Robin Duvillard – FasterSkier

Dyrhaug Outlasts Pack in Sub-2-Hour Birkie; Yeaton Shatters Women’s Record

Alex KochonFebruary 22, 2020

Several course records were shattered on Saturday in a largely faster-than-ever 46th annual American Birkebeiner, with temperatures steadily rising from the 20s at the start into the 30s by the finish of the point to point race from Cable to Hayward, Wisconsin. Eight men broke the two-hour mark in the Birkie’s 50-kilometer skate race, half of which are American, and an Australian national team member who trains in the U.S. broke the women’s race record...

General News Training

New Year’s Here: First Week of May Training Pics

FasterSkierMay 4, 2018

While we covered

General Langrenn News Racing World Cup

Saturday Rundown: NCAA Champs; Holmenkollen 50 k; Kontiolahti Relays

FasterSkierMarch 10, 2018

NCAA Skiing Championships (Steamboat Springs, Colorado): 15/20 k freestyle mass starts On the fourth and final day of NCAA Skiing Championships at Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs, Katharine Ogden skied to her second-straight national title, Ian Torchia became an NCAA champion and the University of Denver (DU) won its 24th NCAA National Championship. Ogden, a Dartmouth College freshman, raced to a 38.4-second victory in the women’s 15-kilometer mass start, finishing in 43:22.0 minutes for her...

General News Olympics Racing World Cup

World Cup Windup: France

FasterSkierNovember 22, 2017

Welcome to World Cup Windup, where we check in with the top-10 teams from last year’s FIS Cross Country World Cup tour before the season starts with the Ruka Triple in Kuusamo, Finland, on Nov. 24. FRANCE Overall in Nations Cup Last Year: Eighth Women’s Ranking 2016/2017: 15th Men’s Ranking 2016/2017: Fifth Who’s Back: Maurice Manificat, the fastest man up the Tour de Ski final climb last season, and a World Cup race winner previous...

Canadian National Ski Team News Racing Results US Ski Team World Cup

Down to the Wire: Norwegian Men Win Lahti Relay with Russia Nipping at Their Heels

Gabby NaranjaMarch 3, 2017

LAHTI, Finland — There were three medals up for grabs during Friday’s 4 x 10-kilometer relay at 2017 Nordic World Championships on Friday. Yet after the scramble leg, two distinct races: Norway and Russia’s dance for gold, and what eventually became a four-way tango between Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, and Germany for bronze and silver. Russia’s Andrey Larkov and Norway’s Didrik Tønseth first strung out and then smoked the field late in their leg. By the tag...

General News

Road Burn Behind Him, Bjornsen Brings On New Season with Heat

Gabby NaranjaDecember 22, 2016

U.S. Ski Team B-team member hasn't made many big changes to his training plan this year.

General Interviews News

The Delicate Case of Russia: Who’s Speaking Out and Why

Alex KochonMay 17, 2016

When news broke last week that 14 Russian cross-country skiers may have doped at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, stakeholders in the sport reacted around the globe. Some, like Canada's then head coach Justin Wadsworth, essentially predicted that two years ago at the Games. Others, like French skier Robin Duvillard, tried not to get too caught up in it, but he might by default.

General News Racing World Cup

With Manificat Breathing Down His Neck, Sundby Hangs Tough for Davos 30 k Win

Alex KochonDecember 12, 2015

Martin Johnsrud Sundby had to fight for at least 20 kilometers of the men's 30 k freestyle on Saturday, which wasn't easy, he explained. “This is the toughest [race] I’ve been in so far this year," Sundby said. The Norwegian had to work especially hard to hold off France's Maurice Manificat, who started 1 minute behind him.

General News Racing

Sundby ‘In a League of His Own’, Wins Beito Skate by 47 Seconds

Inge ScheveNovember 14, 2015

Saturday's takeaway: don't tick off Martin Johnsrud Sundby. He will come back with a purpose and has the potential to win big. The 31-year-old Norwegian did so in Beitostølen's 15 k skate FIS race, and France put two in the top five after a somber evening in Paris.

