A Craftsbury volunteer removes the timing chip of a Northern Michigan University skier after the men’s 50 k classic mass start at 2018 U.S. Distance Nationals in Craftsbury, Vt. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
Here at FasterSkier, the primacy of the written word is often emphasized. We remain text driven, but we have delved into videos to help our readership learn more about the sport and of course, we rely on the eyes and vision of sport photographers to deliver visual stories in a way words simply cannot.
John Lazenby is a model of the artist and the deep-in-the-trenches photographer who creates some of the images we feature on FasterSkier. Lazenby lives in Vermont where he practices his craft. You can check out some of his work at his website.
At major nordic ski events, Lazenby remains chill, and is rattle-proof. Sub-zero Lahti, Finland cold is not too cold for Lazenby. Sleep deprived and on a Vermont sunrise internal time-clock is no deterrent to cover the action and send photos our way. His workhorse persistence is an asset to our community. We are better for it.
Lazenby will be shooting for FasterSkier in Seefeld, Austria this February at the Nordic Ski World Championships. Well before then, we wanted to pull together a sample of Lazenby’s kind work as we bring him out, just a little bit, from behind the lens.
Click the image twice for a big look.
Sweden’s Stina Nilsson, Ebba Andersson, Charlotte Kalla and Anna Haag faced the cameras after winning the silver medal in the women’s relay at the 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti. (Photo: John Lazenby)
World Championship enthusiasm from these Swedish fans at Lahti in 2017. There’s more to covering a race than just what happens on the track, and fans are a big part of that.
Jessie Diggins (left) and Sadie Bjornsen wear the USA’s lucky relay socks as they stand on the podium after taking third place in the women’s classic team sprint at the 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti.
Eventual winner Sweden’s Tove Alexandersson in the middle distance race at the International Orienteering Federation World Cup at Craftsbury Outdoor Center, Craftsbury, VT.
Preparing for racers to arrive at the map exchange in the distance race at the International Orienteering Federation World Cup at Craftsbury Outdoor Center, Craftsbury, VT.
Sometimes it seems wrong to get your camera wet in falling snow: but what’s skiing without skiing in newly falling snow and what’s ski photography with images of a snowstorm? I usually keep at least a small camera with me in a belt pack when skiing.
As the sun set, it was so cold that the battery in my camera froze into a non-working lump during this late afternoon masters’ training session at Craftsbury Outdoor Center last January. But the masters kept skating in the cold, squeaky snow and I was able to get this image before the battery went dead.
Finland’s Aino-Kaisa SAARINEN discards a drink during the 2017 30-kilometer competition at the World Nordic Ski Championships in Lahti, Finland.
USA’s Sadie Bjornsen competiing in the 2017 World Cup finals on the Plains of Abraham, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Behind her is Charlotte Kalla, Sweden.
Italy’s Federico Pellegrino reaches up to shake the hand of Russia’s Sergey Ustiugov after Pellegrino won his first World Championship gold in the sprint in Lahti in 2017. I liked the simplicity of the situation and the fact the Pellegrino, having finally achieved this goal, was flat-out on the ground.
Canadian para athlete Yves Bourque, of Quebec, a veteran of the 2014 Sochi Paralympics
Norway’s Marit Bjorgen with her son, Marius Bjorgen Lundberg, after she won the 15-k skiathlon at the 2017 World Championships, Lahti, Finland. There’s often a lot going on on the sidelines of a race.
“Klaeboing” up a hill is the well-known trademark of Norway’s Johannes Hosflot Klaebo, but it was fairly new when he simply stepped out of the classic track and ran up the big hill just outside the ski stadium in the team sprint in the 2017 World Championships, Lahti, Finland. I was pretty far away, but was able to get fairly close with a telephoto. You can see the technique in the way he lift his right ski.
Considered one of the most popular men in Finland, big Juha Mieto’s racing days were in the 1960s and ’70s, but the four-time Olympian, unmistakable because of his size and his big personality, was out greeting the crowds at Lahti in 2017.
What makes Jessie Diggins Jessie Diggins? Talent, skill, work ethic, toughness, persistence, and sparkle, yes, but also the fact that when she is in contention she simply will not be denied. This photo demonstrates that attitude as she out sprints Sweden’s Stina Nilsson at the 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland for a bronze medal in the team sprint with Sadie Bjornsen.
