided to keep on the nordic path while renewing his other passion, mountain biking.
Caldwell and Gow Score First World Cup Points, and FasterSkier’s Rookie Awards
Chelsea LittleApril 23, 2013
At just 22 years of age, both Sophie Caldwell and Scott Gow competed in their first World Championships. A skier for SMS T2, Caldwell made several sprint quarterfinals on the World Cup this year, including placing 20th at World Champs. Gow contributed big to the Canadian biathlon team, finishing 31st in the 20 k individual at senior Championships, where he was also the youngest competitor to qualify for the pursuit.
It's been a week since World Cup Finals wrapped up in Falun, Sweden, and the dust has more than settled on the international season. The American women had their best run yet: World Championships gold, all six athletes in the top ten at some point and another sprint crystal globe in the bag. When asked to recall their personal season highlights, these were among the moments they pointed out.