Comments for World Cup

Comment on Newell on Podium in Drammen by Dave Knoop

Dave Knoop — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:36:16 +0000

Woot!

Comment on Newell on Podium in Drammen by jeff

jeff — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:45:55 +0000

Andy way to rock out in Drammen!!

Comment on Newell on Podium in Drammen by Fletcher Koos

Fletcher Koos — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:15:43 +0000

Congratulations Andy.

Comment on Newell on Podium in Drammen by andyhardy

andyhardy — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:37:04 +0000

Go Newell! This is great news man!

Comment on Bjoergen and Kowalczyk Downplay Asthma Comments by Jan Gerrit Klok

Jan Gerrit Klok — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:09:24 +0000

I don’t know the skinny of this stuff, but a small advantage is to be had by healthy athletes in some cases for sure. That’s why WADA has cared for these meds at all.
If you’re an elite athlete with support staff though, getting an exemption approved is as easy as hand-picked skis from the factory.

I happen to be an amateur athelete, without trainers or doctors. Just a smalltown housedoc specializing in old people with bone aches. I happen to be dependent on Salbutamol to perform over ~30% aerobically (I can boost VO2 without meds to only ~70% with a devastatingly hard and long warm-up supported by non-listed anti-histaminae) between June and November, due to allergies I picked up in June 2003. I effectively quit (my national level, not top elite) top sports then.

WADA has for 2010 reduced the level of ban on Salbutamol (not sure what Marit uses), making my doc’s recipe sufficient when I get dope tested. I tried to get a formal exmeption done over the years, and hit some walls.
Thanks to WADA’s change, I’m picking up my training. I could not enjoy sports, having to use WADA-illegal meds to work out nearly half the year, killed my enjoyment.
In the winter, I’m fine, I don’t inhale it at all, never. But not training in the summer, kindof gets me fat and slow.
Now I feel less of a cheat, and try to pick back up. I’ll still not inhale in winters, unless my condition should medically force me to.

I sure hope WADA will keep looking closely to whether athletes really NEED their meds. Is the loss of performance without meds really significantly greater than the edge healthy athetes can gain from it?

Comment on A Wet Women’s 30km Classic – Kowalczyk Wins Gold by bellabellasuma

bellabellasuma — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:02:25 +0000

I felt like the 30km race had a bit of NASCAR intrigue. I really enjoyed watching the new FIS rule be implemented. For those of you not in the know, a racer is allowed to change both skis up to 3 times during a distance race (or something close to that). It certainly infused drama and invoked strategy for racers and coaches alike. Making a “pit stop” gained new meaning for nordic skiers. On a side note, does the Fasterskier staff and/or blog fans have any information about the accusations being thrown around between Kowalczyk and the Norwegian women? I have heard Kowalczyk has made reference to the 6 Norwegian xc woman that have “asthma” along with their inhaler medications. Any truth to this matter of any underhanded cheating? Or was Kowalczyk misinterpreted? Are there 6 Norwegian xc woman with an official medical diagnosis of asthma? Seems like a lot. In any event, Kowalczyk ran a hellava race. Nice to see her earn gold!

Comment on McKeever to Sit Out 50K by Jennifer Mygatt

Jennifer Mygatt — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:12:44 +0000

Agreed. Did he not win the Olympic Qualification 50k?…(Sorry, rhetorical question.) I’m disappointed that result didn’t cement his spot in the Olympic 50k.

Comment on McKeever to Sit Out 50K by Scott Perras

Scott Perras — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:23:34 +0000

That’s surprising, even though those 4 boys display a lot of talent you would think ones fuel would be a little more depleted after a two weeks of racing and someone who is fresh and strong would have a good shot at out performing one of the four.

Comment on Demong Trumps Historic Silvers with A Golden Day by andyhardy

andyhardy — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:26:30 +0000

Yeah Billy! Awesome!!! Great job today team USA!!!

Comment on Men’s 30km Pursuit – Roll Those Sleeves Up by FasterSkier

FasterSkier — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:53:51 +0000

Hellner did step on Northug’s pole and was asked about it in the Press Conference. He said Northug moved in front of him, and it was obviously an accident. He also said it happened when the pace was slow and did not impact the race. That is certainly not what the Norwegians say, and given where it happened, it probably did make a difference.

The Norwegians certainly have been talking about it quite a bit, but I don’t think anyone says it was intentional.