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West and SoHo
Dear readers. The following is a compilation of West Yellowstone and Soldier Hollow news. It’s like a make-up assignment (I was unable to receive and post their emails and tales). Make up assignments are something skier/students are used to doing… see teacher, we’ll be on the road racing - and though the teacher scowls at us, that’s just how it’s going to be - so give me an F or give me an A, I’m on my way – here’s my assignment… to make up for the time I’m gone.
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\r\n(From Sharbel Dussault)
\r\nRebecca kicks off the season with a win in the 6.5k classic race here in West Yellowstone. The conditions were perfect with fresh snow and 24 degree sunny weather. There were about 94 women who raced today and about 105 men. Rebecca was relieved to get this race done with. There are always a lot of nerves and excitement for the first race of the year. Tomorrow everyone will be back at it again for a fun day of sprint racing. We have posted some information about the SuperTour race series that Rebecca and the others will be racing in here in the states. Attached are a few pictures from the womens race.
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\r\nTop 5 results:
\r\nFull results will be posted at fasterskier.com
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\r\nWomen 6.5 km classical technique
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\r\n1. Rebecca Dussault 19:20
\r\n2. Jaana Rehemaa 19:34
\r\n3. Alison Crocker 19:48
\r\n4. Aubrey Smith 20:02
\r\n5. Lindsey Weier 20:11
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\r\nMen 13 km classical technique
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\r\n1. David Chamberlain 33:18
\r\n2. Chad Giese 33:26
\r\n3. Tor Erik Schellerud 33:39
\r\n4. James Southam 33:50
\r\n5. Chris Cook 33:54
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\r\nSuperTour News - New for 2005 (from Sharbel – not an official USST statement)
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\r\nThe 2005 SuperTour, which kicks off on November 26 in West Yellowstone, MT, will feature some new and exciting elements for the athletes this season:
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\r\n$122,600 in prize money will be awarded to the winners this year. Prize money at all sites (with the exception of National Championship events) will be paid to the top-10 finishers. National championship events will pay to the top-3 finishers.
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\r\nThe FIS North America Marathon Cup features the top marathon distance events in the SuperTour, and with the addition of the Noquemanon in Marquette, MI and the National Marathon Championships at Royal Gorge, CA (also part of the SuperTour) will determine North America's best long-distance skiers. The overall Marathon Cup champions will also win
\r\na $2,000 overall prize.
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\r\nThe 2005 overall SuperTour champion will win a $2,500 overall prize, and the SuperTour sprint champions will receive $1,000. The overall sprint champion will be crowned at the City of Lakes Downtown Sprints on Minneapolis' Hennepin Avenue on February 5.
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\r\nDouble SuperTour points will be awarded at all national championship events.
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\r\nThe overall male and female SuperTour leaders as of January 24 will receive a personal invitation by FIS to compete in all World Cup competitions in March, 2005. Each World Cup organizer in March will also provide the leaders with room and board at the World Cup race venues from March 3 through March 20 (airfare expenses are the responsibility of the competitors), if the champions compete in each World Cup in March.
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\r\nAdditionally, the second and third-placed male and female in the overall SuperTour standings as of January 24 will also receive a personal invitation by FIS to compete in all World Cup competitions in March, 2005, but the athletes will have to provide their own air and ground transportation, as well as room and board. Additionally, those athletes should be prepared to provide their own coaching support.
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\r\n(more from Sharbel)
\r\nToday we awoke to falling snow and cold temperatures, but that didn't keep anyone from racing or getting out to enjoy the beautiful trails.
\r\nToday's race was a skate sprint held on the Rendezvous trail system right on the edge of town. The course was about 900 meters long with a slight down hill, one short steep uphill, one long gradual uphill and a long flat finishing stretch. The action got underway with the prologue
\r\nwhich qualifies the fastest sixteen skiers that will move on to the next three heats of four skiers. Rebecca won the qualifier by six tenths of a second. It is always an advantage to win the prologue because the winner gets to pick which lane they want and they usually have an easier quarterfinal and semifinal heat. After the prologue we went back to the hotel for a little rest and lunch. The quarterfinals started at 1:30 and Rebecca won her heat. She went on to win the
\r\nsemifinal with no problems. She was determined today just like yesterday. She has an amazing drive and focus on race days, she motivates herself and uses it to her advantage. When it came time for the final she found herself at the starting line against Sandra Gredig from Switzerland skiing for the University of Utah, Karin Camenisch from Switzerland skiing for Rossignol, and Shayla Swanson from Canada.
\r\nAt the sound of the gun they bolted off of the line and Rebecca quickly took the lead into the first right hand corner and remained in the lead for the entire race. She came across the line with her hands above her head and a big smile on her face. She dedicated this win to us on our 5th wedding anniversary. We will have a much better feeling as we leave West Yellowstone tomorrow than we did last year. In these same races last year Rebecca got 2nd in the classic and fourth in the sprint. The next races will be at the Solider Hollow Olympic venue in Utah, Dec. 11, 12 15, 18, and 19th.
