Images by Phil Bowen for www.competitiveimage.us

Torin Koos getting every last second out of it - Drammen, NOR.  His 30th in qualifying was impressive considering his preparation over the last month.  This was a tough sprint.

The Women's pursuit in Falun.  Beckie Scott (just behind #6) took charge of this one early and pushed at the front of the race most of the way.  She is gaining on the overall World Cup lead - the final races should be excitting.

Beckie pulling it apart from the front.

Lindsay Williams - up-and-coming.

Kikkan Randall.  Great WC and Olympic campaign!

Carl Swenson in Falun. He raced his last World Cup yesterday - Holmenkollen.  Congratulations on a long and excellent career Carl and great luck to you in Law School.

Kris Freeman in Falun.  Plans for next year's prep are coming together.  It is important to point out that making good training plans is the easy part and that the trick is executing the training to absolute perfection.  That means going the right pace, for the right reason at the right time and resting often, well and taking unplanned rest as needed. 

Andrew Newell in Drammen.  This is good double-poling.  Also this is a good uphill here and you can see how far forward and up on the poles Newell gets even in this terrain.

Check out the crowds.  This is cross country ski racing in Norway - just a Thursday at 3 in the afternoon.  Here Svartedal is looking over his shoulder as Newell comes on strong.  Newell ended up 8th on the day.  He is solidly in the Red Group heading to China for the final WC individual sprint on Wednesday.

Chris Cook - up-and-coming.

Holmenkollen shots are still to come.  Next stop China, then Japan.  It's been a trip - we left home in late October and excepting for a little time around late December we've been on the road ever since.  Most of the skiers will be returning to the US and heading up to Northern Maine for Spring Series.  

In spite of all the travel my motivation is very high.  I'm excitted to go to Asia and finish off the season with some great races.

I haven't been added it up really but thinking about it we have had 5 different skiers in the top 5 on the World Cup over the past 4 years and 4 of those skiers are going on for at least 4 more years.  Kris Freeman (best place is 4th), Kikkan Randall (best place 5th), Andrew Newell (best place 4th) and Carl Swenson (best place 5th).

This is important not to pat ourselves on the back and sit back but to recognize the progress we have made.  There was a time we seldom if ever got anyone in the top 20.

I would like to thank Trond Nystad for his leadership.  He has helped reveal the diamond in the rough that is US skiing and now our task is to fully uncover it.   It will not be easy but the hard work will be easier to stick to knowing that the diamond is there.  Trond is largely responsible for bringing it to light.  People outside of the team maybe unaware of the amount of work and energy (not to mention expertise) Trond put into the team.  He lived it and brought life to it.  This cannot be overstated.  Thank you Trond.

I would also like to thank Vidar Loefshus who played a very big role in the success of our sprinters.  I would like to point out that Vidar did not bring any magic formula over from Norway.  He is a very open minded, hard working and wise coach who, in my opinion, is an expert in utilizing resources.  His plan was built around our sports science department, strength and physiology testing and was a long way from a traditional Norwegian training plan.  Thank you Vidar.

Both Vidar and Trond are moving on from the team.  I will miss these guys as coaches and as good friends.

(all photos from www.competitiveimage.us - thanks again to Phil for taking these great shots and sharing them with us.)