Some of the most competitive skiers in the U.S. SuperTour circuit give thanks and express appreciation for friends and family before, during and after their Thanksgiving ski sessions in West Yellowstone, Mont., one day before the SuperTour opens there on Friday.
This is the third preview in our series on U.S. elite teams, which we’ve dubbed the “The 12.” With all six original members returning to Stratton Mountain's T2 squad and two promising newcomers (one of which is on the USST) in the mix, this Vermont-based team is feeding off last season's career bests to prepare for an Olympic year.
FasterSkier ventured to Vermont this week to see the entire Stratton Mountain School T2 Team working out together or one of the first times this summer. Video includes footage from bounding and strength sessions earlier this week, as well as interviews with Andy Newell, Simi Hamilton and Eric Packer.
The qualification criteria for the U.S. Ski Team's National Training Group now includes a top-three finish from NCAA Championships, signaling a change in the way the national team involves collegiate skiing in its development pipeline.
After she finishes final exams this spring, Middlebury College sophomore Annie Pokorny will be headed to Stratton, Vt., as one of the newest additions to the SMS T2 team. Though the timing of her move to professional skiing is unusual, it's a step she's enthusiastic about. "I’m excited to go for it and to take a chance. It’s exciting, it’s new — it’s going to be fun," she says.
Colorado University seniors Joanne Reid and Eliska Hajkova went 1-2 in Saturday's 15 k freestyle mass start, the last race of the 2013 NCAA Championships, to lift the Buffs to a national title.
Erik Bjornsen nabbed his third top-20 of the week on Saturday with a 16th-place finish in the 30 k skiathlon at U23 World Championships. Caitlin Patterson led three American women in the top-30 by taking 19th in the women's 15 k.
Caitlin Patterson and Erik Bjornsen led the Americans on Thursday at the U23 World Championships in Liberec, Czech Republic. Patterson was 14th in the women's 10 k freestyle and Bjornsen skied his last few kilometers with the race winner to place 15th in the 15 k.
Rosie Brennan of APU notched her first national title at home just outside Park City on Friday, winning the 10 k freestyle individual start by nearly 11 seconds over teammate Sadie Bjornsen. Kate Fitzgerald took third to complete the APU podium sweep.