The following is a video of Vegard Ulvang, Chairman of the FIS Cross-Country Executive Committee, discussing the Olympic race courses at the Whistler Olympic Park. Ulvang made himself available to media after controversy surrounding the courses arose at the pre-Olympic World Cup races. Read an article on FasterSkier regarding the controversy.
Due to significant background noise, the audio is not ideal.
FasterSkier interview Garrott Kuzzy (USST/CXC Elite) following the Whistler World Cups. Kuzzy raced in both the individual sprint and the team sprint competition, and will represent the US at the World Championships in Liberec, Czech Republic next month. Use the read more to view the video.
FasterSkier interviewed Canadian Alex Harvey following the Team Sprint at the Whistler World Cups. Harvey teamed with George Grey to finish third in the event.
The team of Kikkan Randall and Liz Stephen advanced to the final in the Team Sprint. In a strong performance, the two advanced with an automatic bid when Randall outstretched Sweden at the line for the third spot in the heat. Sweden did qualify as well as a lucky loser.
In the men’s race, Andy Newell and Torin Koos advanced despite a fall by Newell on the last climb. Newell poled between his legs while making a move, but recovered to post a fast enough time to qualify as a Lucky Loser. The second heat was significantly slower.
One Canadian women’s team – Madeleine Williams and Brooke Gosling made it through as a Lucky Loser. Two Canadian men’s teams did as well. The teams of Brent McMurtry and Phil Widmer and George Grey and Alex Harvery both advanced as Lucky Losers.
The two other Canadian teams, both in the second semi suffered bad luck. Cameron Egan Chris Butler suffererd a fall early in the race, and the top team of Ivan Babikov and Sean Crooks, in excellent position on the last climb, ended up out of contention when Crooks ski came off on the climb.
The US and Canada will run four teams each in both the men’s and women’s sprint relays tomorrow.
The teams are listed below in seeded order. The listing also represents running order within the team. The obvious favorites are Torin Koos and Andy Newell. Coming of a career best fourth place finish in Dusseldorf, the two are a legitimate podium contender. The team of Kris Freeman and Garrott Kuzzy could be interesting. Kris performs very well in domestic sprints and his competitiveness lends itself to the head to head format. Both he and Kuzzy would like to end the weekend on a strong note. Kuzzy was disqualified from his sprint heat for false starting twice, and Kris’ race today was a self described “bust” after he blew up just after the halfway mark.
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Yesterdy’s classic World CUp sprint featured some significant highlights, as well as disappointments for the American squad.
The US men qualified five athletes for the heats. US Sprint Coach Chris Grover thinks this is the best performance ever for a US team. Obviously the field is weaker than usual, but it is still a notable accomplishment. Grover did point out that he would have liked to see the qualifiers place somewhat higher, noting that the second US qualifier, Chris Cook in 21st, would have been on the bubble in a full World Cup field. In Europe, it is quite possible that the US would have qualified only one athlete.
Another beautiful day – sun is coming up over the mountinas, temperatures are heading up north of freezing, and the snow appears to heavily transformed making for relatively straightforward waxing.
Racing starts in just under 30 minutes with the women’s and men’s sprint qualifier. Nordic Combined jumping follows immediately after, then on to the heats, before the day concludes with the Nordic Combined 10km.
Kikkan Randall starts things off for the Americans with bib 20. Randall failed to qualify fo rthe heats in her one World Cup classic sprint start of the season, but looked very strong in the event at US Nationals. Sara Renner starts at bib 25 for Canada. Renner has skied wwell this season, but is looking to change her fortunes in the heats – she has qualified in two of three sprints this season, but has not advanced out of the quarterfinals.
In the men’s race, Andy Newell headlines the North Americans with bib 9 and shuold battle for a podium place. Devon Kershaw starts 16th and looks to bounce back from disappointing heat performances in the Tour de Ski. Kersahw also has a very real shot at the top 3. The Canadians have a number of sprinters who could make an impact in today’s events – look for Phil Widmer and Sean Crooks to post strong results. Torin Koos, his strongest event the classic event, will try to regain the podium for the first time since 2007.
It is always dangerous to make predictions, but just for fun, here are FasterSkier’s best guesses:
Newell wins the men’s race, Hattestad second, Kershaw 5th. Koos 8th, Widmer 10th.
Kowalczyk wins the women’s sprint. Vesna Fabjan second. Randall 7th, Perianne Jones 13th, Renner 15th. Laura Valaas 21st.
