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From the FasterSkier archive — posts syndicated from athletes’ and coaches’ own blogs between 2004 and 2012, kept online as published. Current coverage is at fasterskier.com.

Tag: Erzurum World Junior Championships

  • Beatty Top North American Performer in World Juniors Classic Distance (Video)

    Beatty Top North American Performer in World Juniors Classic Distance (Video)

    ERZURUM, Turkey — Dahria Beatty (CAN) and Janelle Greer (CAN) led the way for the North Americans on Wednesday at World Juniors in the 5 k classic, finishing 25th and 28th, respectively—within 7.3 seconds of each other. Both women said they had hoped for more, but were stymied by the tough course at altitude in Kindalli, a feeling many athletes pointed out.

    The need to conserve energy threw Beatty off her usual sea-level racing strategy.

    “I usually start out pretty hard in races, I find it hard to pace slow,” she said. “That doesn’t have a bad effect at lower altitude, but you definitely feel it differently here.”

    Though she was conscious of the need to conserve energy in the beginning, Beatty didn’t start slowly enough.

    “I started out a bit too hard in retrospect,” she said. “I made up a lot of time on a girl in the first kilometer, and actually caught her, but I realized once the hills came that I had started out faster than I thought I had. My arms and legs definitely were feeling really tired.”

    Beatty striding up the long climb at Kindalli.

    “I’m a little disappointed, but I went as hard as I could even though I didn’t quite pace it properly.”

    Beatty’s goal had been to finish in the top 20 and be within a minute of the winner.

    “I didn’t accomplish either of those, but there’s still another race.”

    Greer had similarly been hoping for a top 20 finish, but was satisfied that she, too had skied as hard as she could.

    Anne-Marie Comeau was the next Canadian woman to finish in 39th; Emilie Stewart-Jones was 42nd.

    For the American women, Corey Stock led the way in 40th. Mary O’Connell was 54th and Stephanie Kirk finished 61st. Check watch the video above for Stock’s and O’Connell’s account of their races.

    Turgeon Five Seconds out of 30th

    Alexis Turgeon (CAN) posted the best men’s North American 10 k result in 33rd. In the video above, he says he’s satisfied his effort, and is encouraged by the fact that he’s been feeling better each week this season.

    Logan Hanneman (USA) finished close behind Turgeon in 35th, which was short of his goal. Hanneman also makes an appearance in the interview video, so give it a watch.

    Geoffrey Richards (CAN) was the next North American in 41st, Will Wicherski (USA) finished 61st, Mike Vigers (USA) was 68th, and Knute Johnsgaard (NOR) was 73rd. Morgan Cole was 78th.

    Men’s results

    Women’s results

  • Death of Coach Casts Pall Over Strong Russian Performances at World Juniors

    Death of Coach Casts Pall Over Strong Russian Performances at World Juniors

    Men's 10 k classic champion Sergey Ustiugov.

    ERZURUM, Turkey — It takes quite a bit to detract from what was nearly a clean dual podium sweep in the men’s and women’s classic distance races at World Juniors on Wednesday. Natalia Zhukova (RUS) won the women’s 5 k ahead of compatriots Elena Soboleva and Elena Serokhvostava.

    On the men’s side Sergey Ustiugov (RUS) took his second victory of these championships, with teammate Ermil Vokuev behind in second. Norway’s Sindre Bjoernestad Skar was the lone athlete to break through the Russian ranks, placing third in the 10 k.

    Russian coaches barely let on about the death of one of their own, Sergei Zorin, throughout competition on Wednesday. The Erzurum organizing committee held a moment of silence for him at the coaches meeting Wednesday evening, which was how many coaches found out what had happened earlier that morning.

    U.S. trip leader and US Ski Team development coach Bryan Fish said he was told the news earlier in the day, but details were kept quiet by team staff—even from the Russian athletes themselves, who not informed that Zorin had passed away until after the women’s flower ceremony. The top three girls were seen crying shortly after stepping off the podium.

    According to Russian broadcaster RIA Novosti, 43-year-old Zorin was found dead in his hotel room at 6:30 am local time Wednesday morning after he failed to respond to his hotel wake-up call. Turkish news sources mentioned that alcohol was found in his room, but an official cause of death is not currently known.

    Despite the unfortunate news, Russia’s collective performance cannot be overlooked. They posted two gold medals, two silvers, a bronze, and four in the top nine in both the men’s and women’s races.

    Competitors started in reverse seed order for the 5 and 10 k, and when the top skiers came through coaches’ corner at the high point of the course, it was clear that the Russians were in complete control. None made strides up the hill with as much power as Zhukova and Ustiugov—the challenging, long climbs demanded efficient and powerful classic technique.

    Ustiugov, who dominated the junior sprint competition on Monday, was somehow surprised with his victory on Wednesday.

    “I’m in heaven!” he said after the flower ceremony through a translator. “It’s a complete surprise for me. I am extremely happy today. I tried to do my best and I was fighting till the end.”

    Ustiugov was not the last competitor out on the course, but after he began his descent down the long hill back to the stadium for the second time, most of the remaining spectators on the course called it a day and headed back to watch results come in on the jumbotron.

    Zhukova was similarly taken aback by her own performance.

    “I can hardly believe I have just become the World Champion. I did not expect to be on the podium, it is a complete surprise for me. I hoped to be top 10 today,” said Zhukova.

    Women’s 5 k results

    Men’s 10 k results

    The women's 5 k podium, L to R: Elena Serokhvostova (RUS), Natalia Zhukova (RUS), Elena Soboleva (RUS).