The American nation’s group athletes in Quebec City this week are about to take the biggest stage of their athletic careers. None of them are content with just having made it, however; these athletes want to compete.
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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.
Québec’s seen pretty much everything when it comes to sporting events, but cross-country skiing city sprints? That'll be a new one. Event-production company Gestev has been working to make it happen, covering the course several days before the Québec World Cup kicks off Friday.
Ever wonder who’s behind the FIS Cross-Country Twitter feed? This season, that would be Jeff Ellis. About two weeks ago, Ellis started his new job as FIS Cross-Country Marketing Support, a job which involves interviewing his wife, Kikkan Randall.
For Gällivare Native and USST Head Serviceman Peter Johansson, Recognition Following Women’s Success
Chelsea LittleDecember 4, 2012
Inside the waxroom with Peter Johansson, who recently took over as the U.S. Ski Team's head of service after joining the staff in 2006. "I think he's one of the best wax techs out there," said Kikkan Randall, who has been working with him personally for years.
Hoffman Lone Bright Spot in Kuusamo Pursuit for US Men
FasterSkierDecember 3, 2012
Noah Hoffman (USA) wrapped up a breakthrough weekend of racing in Kuusamo, Finland, placing 26th in the Ruka Triple mini-tour. Hoffman's teammates did not fare as well, with Kris Freeman and Andy Newell both abandoning the race, and Tad Elliott and Sylvan Ellefson finishing toward the pack of the field.
The Best of the Rest: Kuusamo and Canmore
Alex KochonDecember 3, 2012
When the season starts, it starts in full force. On the second weekend of World Cup and SuperTour racing, the NorAm season kicked off as well. Up in Canmore, the stakes couldn’t have been higher for two days of domestic racing that determined Canada World Cup starts.
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Weekend Roundup: More History, Norwegian Dominance, and World Cup Starts
Chelsea LittleDecember 3, 2012
Norway's Petter Northug and Marit Bjørgen won World Cup mini-tours, while Tora Berger swept three biathlon races; JP Le Guellec made history for Canada by winning a biathlon World Cup. In North America, exciting racing in Bozeman and Canmore helped national teams decide which athletes to send to the upcoming Quebec and Canmore World Cups.
Canadian Men Continue Improvement as Home Snow Beckons
Topher SabotDecember 2, 2012
Showing signs of emerging from a slow start to the season, the Canadian men placed their big three of Devon Kershaw, Alex Harvey and Ivan Babikov in the the top-30 for the first time this season, just in time for the trip home to Canada.
The results keep rolling in. Kikkan Randall placed fifth to lead a quintet of American women in the top 25 of the Kuusamo mini-tour and send the team back to North America riding high.
Not This Time: Northug Edges Russian in Kuusamo Finale
Alex KochonDecember 2, 2012
Petter Northug skied his own race and hung on for dear life at the finish to edge a Russian for the first time in this weekend's Ruka Triple and defend his overall title from Kuusamo last year.
It didn’t look like Marit Bjørgen ever looked back Sunday in Kuusamo, Finland. It would’ve been pointless to do so; she was always more than a minute ahead, and the white-out conditions made the visibility near zero. Bjørgen won by more than a minute and 20 seconds, ahead of Justyna Kowalczyk, Heidi Weng and Therese Johaug.
The Canadian men bounced back from a rough sprint day to turn in solid results in the second stage of the Ruka Triple, a 10-kilomter individual start freestyle race. Alex Harvey led the way, finishing in 17th place. Teammate Ivan Babikov was 23rd.
Definitely Back, Randall Grabs Silver in Kuusamo 5 k Skate; Four U.S. Women in Top 20
Alex KochonDecember 1, 2012
Kikkan Randall led a quartet of U.S. women in the top 20 on Saturday, demonstrating that last week's third place in Sweden was no fluke. Randall set a new U.S. mark, becoming the first woman to place second in a World Cup distance race.
Noah Hoffman skied to a personal-best 19th place finish in the Kuusamo 10k skate, cracking the top-20 for the first time in his World Cup career. The rest of the US team struggled on a cold day in Finland.
Randall Keeps Climbing, Second to Bjørgen in Kuusamo 5k
FasterSkierDecember 1, 2012
Kikkan Randall (USA) continues to make history, earning her second distance podium of the young season. Randall placed second to Marit Bjørgen (NOR) in the 5k skate in Kuusamo. Yulia Tchekaleva (RUS) was third.
For the second day in a row, a Russian kept Petter Northug (NOR) off the top of the podium. Alexander Legkov won the men's 10km skate in Kuusamo by 6.8 seconds. Maurice Manificat (FRA) was third.
Perianne Jones tied her career best of 12th and Dasha Gaiazova placed 14th to give the Canadians something to celebrate on a day that was sub-par for others, including its men.
Sargent Gets Her Share of the Wealth; Leads Randall into Kuusamo Sprint Top 10
Alex KochonNovember 30, 2012
American Ida Sargent lived up to the hype surrounding her sprinting skills on Friday, placing ninth in the Kuusamo World Cup 1.4 k classic sprint just ahead of teammate Kikkan Randall in 10th. Simi Hamilton and Andy Newell made the rounds and placed 24th and 27th, respectively.
Marit Bjørgen (NOR) continued to show excellent early-season form, skiing away from the field in the final of the classic sprint in Kuusamo, Finland. Russians Evgenia Shapovalova and Anastasia Dotsenko rounded out the podium.
Nikita Kriukov (RUS) outsprinted Petter Northug (NOR) to win the first stage of the Ruka Triple in stunning fashion. Eirik Brandsdal (NOR) was third in first stage of the three event mini-tour in Kuusamo, Finland.