Craftsbury Nordic Ski Club racer Jack Young of Jay, VT, gets some help from his father, Chris, to adjust his pole straps in the start corral, NENSA Eastern Cup. (Photo: Craftsbury Outdoor Center, December 2016)
2017 Lahti FIS Nordic World Ski Championships; Norway’s Emil Iversen skiing with a broken pole down the finishing stretch after tangling with Finland’s Iivo Niskanen; 200 meters from the line; which cost Norway gold in the men’s classic team sprint at the 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti; Finland.
(Left to right) Canada’s Emily Nishikawa; 2017 Lahti FIS Nordic World Ski Championships; Cendrine Browne; Dahria Beatty; Finland.; and Katherine Stewart-Jones after placing 10th in the women’s 4 x 5 k relay at the 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti
Marit Bjørgen at the 2017 World Champs – winning the 4 x 5 k relay. (Photo: John Lazenby)
US paralympic team member Andy Soule prepares for a race at the US Paralympics Nordic Skiing Festival at Craftsbury Outdoor Center in January of 2016. Soule joined the Army after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and lost both legs when an IED detonated next to his Humvee.
U.S. teammates Sadie Bjornsen (l) and Jessie Diggins after placing third in the women’s classic team sprint at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland. (All photos: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
Whew, that was a whirlwind. Over the last two and a half weeks of Nordic World Championships racing in Lahti, Finland, we witnessed the U.S. and Canadian cross-country teams capture a total of four medals: silver and bronze in the women’s freestyle sprint (with Americans Jessie Diggins and Kikkan Randall, respectively), bronze in the women’s classic team sprint (with U.S. teammates Diggins and Sadie Bjornsen), and gold in the final race of World Championships: the men’s 50-kilometer freestyle mass start (won by Canada’s Alex Harvey).
With two extremely hardworking FasterSkier reporters and a tireless contributing photographer on the ground in Lahti, we did our best to cover these historic moments in skiing history. Thanks to John Lazenby, here is a collection of unseen photos from the last 13 days. View his entire collection on Lazenbyphoto.com.
(Click each photo to enlarge)
Training day on the eve of 2017 Nordic World Championships, Feb. 21, in Lahti, Finland.
A Swedish wax tech testing skis on training day, Tuesday, Feb. 21, in Lahti, Finland.
Members of the Iranian ski team on training day, Feb. 21, in Lahti, Finland.
An Austrian skier on training day, Tuesday, Feb. 21 in Lahti, Finland.
2017 World Championships jump training on Feb. 21 in Lahti, Finland. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
World Championships jump training on Feb. 21 in Lahti, Finland.
Lahti World Championships volunteers soaking up the sun on official training day, Feb. 21.
Volunteers working hard on the first day of 2017 Nordic World Championships, Feb. 22 in Lahti, Finland.
A Latvian team member at the 5/10 k classic qualifying races for 2017 Nordic World Championships, Feb. 22, in Lahti, Finland.
Dahria Beatty (Canadian U25 Team) racing to 37th in the women’s freestyle sprint qualifier on Feb. 23 at 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Ida Sargent (U.S. Ski Team) racing to 27th in the women’s freestyle sprint qualifier on Feb. 23 at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland. She went on to finish 24th overall on the day.
American Ida Sarget (27) racing in the quarterfinals of the women’s freestyle sprint at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland. Sargent placed 24th overall on the day.
Kikkan Randall (U.S. Ski Team) en route to bronze in the women’s freestyle sprint at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Americans Jessie Diggins (l) and Kikkan Randall doing a victory “lap” down the homestretch after placing second and third in the women’s freestyle sprint at 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
The top-three medalists in the women’s freestyle sprint at 2017 Nordic World Championships absorb the crowd, with American Jessie Diggins (l) holding her nation’s flag while standing next to Kikkan Randall (c), who placed third, and Norway’s Maiken Caspersen Falla (r), who won. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
Jessie Diggins (U.S. Ski Team) after placing second in the women’s freestyle sprint at 2017 Nordic World Championships on Feb. 23 in Lahti, Finland.
The women’s freestyle sprint podium at 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland, with Americans Jessie Diggins (l) in second and Kikkan Randall (r) in third, and Norway’s Maiken Caspersen Falla (c) in first.
Alex Harvey (Canadian World Cup Team) racing to 13th in the men’s freestyle sprint qualifier at 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland. He went on to finish the day in 12th overall.