It is a little off the World Cup topic, but in a nice reminder of what makes the sport of cross-country skiing so appealing, I quickly transitioned from the elite International race scene to the very local. Through a stroke of good luck I got in contact with a local skier who invited me to the weekly town race series in Whistler. So after spending the day at the Whistler Olympic Park, observing the perparations for the World Cup races, I hustled down to Whistler and joined a group of locals, including a few fast juniors, master’s of all ages and ability, and a number of kids for a headlamp lit skate race on the local trail system. The experience is worth some more description at a later time, but it is worth noting the range of of the sport – from young children and fitness oriented parents, to the best in the world – all within a few miles – a true lifetime sport!
The drive to Whistler is spectacular. Vancouver was completely socked in with fog. Buildings and roads were plenty visible, but no panoramic views of ocean and distant mountains. It took nearly an hour to get out of Vancouver and actually start making progress along the Sea to Sky Highway. Occasionally the road gained enough altitude to peak out, catch a little sun, and a glimpse of what was to come.
After 45 minutes of driving that line was crossed for good, and the mountains rose up in front.
Construction everywhere – roads, airport, other infrastructure. Things will look quite different in a year. The Whistler Olympic Park is completely centralized – jumping, cross-country, and biathlon are all right there – excellent for spectating. Overall, the venue was quiet. A small crowd watched the Nordic Combined practice jumps in the warm sun, and volunteers and workers were busy at all sorts of tasks. BUt nobody seemed particularly rushed.
The trails look beautiful as the above photo attests. Television cameras await Saturday’s distance action. In Canmore, it was possible to get on the course after the events and take a spin. It doesn’t appear that this will be an option this week, but we’ll see. There are plenty of other options for skiing, and recreational trails remain open during the events.
The Olympic icon.
While the crowd wasn’t large (and there were more people standing), the Nordic Combined jumping action was exciting. While the round is technically practice, it is fully scored, and in the event of weather issues tomorrow, this round would be counted. Billy Demong jumped very well and finsihed third. The field features most of the top skiers, but like the cross-country, is not as deep as usual.
Billy Demong finishing his final jump of the day. He currently sits in fourth overall on the World Cup and along with teammates Johnny Spillane and Todd Lodwick, give the US three in the 20 overall.
The cross-country stadium was busy with final preparations and wax testing for tomorrow’s sprint. The sprint course winds up above the stadium and the general consensus is that double poling on skate skis will not be the best option tomorrow. US Ski Team Coach Chris Grover noted that on a hard icy day, the tactic might be appropriate.
The finish area. Grooming and layout decisions being made.
Swiss timing handles timing and results for all World Cup events.
The wax rooms – again it was very quiet around here – techs and coaches hard at work, but no sense of urgency – everything under control. The warm sunny weather, and the small field probably help on this front.
Classic Sprint
US Men:
Chris Cook
Anders Haugen
Torin Koos
Andrew Newell
Reid Pletcher
Colin Rodgers
Michael Sinnott
Dakota Blackhorse-Von Jess
US Women:
Rosie Brennan
Lindsey Dehlin
Nicole DeYong
Tazlina Mannix
Kikkan Randall
Katie Ronsse
Morgan Smyth
Laura Valaas
Lindsay Williams
Canadian Men:
Phil Widmer
Chris Werrell
Len Valjas
Frederic Touchette
Terrell Stephen
Dan Roycroft
Julien Nury
Graham Nishikawa
David Nighbor
Brent McMurtry
Devon Kershaw
Alex Harvey
Drew Goldsack
Cameron Egan
Sean Crooks
Chris Butler
Charles Brassard
Canadian Women:
Amanda Ammar
Kate Brennan
Sarah Daitch
Andrea Dupont
Daria Gaiazova
Rhonda Jewett
Perianne Jones
Marlies Kromm
Alysson Marshall
Emily Nishikawa
Sara Renner
Shayla Swanson
Brittany Webster
Heidi Widmer
Madeleine Williams
Pursuit
According to US Coach Chirs Grover, no men will be racing both the distance race and the sprints. Two women are scheduled to do so – Lindsey Dehlin and Nicole DeYong. Pursuit start list is still subject to change. Both the US and Canada will have 4 teams in both the men’s and the women’s Team Sprint.
US Men:
James Southam
Lars Flora
Noah Hoffman
Brent Knight
Matt Leibsch
Leif Zimmermann
Brayton Osgood
US Women:
Caitlin Compton
Lindsey Dehlin
Nicole DeYong
Tazlina Mannix
Morgan Arritola
Liz Stephen
Kate Arduser
Kristina Trygstad-Saari
Evelyn Dong
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