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Alexander Bolshunov

The Devon Kershaw Show: The 2021 World Championship Skiathlon with the Boss – Kristin Størmer Steira

The most special of special guest on the podcast today, Kristin Størmer Steira. Størmer Steira, a retired Norwegian ski star, chats it up with Devon from Lillehammer, where the two are busy raising two young daughters. According to a 2014 FasterSkier article on the couple, evidently, Kershaw’s “great smile”, a legacy of his youth in Sudbury, won Størmer Steira over. In her own right, Størmer Steira was a Norwegian ski star. Back in 2005, Størmer...

Bolshunov Victorious in the 30-Kilometer Skiathlon; Patterson 14th, Norris 17th

This World Championship coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com. With swaths of bare ground peeking through the melting snow, skis rattling through tracks and swooshing across the lanes, and short-sleeved race tops, World Championship racing continued in a...

Exploring Alexander Bolshunov: The Emergence – Part 1

  This is the first part of a three-part series on Russia’s Alexander Bolshunov. You can find part two here.    At 24 years old, Alexander Alexandrovich Bolshunov has become arguably the best men’s skier in the world. He has already secured this season’s World Cup title, to go along with his 2020 Overall Crystal Globe. He has a handful of Olympic and World Championship medals—all silver. At the Oberstdorf World Championships, his least favorite...

FIS Statement on Bolshunov’s Actions in Lahti

The International Ski Federation released a statement this morning regarding Alexander Bolshunov’s disqualification in the Lahti, Finland 4 x 7.5 k relay for “unsportsmanlike conduct”.   This linked article written earlier this month considers the pathway to sanctions in cases like a physical altercation at a FIS race. Below is the FIS statement in its entirety. *Decision of Ethics and Compliance Commissioner on Alexander Bolshunov* The FIS Council assigned an Independent Ethics and Compliance Commissioner...

Exploring Alexander Bolshunov: A Rivalry is Born – Part 2

This is the second part of a three-part series on Russia’s Alexander Bolshunov. You can find part three here.    During the season of 2018/19, there was fierce competition for the overall World Cup between Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Alexander Bolshunov, who surprised the Norwegians by proving to be a versatile and resilient competitor. Sergey Ustiugov was initially seen to be the main threat to Klæbo’s World Cup campaign, haunting him in the Tour de...

Exploring Alexander Bolshunov: A Rumble in Lahti – Part 3

This is the third part of a three-part series on Russia’s Alexander Bolshunov. You can find part one and part two here.    This season, the Alexander Bolshunov vs. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo show has been largely sidelined due to Norway pulling from cross-country World Cups due to the coronavirus. When the Norwegians returned to the World Cup in Lahti, the wait proved a pressure cooker of tension.  When Bolshunov fell in the closing stages of...

Considering Bolshunov’s Actions in Lahti: A Dive into the FIS Rules

By Ella Hall and Jason Albert   So many moving parts when considering Alexander Bolshunov’s aggression towards Joni Mäki of Finland in the closing moments of the men’s 4 x 7.5-kilometer relay in Lahti on January 24. The finish line was in sight for the two skiers as Mäki came around the sweeping left-hand turn into the final straight ahead of Bolshunov. Mäki, it seemed, sensing Bolshunov making a move and advancing in the outermost...

Even with a Tumble, Bolshunov Prevails; Klaebo and Golberg go 2-3 (updated)

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com.  Another clear, cloudless, and frigid day of racing for the men in Falun, Sweden as they completed three laps of a 5 k loop for Saturday’s classic mass start...

Bolshunov Wins a Nail-Biter in Falun; Schumacher 9th and Patterson 15th (Updated)

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com. Sunny skies and cold snow greeted the skiers for the start of the men’s 15 k individual freestyle on Friday, kicking off an extended weekend of racing in Falun,...

The Devon Kershaw Show: Bolshunov-Bolshunov-Bolshunov…and the Weekend’s Racing from Lahti

We all thought the big news would be the return of Norway. And certainly, that was the news, just not the lead. Norway swept both the men’s and women’s skiathlon podiums on Saturday and won the 4 x 5 k and 4 x 7.5 k relays on Sunday.   But…and this is a big but, Alexander Bolshunov made the headlines with his violent behavior as he crossed the finish line in Lahti on Sunday. Down the...

Norway win Men’s 4 x 7.5 k Relay in Lahti; Belligerent Bolshunov Bullies

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com.  The fog seemed to have thickened since the completion of the women’s race earlier in the day, at times obscuring the skiers with only their silhouettes visible. Eleven teams...

A Norway Sweep with Emil Iversen on the Top Step; Schumacher 18th, Patterson 21st

Working off the premise that history repeats itself, there were only so many ways this grueling 30 k skiathlon in Lathi, Finland could end. The plot, this weekend, thickened with the return of Norway to the field and all eyes on Russia’s Alexander Bolshunov post-two week break from a historic and runaway win at the Tour de Ski. Would Bolshunov hold the snap and power for 30 k with a horde of Norwegian men hungry...

Bolshunov Nails the Door Shut for Tour Win: Schumacher 18th Overall (Updated)

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com. The inevitable conclusion at the sharp end of the 2021 Tour de Ski came to fruition. The ticks of the clock to second skier overall, France’s Maurice Manificat (34),...

Sweden’s Oskar Svensson Seizes the Stage 7 Day; The Alpe Cermis Awaits

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com. In the men’s 1.5 kilometer classic sprint in Val di Fiemme, Italy – Stage 7 of the Tour de Ski – it was an overcast day for skiers with...

Bolshunov Takes Stage 6 Win; Schumacher with Career-Best Eighth

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com. A crisp and clear day in Val di Fiemme, Italy as the men lined up for Stage 6 of the Tour de Ski. Today’s race, a 6 x 2.5...

Bolshunov’s Streak Remains Strong, Schumacher 15th in Stage 5

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com. With Russia landing seven of the top eight positions yesterday, today’s 15 k classic pursuit started with a wave of red. Or as Maurice Manificat of France described it...

Bolshunov and Russia Sweep, Schumacher in 14th: Stage 4 of the Tour de Ski

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com. Stage 4 of the Tour de Ski introduced a change of scenery on Tuesday with the flanks of the Dolomites sinking from sky to valley floor in Tobalch, Italy....

Bolshunov Widens his Lead in the Tour de Ski, Manificat Lands Another 15 k Skate Podium in Third (Updated)

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com. Accompanied by the constant soundtrack of distant cowbells, Alexander Bolshunov of Russia steadily worked his way through the fog, four times around the 3.3 k course to maintain a...

Bolshunov Skis Big and Bold, Dario Cologna Sneaks in for a Podium

  This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com.   Val Müstair, Switzerland and its snowfall were again the idyllic backdrops for the Tour de Ski (TdS) where the men raced a 15-kilometer classic mass start to kick...

Pellegrino Provides Sunshine in Snowy Val Müstair As 2021 Tour de Ski Begins; Hamilton 13th

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com. A new year, new snow, and some welcome faces at the start of the 2021 Tour de Ski in Val Müstair, Switzerland. In this 15th edition of the TdS, the...