FasterSkier caught up with some of the Canadians to talk about the first two cross country races.

FasterSkier shot some video (as usual, shaky), at the distance and sprint races at the Canmore World Cup. Check out some shots of Kris Freeman (USA) and Dario Cologna (SUI) in the distance race, Emil Joensson (SWE) and Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) skiing to dominating victories in the sprint, and a few others. The video from the sprint finals is worth watching just to see the size of the margins of victory…

FasterSkier got some videos from this morning’s action in the qualifier. A couple of interviews with Americans Simi Hamilton and Katie Ronsse, as well as some skiing, with shots of Andy Newell, Emil Joensson (SWE), Petra Majdic (SLO), and others. The clips of Ronsse and Newell are below, and the rest will be available at FasterSkier’s YouTube page within the hour, when they’re finished uploading.

Nothing special, but we got a few video clips of some Americans and some international skiers racing yesterday in Canmore. Check it out below–clips of Dario Cologna, Holly Brooks, and Kris Freeman.

Better late than never: a quick video with U.S. athletes Tad Elliot and Noah Hoffman following their distance skate races in Canmore. Also, a quick example of the media frenzy in advance of the Olympics: Ivan Babikov being interviewed by his own press attache for a Canadian TV station.

Anna Haag (SWE) finished 5th in today’s 10km freestyle.  Nat Herx talked to her in the finish area.

Post-race interview with 10km winner Charlotte Kalla (SWE).

Petra Majdic (SLO), one of top women on the World Cup circuit, arrived in Canmore yesterday and is scheduled to race both races, pending how she feels.  Majdic took some time to fill us in after a ski.  As always, she was a pleasure to talk to.

Last time Chandra Crawford (CAN) raced a World Cup on her home course, she won.  Two-years later Chandra will again take to the snow against many of the best sprinters in the World.  But the focus at this point is on the Olympics.  Chandra missed all of last season with serious foot problems, and Fischer made her a pair of custom boots (see below for a photo).  Nat talks to Chandra about these issues and more today in Canmore.

Chandra's custom Fischer boots – all stealthed out as they are a prototype

nbsp;Skierpost.com has assembled video highlights of the 2010 Tour de Ski.  Great video and great ski racing.  You can watch them here:

Review of the Tour de Ski 2010