Erik Bjornsen (U.S. Ski Team) racing to 36th in the men’s freestyle sprint qualifier at 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Erik Bjornsen (U.S. Ski Team) racing to 36th in the men’s freestyle sprint qualifier at 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Cole Morgan (Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation) representing the U.S. at 2017 World Championships and racing to 54th in the men’s freestyle sprint qualifier on Feb. 23 in Lahti, Finland.
2017 Lahti FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
U.S. support staff after their team’s double podium in the women’s freestyle sprint at 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland. (From left to right) J.P. Laurin, Chris Grover, Tim Baucom, Andrew Morehouse, Patrick Moore, and Oleg Ragilo.
Austria’s Bernhard Gruber (4) leading his teammate Mario Seidl (5), Estonia’s Kristjan Ilves (3) and Japan’s Akito Watabe (6) during the men’s 10 k Gundersen on Feb. 24 at Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
American Bryan Fletcher (!6) leading Japan’s Yoshito Watabe early in the men’s 10 k Gundersen start in the first nordic-combined competition of 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland, on Feb. 24. Fletcher went on to place 14th and Yoshito Watabe 44th.
Norway’s Marit Bjørgen lead Finland’s Krista Parmakoski and the rest of the lead pack in the women’s 15 k skiathlon at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Norway’s Marit Bjørgen leads Finland’s Krista Parmakoski during the women’s 15 k skiathlon on Saturday at 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland. Bjørgen ultimately won by 4.8 seconds over Parmakoski.
Norway’s Marit Bjørgen racing to a 4.8-second win in the women’s 15 k skiathlon at 2017 Nordic World Championships on Feb. 25 in Lahti, Finland.
Norway’s Marit Bjørgen (4) and Finland’s Krista Parmakoski congratulate each other after duking it out for gold in the women’s 15 k skiathlon on Feb. 25 at Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland. Bjørgen took it by 4.8 seconds.
Finland’s Krista Parmakoski greets her home-country’s crowd after placing second in the women’s 15 k skiathlon on Feb. 25 at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Sweden’s Calle Halfvarsson (13) leading the pack with Norway’s Martin Johnsrud Sundby (1) close during the men’s 30 k skiathlon at 2017 World Championships on Feb. 25 in Lahti, Finland. Halfvarsson went on to place 20th and Sundby second.
2017 Lahti FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
Sweden’s Ida Ingemarsdotter (11) and American Sadie Bjornsen (10) go head to head in the women’s classic sprint final at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Sadie Bjornsen leads Germany’s Stefanie Böhler during the women’s classic team sprint at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Sadie Bjornsen leads Germany’s Stefanie Böhler during the women’s classic team sprint at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Sadie Bjornsen (U.S. Ski Team) racing in the women’s classic team sprint at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Sadie Bjornsen (l) en route to her first World Championships medal, bronze with teammate Jessie Diggins (not shown), in the women’s classic team sprint on Feb. 26 in Lahti, Finland.
Jessie Diggins (10) skiing just ahead of Russia’s Natalia Matveeva (l) and Sweden’s Stina Nilsson (11) during the women’s classic team sprint final at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Jessie Diggins (10) leading Sweden’s Stina Nilsson (11) and Germany’s Nicole Fessel during the women’s classic team sprint final on Feb. 26 at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Jessie Diggins leading the chase pack on the final leg of the women’s classic team sprint final at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Jessie Diggins (l) going head to head with Sweden’s Stina Nilsson down the finishing stretch, just before Diggins clinched bronze ahead of Nilsson in the women’s classic team sprint at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
American Jessie Diggins (r) outlunging Sweden’s Stina Nilsson for bronze in the women’s classic team sprint final on Feb. 26 at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Finland’s Kerttu Niskanen racing in the women’s classic team sprint at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland, where her team (with Aino-Kaisa Saarinen, not shown) ultimately placed fifth.
Canada’s Dahria Beatty racing in the classic team sprint at 2017 World Championships in Lahti Finland, where the Canadian women placed 13th overall.
Canada’s Dahria Beatty racing in the classic team sprint at 2017 World Championships in Lahti Finland, where the Canadian women placed 13th. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
Norway’s Heidi Weng being interviewed after teaming up with Maiken Caspersen Falla (not shown) to win the women’s classic team sprint at 2017 Nordic World Championships on Feb. 26 in Lahti, Finland.
U.S. teammates Sadie Bjornsen (l) and Jessie Diggins after placing third in the women’s classic team sprint at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
American fans/supporters on team-sprint day, Feb. 26, at 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland, including Simi Hamilton’s mom, Simi Hamilton’s mother, Ruth Brown (l).
