I noticed on the collegiate level, many XC Runners also compete on the XC Ski Team. Northern Michigan University and Alaska Anchorage are some examples.
I noticed on the collegiate level, many XC Runners also compete on the XC Ski Team. Northern Michigan University and Alaska Anchorage are some examples.
Good race today in the Men's Skiathlon. Not that surprising to see a Norway 1-2-3. Very surprised it didn't include Klaebo. Obviously early but I wonder if it's a indication he's been a bit over raced or maybe just didn't prioritize an Olympic peak.
Good show from Andy Musgrave and Scott Patterson.
Military Vet wrote:
I noticed on the collegiate level, many XC Runners also compete on the XC Ski Team. Northern Michigan University and Alaska Anchorage are some examples.
True for those schools but it is sort of the other way around... the ski team uses cross country to get some races in the fall, and they don’t really have a cross country program. At least that’s how it seemed when I was coaching XC.
slowshoes wrote:
Good race today in the Men's Skiathlon. Not that surprising to see a Norway 1-2-3. Very surprised it didn't include Klaebo. Obviously early but I wonder if it's a indication he's been a bit over raced or maybe just didn't prioritize an Olympic peak.
Good show from Andy Musgrave and Scott Patterson.
Yes. For Patterson to break into the top 20, only a little only over a minute off the winning time is excellent for him, I think. Bit of a disappointing day for Hoffman. Sprint quals tomorrow should be interesting.
Hup hup wrote:
slowshoes wrote:
Good race today in the Men's Skiathlon. Not that surprising to see a Norway 1-2-3. Very surprised it didn't include Klaebo. Obviously early but I wonder if it's a indication he's been a bit over raced or maybe just didn't prioritize an Olympic peak.
Good show from Andy Musgrave and Scott Patterson.
Yes. For Patterson to break into the top 20, only a little only over a minute off the winning time is excellent for him, I think. Bit of a disappointing day for Hoffman. Sprint quals tomorrow should be interesting.
Great result for Patterson that's probably his best at this level (World Cup included where he's been in the 30s this year and last), and I don't even think Kris Freeman ever placed top 20 at the Olympics. So big day for USA men. Audun Endestad got 15th or so at 50K in 1984 and of course have to go back to 1976 for the first and only medal.
Comeback of the year for Kruger - to fall, break both poles, and be some 25 second back after the start. And then to catch the lead pack and then put the hammer down. Klaebo has raced a lot on the world cup. He'll be back and will win a ton of medals in his career.
Coyote Montane wrote:
Bad Wigins wrote:
[quote]Coyote Montane wrote:
No, she's not - 11 to 12, and she's still 2 behind on GOLDS.
As long as we're knowing things.
Anyway, female all time medalist?
No way is that enough for the manliest female of all time. She must beat Dahlie.
Disappointing day for the US Men. Bummer about the crash for Simi as I thought he had the legs to get out of the quarters.
Surprising to see Jessie and Sadie in this sprint. They did well, Jessie in particular, but I would think we would save them for the 10 and the relay.
slowshoes wrote:
Disappointing day for the US Men. Bummer about the crash for Simi as I thought he had the legs to get out of the quarters.
Surprising to see Jessie and Sadie in this sprint. They did well, Jessie in particular, but I would think we would save them for the 10 and the relay.
Not so surprising to see Bjornsen & Diggins in the sprint, though whether it was wise is a different question. Sadie sat out the skiathlon, obviously saving herself for the sprint. And Diggins was USA's best chance for a medal in the sprint, so why hold her back? The questionable decision was having Diggins race the skiathlon. Hopefully, with a day off, Diggins can recover for the 10k -- her best event.
In any case, any event that Diggins enters is the USA's best chance for an Olympic cross country medal -- with the 10k on the 15th, followed by the team sprint free (with Bjornsen) on the 18th. I don't think the team is deep enough to threaten for a medal in the 4x5k, and the 30k is out of reach, too.
Agree about Hamilton's tough luck. Had hoped he would maybe even get to the finals.
Diggins takes 5th in the 10k, following a two-person tie for third. She is banging on that door in every race, but can't quite knock it down.
Good showing by Sadie Bjornsen to take 15th and Kikkan Randall to finish 16. Three women in the top 20 is nice.
USA should definitely have a puncher's chance in the 4x5 relay on the 17th -- Has Chris Grover announced the athletes? Presume the team would be Diggins, Bjornsen, Randall and... Caldwell?
And Marit Bjoergen got that 12th medal (bronze). One more and she is tied for most ever in the Winter Olympics.
The French guys do well, Manificat and company. In biathlon, Fourcade is a beast.
Ghost
Technique takes years to acquire in cc skiing, but skating easier to acquire compared with classic.
Hup hup wrote:
slowshoes wrote:
Disappointing day for the US Men. Bummer about the crash for Simi as I thought he had the legs to get out of the quarters.
Surprising to see Jessie and Sadie in this sprint. They did well, Jessie in particular, but I would think we would save them for the 10 and the relay.
Not so surprising to see Bjornsen & Diggins in the sprint, though whether it was wise is a different question. Sadie sat out the skiathlon, obviously saving herself for the sprint. And Diggins was USA's best chance for a medal in the sprint, so why hold her back? The questionable decision was having Diggins race the skiathlon. Hopefully, with a day off, Diggins can recover for the 10k -- her best event.
In any case, any event that Diggins enters is the USA's best chance for an Olympic cross country medal -- with the 10k on the 15th, followed by the team sprint free (with Bjornsen) on the 18th. I don't think the team is deep enough to threaten for a medal in the 4x5k, and the 30k is out of reach, too.
