Noah Hoffman led the U.S. men in 33rd place in the Davos 15k, the best of a series of sub-par performances. But there is no panic with World Champs just days away.
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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.
Diggins Leads Three in the Top-20 In Davos for U.S. Women
Topher SabotFebruary 18, 2013
Jessie Diggins finished 14th, leading a trio of U.S. women in the top-20 in the final World Cup race before World Championships.
Johan Olsson (SWE) is showing top form at just the right time, winning the last World Cup race before World Championships. Dario Cologna (SUI) was second and Alexander Legkov (RUS) third.
Though Marit Bjørgen made the last-second decision to skip Sunday's race, the Norwegian women were just fine in her absence. Therese Johaug claimed her first individual-start win in the 10 k in Davos, Switzerland, for a confidence-boosting tune-up before World Championships. She bested Justyna Kowalczyk and teammate Kristin Størmer Steira on the challenging course.
Newell Rises to Fourth in Davos Sprint, Second in World Cup Sprint Standings
Alex KochonFebruary 16, 2013
US Ski Team member Andy Newell came one step closer to a World Cup podium on Saturday, placing fourth in the 1.5 k classic sprint in Davos, Switzerland. While he was 3 seconds off the mark, Newell isn't too worried: he's still got World Championships and an overall sprint title to chase. Teammate Simi Hamilton notched a season best of 13th, and Dakota Blackhorse-von Jess and Erik Bjornsen learned some lessons.
Valjas Toughs It Out for Sixth in Davos Sprint; Kershaw Repeats Season Best in Eighth
Alex KochonFebruary 16, 2013
Canada's Lenny Valjas gave it his all and drained the tank for sixth, a season-best, non-stage result, and Devon Kershaw continued to his ascent into fighting form in eighth at Saturday's World Cup classic sprint in Davos, Switzerland.
Kikkan Randall was eighth to pace three American women to the top 30 in classic sprint in Davos, Switzerland, on Saturday. "It’s the kind of day we wanted to have before going to world championships," said USST women's coach Matt Whitcomb.
Kowalczyk Dominates Davos Sprint, Back in Form Just in Time
Topher SabotFebruary 16, 2013
Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) skied away to victory, dominating each of her heats and displaying top form with World Championships just around the corner. Marit Bjørgen (NOR) was second and Anne Kylloenen (FIN) took third.
Alexey Poltoranin (KAZ) put forth an impressive show of strength to take the men's 1.5 k classic sprint on Saturday in Davos, Switzerland. Hometown hero and World Cup overall leader Dario Cologna (SUI) took second; Federico Pellegrino (ITA) secured the final podium position.
Crawford on Her Decision to Cut Season Short, What’s Next
Alex KochonFebruary 7, 2013
A few days after calling it a season and flying home to Canmore, Alberta, Chandra Crawford and her coach Eric de Nys talk about her decision and what's next for Canada's Olympic gold medalist as she tries to recover for Sochi.
Japan’s Breakout Skier, Ishida Programmed for Podium
Alex KochonFebruary 6, 2013
You'll see her now and then in a World Cup race, and when she shows up, she's usually a podium contender. FasterSkier caught up with Japan's Masako Ishida to ask her about her recent achievements and World Championships goals.
In a season of lackluster results thus far, Simi Hamilton's performance in the team sprint in Sochi, Russia, on Sunday is especially notable. Andy Newell's fall in the last lap left the Americans disappointed, yes, but Hamilton was "stoked" to ski the second-fastest third round of the entire field.
Canadian National Ski Team veteran and Olympic gold medalist Chandra Crawford has decided to take a break from competitive high-performance skiing to recharge her batteries for the final charge to the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi 2014.
Weekly Roundup: Testing the Sochi Waters
Chelsea LittleFebruary 4, 2013
Skiers and jumpers tested out the Sochi trails - quite successfully for the U.S. and Canada; biathletes finished up World Youth and Junior Championships with another medal for Sean Doherty and two Canadian top-tens; Americans turned to longer marathon racing at the Boulder Mountain Tour and Craftsbury Marathon; Canadians mini-toured through Eastern Championships.
Finland’s Malvalehto, Kyllönen Combine for Team Sprint Win; Canadians Capture Third
Alex KochonFebruary 3, 2013
Canadians Perianne Jones and Dasha Gaiazova hung tough and charged late to pick up their first podium of the season, notching third in Sunday's classic team sprint at the Sochi World Cup. Finland's Mona-Liisa Malvalehto and Anne Kyllönen skied away from Russia for the victory, winning by more than five seconds.
In a continued demonstration of the depth on the American women's squad, Ida Sargent and Sadie Bjornsen improved upon their team sprint from Liberec with a fifth place showing in Sochi, Russia, on Friday. They were three seconds off the podium and will leave the Olympic venue on a high note.
After falling ill with food poisoning for the second time in a month, Devon Kershaw was unable to bring his A-game to the team sprint in Sochi, Russia. He and teammate Lenny Valjas placed 11th.
The U.S. team of Andy Newell and Simi Hamilton had a strong day in Sochi, winning their team sprint semi-final, before just missing out on 4th place after a late crash.
Russia Annihilates in Sochi Team Sprint
Audrey ManganFebruary 3, 2013
Has a team sprint ever been won by a difference of 18 seconds? If so, Dmitriy Japarov and Maxim Vylegzhanin erased all memory of it on Sunday in taking the Sochi team sprint win by exactly that much. The field was stunned — Sweden took second and Germany was third.
Liz Stephen was eighth in the 15 k skiathlon in Sochi, Russia, on Saturday. It was the best regular-season result of her life, but she wasn't quite happy with it. She wants a World Cup podium, and at 25 seconds out of third on the grueling Olympic course she's getting oh-so-close.