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\r\n(From Vidar the Wise)
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\r\nWest Yellowstone Report. While the National Team are chasing their points in the World Cup, the Development Team and the Sprinters chase the good feeling of skiing in West. When arriving Montana last Tuesday I think all the athletes, me included was a little bit disappointed seeing that the tracks did not have all the snow I have been dreaming of the whole fall. However after skiing the first afternoon we were psyched about being on snow again. As a coach I saw the potential of shoveling in town. At the same time the organizers started grooming on the plateau. Thursday morning we were skiing on the plateau under perfect conditions. After shoveling for two days in town, all the bare spots were covered and no one had to take their skis of and carry them over those spots. Late Thursday night it started snowing, YES!!!! On Friday morning everyone rushed to the window, looking for the foot we have been waiting for….. ONE INCH, what a disappointment….The next time we were skiing in town none of us had really high expectation. But after skiing in town that session I am pretty sure I have never seen an inch of snow done such miracles to the conditions of skiing………. These six days in West have been good for us, we have been working hard on our technique and at the same time we have been keeping the volume up – putting some money in the bank for the season coming up. Doing some intervals on Monday and taking a day of on Tuesday and we will be ready for the races on next Friday and Saturday. Stay with us, we will give our comments on how we were feeling in the races coming up in WY………..
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\r\n(Vidar continues…)
\r\nWe are back in Park City after twelve good days in West Y. During the weekend it has dropped snow both in PC and at Soldier Hollow, we do not need to use our rollerskis in anymore in Utah this year.
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\r\nAfter the 12k classic on Friday all the guys except Chris Cook (5) were disappointed with their performance, no excuses.....Leif Z (21) said he felt tired in his legs and Torin K (30) and Andrew N (16) were not able to go fast enough. Zack Simons was top 3 in after 6k, getting tired on the second lap. On the women side Rebecca D won the 6k as everyone expected. She is strong and will be even stronger...Aubrey Smith (4) did also perform well, looks like she is on track again. I have been watching her day by day the last month, and have seen her returning to the skier she used to be. Lindsey Weier and Hilary Patzer finished fifth and sixth.
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\r\nIn the women’s sprint (skate) no skiers were even close to threaten Rebecca, she was playing with the other once. Aubrey was fighting hard in the B-finale and ended 6. Hilary was not pleased about her sprinting being knocked out in the quarterfinal. Lindsey DNQ.
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\r\nIn the sprint men we did really well, all Chris(4), Andrew(1) and Torin(2) made it all the way through to the finale. Leif was kicked out in the quarterfinal in a photofinisher. He looked strong and could as well as the other guys been the guy fighting for the top podium. Simons almost beat Chamberlain in the B-finale.
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\r\nThe men’s sprint had all the ingredients we were waiting for. The photo finish between Leif, Torin and Lars Flora in the quarterfinals, Andrews spectacular finish in his quarterfinal just ahead the 4 racers, Torin losing a basket on his pool, getting a new pool, catching up and winning his semifinal. Chris and Andrew just walking in for the A-final in their semifinal, after Chad Giese and Steve Scott hooked in their battle for keeping up with the them.
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\r\nRebecca seems to be on the top of the game. Chris Cook is probably better than ever, considering having a cold traveling up to West. It looks like Andrew and Torin still are the best sprinters in the US, we must wait an see how they can perform in the World Cup before judging their improvement. Leif’s sprint on Saturday made me feel comfortable that he will have a great season this year.....
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\r\nGo to http://www.rendezvousskitrails.com/events.htm for results from the races.
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\r\n(Vidar goes on…)
\r\nSoldier Hollow is Ready for Races…..
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\r\nToday (Saturday) they opened the Sprint-Course down at Soldier Hollow. It was perfect conditions with two feet of manmade snow. They have also groomed several of the other Olympic tracks; however at this point of time it is not enough snow there to use race-skis. When it is cold like this they are making tons of snow down there and on Sunday night they will open another 2.5 km. The cold weather is a gift for the organizer down at SoHo, and next week the weather forecast says snow all week…….
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\r\nSince we came back from West Yellowstone we have been skiing up at White Pine and down at Mountain Del. It has been good conditions, on a few inches of snow.
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\r\nThe guys staying in PC are doing well. Unfortunately did Leif get stomach flu and Chris C. had a slight cold after returning from West Y. They are doing much better now and will be doing intervals on Monday, going into next week with races on Saturday and Sunday…….
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\r\nKeep checking in, we’ll try to be more punctual in the future, but sometimes ski racing gets in the way, and folks, that’s just how it’s going to be.
\r\nEnjoy
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Riverside trail. Obertilliach.
Written By: petevDate Posted: 12/9/2004Number of Views: 254
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