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.
HomeTag
Sophie Caldwell
U.S. Women’s Team Grows to Seven; Caldwell Nominated after Breakout Year
Audrey ManganApril 24, 2013
The U.S. Ski Team formally announced its 2013-2014 nominations on Monday, and seven women in total were named to the squad. In contrast to the men's team there were no cuts, and the addition of Sophie Caldwell reflects an expected expansion of the U.S. women's World Cup quota by one more spot in both distance in sprinting.
Caldwell and Gow Score First World Cup Points, and FasterSkier’s Rookie Awards
Chelsea LittleApril 23, 2013
At just 22 years of age, both Sophie Caldwell and Scott Gow competed in their first World Championships. A skier for SMS T2, Caldwell made several sprint quarterfinals on the World Cup this year, including placing 20th at World Champs. Gow contributed big to the Canadian biathlon team, finishing 31st in the 20 k individual at senior Championships, where he was also the youngest competitor to qualify for the pursuit.
Stephen Buckles Down on Single Pair of Skis, Wins U.S. Distance Nationals 30 k
Alex KochonApril 10, 2013
Liz Stephen didn't want to change skis, and completing the first of three laps first, she didn't have to. The 26-year-old U.S. Ski Team member proceeded to call the shots in a slow-and-slushy 30 k classic mass start at U.S. Distance Nationals, skipping both pit stops to win by more than a minute.
With the conclusion of Period IV of the 2012-2013 season we tally who's in and who's out of the coveted Red Group in the most recent World Ranking Lists, from the American and Canadian perspectives.
Local Teams Sweep Craftsbury Spring Tour as Eastern Skiers Prepare for California Finale
Chelsea LittleMarch 25, 2013
Sorry, New Hampshire: the Vermont-based teams of Craftsbury, Stratton, and UVM had a lock on the podium at the Craftsbury Spring Tour after 10/15 k pursuits based on the previous two days' results. Sophie Caldwell consolidated her lead to win by a mile, while Pat O'Brien worked some slick skis through the sunny snow to edge out Eric Packer.
SMST2 Reigns in Craftsbury Spring Tour Sprints; O’Brien Scores One for Home Team in Prologue
Audrey ManganMarch 24, 2013
Recently back from Europe, Sophie Caldwell has dominated Craftsbury's mini-tour so far, winning the 3.6 k prologue by over 30 seconds and the sprint qualifier by ten. The men's field is tighter, after Pat O'Brien and Paddy Caldwell dueled it out in the prologue and then the sprint final came down to a drag race between SMST2 teammates Eric Packer and Skyler Davis.
Sadie Bjornsen notched a career-best ninth-place finish in the Lahti, Finland, freestyle sprint on the same day her teammate, Kikkan Randall, secured the crystal sprint globe for the U.S. "She almost stole the show, in a way," said USST women's coach Matt Whitcomb. Seven American women in all competed on Saturday; Jessie Diggins followed Bjornsen in 25th.
Podium Sweep in Nove Mesto Builds U.S. Confidence Heading Into OPA Cup in Italy
Chelsea LittleMarch 7, 2013
For some "warm-up" races before hitting the OPA Cup, a group of Stratton and APU athletes competed in Slavic Cup competitions in Nove Mesto this weekend. They made a splash, with Kate Fitzgerald, Sophie Caldwell, and Rosie Brennan sweeping Sunday's 10 k pursuit. Paddy Caldwell also continued his success from Norwegian junior nationals the weekend before.
The classic sprint at the 2013 World Championships was preceded by promise and excitement for the Americans, but when only three out of seven starters advanced to the heats on Thursday and none moved past the quarterfinals the team was left feeling frustrated by slippery skis. Kikkan Randall and Sophie Caldwell each finished fourth in their quarterfinals to place 19th and 20th, respectively, and Andy Newell was 21st after placing fifth in his heat.
Caldwell Shines In World Championships Debut
Audrey ManganFebruary 21, 2013
Where Sophie Caldwell lacks in international experience she made up for in poise, adaptability and sheer speed on Thursday in the World Championships classic sprint. After “squeaking” into 30th by 0.12 seconds in the qualifier she raced as if she belonged in the heats, placing fourth in the quarters to finish 20th overall.
WIth a more experienced team than they've had before the Americans are approaching the next six races at World Championships more calmly than they have in recent years. On the eve of the classic sprint Kikkan Randall said she wants to perform well on Thursday, "but there’s not really big expectations on it. I’m feeling excited to race and see what’s in the tank."
Kikkan Randall was eighth to pace three American women to the top 30 in classic sprint in Davos, Switzerland, on Saturday. "It’s the kind of day we wanted to have before going to world championships," said USST women's coach Matt Whitcomb.
Weekly Roundup: Quite a Scene at Biathlon World Champs, Aspen SuperTour and Scando Cup
BrainspiralFebruary 11, 2013
Norway's Emil Hegle Svendsen is off to one heck of a start at Biathlon World Champs with three wins in as many races. Brian Gregg found similar success in two out of three races over the long weekend, and Sophie Caldwell made the Scando Cup podium in a skate sprint.
Caldwell Builds Confidence at Scando Cup, Second at Skate Sprint in Estonia (Updated)
Alex KochonFebruary 11, 2013
Sophie Caldwell hung tough for second place in Sunday's skate sprint in Estonia, just 0.14 seconds out of first, for her best Scando Cup result. Jennie Bender had another solid day in 11th and three other American women made the top 30. On Saturday, Ben Saxton led the U.S. men in 33rd in the classic sprint.
Caitlin Patterson led the American squad at the Madona, Latvia, Scando Cup with a ninth-place finish in the 10 k freestyle mass start on Thursday. Eric Packer, meanwhile, had a "breakthrough" race in the 20 k — he was 16th, only 24 seconds out of first.
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.
Sophie Caldwell and Erik Bjornsen posted personal bests in the classic sprint at U23 World Championships in Liberec, Czech Republic. The Americans each made it as far as the semifinals; Caldwell finished ninth and Bjornsen was 10th.
Andy Newell was sixth in Liberec, Czech Republic, on Saturday for his third appearance in a sprint final this season. He was the only American to advance past the qualifier, but as this is the first World Cup since before the Tour for many, his teammates look forward to moving up from here on out.