Kikkan Randall turned in her best World Cup classic distance result, placing sixth in the 10 k mass start in Canmore. Teammates Sadie Bjornsen and Holly Brooks joined her in the top 30 while Liz Stephen and Jessie Diggins were late scratches.
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U.S. Women Triumphant in Quebec City
BrainspiralDecember 7, 2012
Kikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins made it three weekends in a row with a U.S. podium, winning the team sprint in Quebec City over Germany and Norway. The win was a first in a team event for the American women.
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.
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.
The FasterSkier team breaks down last weekend's historic World Cup results, which included the first-ever podium for the American women in a relay.
Alaska Pacific University coach Erik Flora discusses the best part waking up to results like those from Gallivare and why he expects his athletes Kikkan Randall and Holly Brooks to continue doing big things this year.
Historic U.S. Performance, Built on Teamwork and Guts, Draws Admirers in Ski World
Chelsea LittleNovember 26, 2012
GÄLLIVARE, Sweden – It’s always good to finish a race and be happy with the result. But the icing on the cake is when the entire sport seems to be behind your performance. And for the U.S. women after Sunday’s historic third-place relay finish, that was the case. As one team after another crossed the line behind them, they were hugged and congratulated – even by teams who surely wished the podium spot could be...
Notes and Quotes: Gallivare edition
Chelsea LittleNovember 26, 2012
With so much happening in Gällivare, Sweden, this weekend, we didn’t have the chance to put quite everything into our main feature stories. Here are some leftovers from the races, as well as some small pieces about the U.S. men’s and Canadian women’s relays. Women’s Relay When asked about the U.S. women’s relay podium, Development Coach Bryan Fish initially didn’t get too specific… he was just impressed. “That was exciting to watch,” he told FasterSkier...
A Norway-U.S. Relay Battle? Norwegian Women Win Again, But Americans Notch First World Cup Podium
Chelsea LittleNovember 25, 2012
While it's no surprise that Norway's women won the World Cup relay today, their margin of victory wasn't the largest it has ever been - for two legs, they were stalked by tenacious U.S. women. Jessie Diggins dug deep to retain a podium spot for the Americans.
“Great Day” for U.S. Women; Falls Leave Stephen, Diggins Wondering What Might Have Been
Chelsea LittleNovember 24, 2012
Despite two crashes that kept Liz Stephen and Jessie Diggins out of the top ten, today was easily one of the best days in the history of the U.S. women's program. The athletes reflect on how they got here.
Bjørgen Is Back up to Same Tricks, Bests Johaug in 10k Opener; Randall Surprises With First Distance Podium
Chelsea LittleNovember 24, 2012
GÄLLIVARE, Sweden – To here the top three women from today’s 10 k freestyle race tell it, none of them expected to win. Marit Bjørgen of Norway, the hands-down favorite coming into this first weekend of World Cup racing after winning the opening race last year as well as the overall World Cup, said that she would have been happy just to be on the podium. Despite the weight of expectations after trouncing Bjørgen...
November on XC Ski Girl
Holly BrooksNovember 20, 2012
November is up and ready on XC Ski Girl for those who are interested! http://xcskigirl04.blogspot.comThe US Team drove 3 hours from Muonio to Gallivare yesterday afternoon. We enjoyed a long sunset... and then it was dark at 2 or 3 in the afternoo...
Notes and Quotes: FIS Scandinavia Extravaganza Edition
FasterSkierNovember 19, 2012
After a substantial weekend of racing, we often have interesting tidbits that didn’t make it into the main race report. Here are Notes and Quotes from races in Bruksvallarna, Sweden, and Muonio, Finland. Chandra Crawford (CAN) was plenty excited about her 2nd place finish in the FIS sprint in Brusvallarna, Sweden. She told FasterSkier that she may have let her emotions get the best of her, saying “I just wanted to be Fast & Female...
LAHTO! (Finnish for "Start?")
Holly BrooksNovember 19, 2012
Our week in Muonio is coming to a close. We hit the road for a "Lappish road trip" at noon. We're headed three hours west (by van) to Gallivare, Sweden, the location of the next weekend's World Cup opener. Now that we've gotten the first ra...
Repeat Victories for Kowalczyk and Poltoranin; Freeman Fourth for U.S. in Muonio
Audrey ManganNovember 17, 2012
On a clear, cold morning in Muonio, Finland, time marched one step closer to the World Cup and turned up mounting anticipation for it’s commencement by a few degrees. Alexey Poltoranin (KAZ) claimed his second victory of the weekend in the 10 k classic, though the rest Kazakh team was not quite as dominant as it was in Friday’s sprint. Lukas Bauer (CZE) was less than five seconds back from Poltoranin in second place and...
American World Cup Preview: Gathering Momentum
Audrey ManganNovember 15, 2012
Welcome to the latest installment of FasterSkier’s season previews! Here we break down what to expect from the US Ski Team’s cross-country athletes on the international stage in 2012-2013. With the pre-World Cup races in Muonio, Finland, just around the corner, now is a good time to take stock of what happened last season. When it was time to write this preview a year ago, the Americans were coming off of a very different winter....
of twenty thirteen, we’ll be producing the show regularly. Expect interviews with the country’s biggest cross-country skiing stars and coaches, plus analysis from the FasterSkier crew. This week, Topher Sabot and Nat Herz interview Erik Flora, the head coach of the Alaska-Pacific University Nordic Ski Center club team, which includes World Championships medalist Kikkan Randall, and U.S. Ski Teamers Holly Brooks, and Erik and Sadie Bjornsen. Randall has been dealing with a stress fracture in...
Lappland, here we come!
Holly BrooksNovember 11, 2012
I'm about to board my second of four flights taking me from home in AK to Northern Finland, "Munio." It's hard to see on this map but it's to the left of "Lappi" .... you may notice this is WAY above the arctic circle. Don't worry, I packed some ...
It is saying nothing new to point out that Kikkan Randall becoming the World Cup Sprint Champion last season was a breakthrough for U.S. skiing. The enormity of the moment in March when an American woman was handed the crystal globe has been well documented since the conclusion of the 2012 season. Each photo that has surfaced online this summer of Randall, her trophy and a new group of wide-eyed fans is a reminder...
October in Pictures….
Holly BrooksNovember 1, 2012
T-minus 9 days before I take off for the entire winter.... it's fun, overwhelming & exciting, all at the same time! Here are a few pictures from the last month. Welcome to November & the race season everyone! "Holly's Trail" on...