General Interviews Training US Ski Team

Erik Bjornsen on Hanging with Fourcade, Rehabbing Injuries

Alex KochonOctober 20, 2015

After surgery on his hand and then a knee injury, U.S. Ski Team member Erik Bjornsen recently resumed full-on training, and did so with the help of French biathlete and multiple-time world champion Martin Fourcade in France. "It's crazy to see how famous he is," Bjornsen says. "He’s just a normal guy."

General News Racing

Gregg Skates to Third, Brooks Fifth in Switzerland’s Engadin (with Videos)

Inge ScheveMarch 9, 2015

Caitlin Gregg finished third in her first Engadin Skimarathon in Switzerland on Sunday for another bronze to add to her collection following World Championships. Holly Brooks was the second American woman in the top five and reclaimed the FIS Marathon Cup lead in fifth.

General News Racing

Northug Sticks It to Halfvarsson, Edges Swede for Norwegian Relay Win at Worlds

Alex KochonFebruary 27, 2015

After missing out on a podium at the 2014 Olympics, the Norwegian men put themselves back on top in Friday's 4 x 10 k relay at World Championships in Falun, Sweden. With his characteristic finishing kick, Petter Northug outlasted Sweden's Calle Halfvarsson for gold, and France took bronze.

General News Racing World Cup

From the Land of Alpine Stars, French Win a Relay Medal with No Asterisk

Chelsea LittleFebruary 27, 2015

When the French won bronze in the Sochi relay, it was the first championships-level relay medal ever in their history. But Norway had struggled then. Today they did not, and the French were still bronze. "Maybe we have some place in the newspaper tomorrow, but a little one," Jean-Marc Gaillard said. "But that’s not the most important for us. The most important is to have fun with the team."

General News Racing

For Krogh and Northug, Team-Sprint Gold Strictly Business in Falun

Alex KochonFebruary 22, 2015

Finn Hågen Krogh and Petter Northug teamed up for Northug's second gold in three races at 2015 World Championships, winning Sunday's team sprint by more than five seconds over the Russian defending champs and Italy. Northug now has gold in every World Championships discipline.

General News Racing World Cup

Krogh Comes Up Big with Second-Straight Win, First Distance Victory in Östersund World Cup

Alex KochonFebruary 15, 2015

Finn Hågen Krogh is trying to make a case for himself to race at World Championships, and he did about all anyone could ask on Saturday and Sunday, winning the last two races before the 2015 World Championships begin in Falun, Sweden, later this week.

General News Racing

Wild Card on the FIS Marathon Cup, Brooks 2nd in La Sgambeda

Inge ScheveDecember 12, 20141

They called her a wild card -- the International Ski Federation, that is. And according to Holly Brooks, she wasn’t sure what she was capable of either. After a second-place finish in the first marathon of the season, she's excited about what's ahead of her.

General News Olympics Racing

Sweden Sweeps Sochi Olympic Relays; Russia Gets First XC Medal of 2014 Games

Alex KochonFebruary 16, 20141

Sweden won both the women's and men's relays at the Olympics for the first time since 1972 and the men defended their 2010 title with a miraculous first leg from Lars Nelson and dominant performances from Daniel Richardsson, Johan Olsson, and Marcus Hellner, respectively.

General Interviews News Travel

In France, Bjornsen Learns from Competitors and Builds Momentum

Audrey ManganJuly 22, 2013

Fresh off a trip from France, where he trained with national team skiers and biathletes, Erik Bjornsen talks how he wants to build off last season's breakthroughs and the major lessons he takes away from training with foreign athletes. "In order to reach the top, you really have to live cross-country skiing at every hour of the day," he says.

General News Racing World Cup

Team 7: France

Kieran JonesNovember 12, 2010

France Nations Cup Ranking: 7th (2477 pts) Men: 6th (1864 pts) Women: 9th (613 pts) 2010/2011 A Team Men Jean Marc Gaillard Emmanuel Jonnier Maurice Manificat Cyril Miranda Vincent Vittoz Women Aurore Jean What you may have missed last season: Maurice Manificat, or Maurice the Magnificent, absolutely exploding onto the World Cup. Manificat could very easily be labeled the most improved skier last season. It’s tough to believe that in 2008 he scored only seven...