Dave Chamberlain fighting though it for fifth.  A lot of new snow fell the day prior to the race, then it rained, then the sun came out, then we had a few ski races in some serious slush on some good, hard courses.

Abby Larson slushed it out to take third.  The Subaru Factory Team had a good day yesterday.

Andrew Johnson heads down the final hill toward the finish.  A hard few weeks of training didn't seem to tucker him out too bad - plus it was his birthday.

Ivan and slush work well together.  If the Russians don't take this guy to the Olympics... what are they thinking?

Chasing Ivan.  Sounds like an '80s submarine thriller.  Kris Freeman, Carl Swenson, Andrew Johnson.  This one got away.

All three U.S. racers have put in two very good weeks of training.  Example, two days before the race Carl lifted weights in the morning and skied 2.5hours in the afternoon.  The Games are coming!

One of the young ones.  SVSEF's Morgan Arritola... going up!

Rebecca Dussault, Morgan Arritola, Abby Larson (out of site), Kikkan Randall, Liz Stephen (Burke Mtn - the other young gun - 4th place).

Some good lead up training as well as paying extra attention to staying healthy helped Rebecca to yesterday's win.

Races start up again tomorrow.  Men's sprint prelims at 9:30, Women at 10:30.  Heats at noon.

The course should be in good shape as the temperatures look like they'll cool off at night and be warm in the day.

(Vordenberg Images)