Agree about Hamilton's tough luck. Had hoped he would maybe even get to the finals.
Norway is going to walk away with it. But open with Bjornsen and Caldwell for the classic legs, Randall for 3rd leg, and Diggins to bring it home (as far as lack of depth, they're all top 16 in these Olympics). USA is well matched with Sweden, but they have Kalla and should be stronger. Biggest challenger for USA might be Slovakia but US has more depth and has done very well at World Cup and World Championships.
haya haya wrote:
[Norway is going to walk away with it. But open with Bjornsen and Caldwell for the classic legs, Randall for 3rd leg, and Diggins to bring it home (as far as lack of depth, they're all top 16 in these Olympics). USA is well matched with Sweden, but they have Kalla and should be stronger. Biggest challenger for USA might be Slovakia but US has more depth and has done very well at World Cup and World Championships.
Very pleased to see Randall move up from 40th in the Skiathlon to 16th in the 10k -- if she can hold at least that form and Caldwell can stay with the leaders early, and if Diggins isn't gassed entering her fourth event in eight days, then I agree they can medal. A team medal would be a really great accomplishment! Kinda think, though, you have to also watch the Fins and the Russians. Sedova, Nechaevskaya and Zhambalova all were top 20 in the 10k, and Belorukova and Nepryaeva were third and fourth in the sprint. We'll see...
Sweden might actually have a better chance of taking home the women's 4x5 gold with Kalla and Nilsson. If they're anywhere near norway after the first two legs, you can't get a better leg 3-4 combo than that. I think the only way for Norway to outduel Sweden is if their classic skiers get back on form and Haga has another stellar day in leg 3 and widens a gap.
On a separate note, I continue to be disappointed with the head coaches' decisions of the US team. Picking favorites to get to race easier olympic qualifying races, having our best hopes for medals race the tour de ski and being in peak shape in other January races (this one is a problem every year), and still over racing them at the championships. The coaches need to stop trying to be the athletes' groupies and giving in to their high competitive drive and do their professional job better; which is to direct the athletes' effort more wisely. It's like none of the US coaches know what's good for the athletes in the long run like a good parent knows when not to be a friend to their kid - oh, wait, none of them are parents and they don't understand that type of role. Not to mention probably how smashed they're getting most nights over there. I don't wish to turn this thread negative, but the effectiveness of the US coaches/directors should be noted if we're talking about xc skiing. Far and away, head and shoulders above the US coaches, the best thing going for the team are the athletes over there. They truly are exceptional people and will continue to be better every year.
skier wrote:
Sweden might actually have a better chance of taking home the women's 4x5 gold with Kalla and Nilsson. If they're anywhere near norway after the first two legs, you can't get a better leg 3-4 combo than that. I think the only way for Norway to outduel Sweden is if their classic skiers get back on form and Haga has another stellar day in leg 3 and widens a gap.
On a separate note, I continue to be disappointed with the head coaches' decisions of the US team. Picking favorites to get to race easier olympic qualifying races, having our best hopes for medals race the tour de ski and being in peak shape in other January races (this one is a problem every year), and still over racing them at the championships. The coaches need to stop trying to be the athletes' groupies and giving in to their high competitive drive and do their professional job better; which is to direct the athletes' effort more wisely. It's like none of the US coaches know what's good for the athletes in the long run like a good parent knows when not to be a friend to their kid - oh, wait, none of them are parents and they don't understand that type of role. Not to mention probably how smashed they're getting most nights over there. I don't wish to turn this thread negative, but the effectiveness of the US coaches/directors should be noted if we're talking about xc skiing. Far and away, head and shoulders above the US coaches, the best thing going for the team are the athletes over there. They truly are exceptional people and will continue to be better every year.
It's going to be a good race and in the relays surprising things can happen if a skier latches onto one of the stars in the earlier stages of the races.
As far as the second part, well things haven't changed a lot in decades. We'll see if Diggins is diggin' a hole. Seems like they should have tagged the three best chances for a medal (seems like the relays and 10K were her best chances). But yeah if they come home empty handed there will be a lot of second guessing on Tour de Ski and January World Cup racing, not to mention the 30K--which was close but you also could see she was just hanging on and never quite a factor in the race. Last time it was Randall who had a great season before and after the Olympics but was off her game in Sochi. Diggins is so close.
Skating considered cooler, but classic is actually better. Closer to running too. Anyone see Klaebo win the sprint? Must watch him climb that hill.
Klaebo is amazing wrote:
Skating considered cooler, but classic is actually better. Closer to running too. Anyone see Klaebo win the sprint? Must watch him climb that hill.
I'm by no means good at XC skiing, but I always found skating to be more fun.
skier wrote:
Sweden might actually have a better chance of taking home the women's 4x5 gold with Kalla and Nilsson. If they're anywhere near norway after the first two legs, you can't get a better leg 3-4 combo than that. I think the only way for Norway to outduel Sweden is if their classic skiers get back on form and Haga has another stellar day in leg 3 and widens a gap.
Sweden will have Haag on the first leg. A rather controversial decision, since her form has sucked lately.
Bad Wigins wrote:
The greatest skier used to be Northug but not anymore. Dario Cologna is gonna win, unless Legkov gets back in.
Cologna gets his gold in the 15k -- continuing a string of Olympic victories started in Vancouver. He is the man at 15k!
Klaebo didn't race; no doubt Norway is saving him for the relay.
Scott Patterson is again the best of the US men at 21st, following his 18th place in the Skiathlon. He is having a good Olympics.