American Simi Hamilton (r) leads Canada’s Alex Harvey (in red) and a large group (including Kazakhstan’s Ivan Lyuft (19)) during the men’s classic team sprint at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Norway’s Emil Iversen leads Sweden’s Teodor Peterson (4) during the men’s classic team sprint at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Norway with the lead in the men’s classic team sprint final at 2017 Nordic World Championships on Feb. 26 in Lahti, Finland.
Sergey Ustiugov racing to the win for Russia in the men’s classic team sprint on Feb. 26 at World Championships in Lahti, Finland. Ustiugov teamed up with Nikita Kriukov (not shown) for gold.
Sergey Ustiugov racing to the win for Russia in the men’s classic team sprint on Feb. 26 at World Championships in Lahti, Finland. Ustiugov teamed up with Nikita Kriukov (not shown) for gold.
Erik Bjornsen (U.S. Ski Team) anchoring the U.S. to its best team sprint result of fifth place in the men’s classic team sprint at 2017 World Championships on Feb. 26 in Lahti, Finland. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
Norway’s Marit Bjørgen racing to a 41-second win in the women’s 10 k classic at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Norway’s Marit Bjørgen racing to a 41-second win in the women’s 10 k classic at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Norway’s Marit Bjørgen (c) after winning her 16th World Championships gold medal on Feb. 28 in the women’s 10 k classic in Lahti, Finland. Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla (l) placed second and Norway’s Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen (r) finished third.
Norway’s Marit Bjørgen after winning her 16th World Championships gold medal on Feb. 28 in the women’s 10 k classic in Lahti, Finland.
Ben Lustgarten (Craftsbury Green Racing Project) representing the U.S. while skiing to 55th in the men’s 15 k classic at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Ben Lustgarten (Craftsbury Green Racing Project) representing the U.S. while skiing to 55th in the men’s 15 k classic at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Canada’s Devon Kershaw en route to 35th in the men’s 15 k classic at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Finland’s Iivo Niskanen racing to first in the men’s 15 k classic at 2017 Nordic World Championships on March 1 in Lahti, Finland.
Finland’s Iivo Niskanen after winning the men’s 15 k classic on March 1 at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Norway’s Martin Johnsrud Sundby racing to second in the men’s 15 k classic at 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Norway’s Martin Johnsrud Sundby (70) racing to second in the men’s 15 k classic at 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Finland’s Iivo Niskanen in the leader’s chair and Norway’s Martin Johnsrud Sundby (r) on the ground after Sundby finished 17.9 seconds short of Niskanen’s time for the win in the men’s 15 k classic on March 1 at World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Finland’s Iivo Niskanen celebrating his first World Championships gold in the men’s 15 k classic on March 1, 2017 in Lahti, Finland.
American Taylor Fletcher (60) leading Russia’s Samir Mastiev (47) and Estonia’s Han Hendrik Piho (48) during the nordic-combined individual large hill/10 k Gundersen ski race on March 1 at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland. Fletcher placed 36th after starting 51st. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
American Adam Loomis racing to 44th in the nordic-combined individual large hill/10 k Gundersen competition on March 1 at Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Switzerland’s Nathalie von Siebenthal racing the second-fastest third leg of the women’s 4 x 5 k relay at 2017 World Championships on March 2 in Lahti, Finland. Her team finished seventh. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
Finland’s Krista Parmakoski (r) and Sweden’s Stina Nilsson racing for silver in the women’s 4 x 5 k relay on March 2 at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland. Sweden took it by half a second.
Sweden’s anchor Stina Nilsson is congratulated by her teammates (from left to right) Anna Haag, Ebba Andersson and Charlotte Kalla, after Nilsson anchored them to silver in the women’s 4 x 5 k relay at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
The Norwegian women’s relay after taking gold in the 4 x 5 k on March 2 at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland, with (from left to right) Maiken Caspersen Falla, Marit Bjørgen, Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen, and Heidi Weng.
The Swedish women’s relay team, with (from left to right) Stina Nilsson, Ebba Andersson, Charlotte Kalla, and Anna Haag, after taking silver in the 4 x 5 k on March 2 at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Sadie Bjornsen leads her U.S. relay teammates, Liz Stephen, Jessie Diggins and Kikkan Randall, out of the finishing area after placing fourth in the women’s 4 x 5 k on March 2 at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Russia’s Andrey Larkov (r) leading with Norway’s Didrik Tønseth on the first leg of the men’s 4 x 10 k relay at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland. Norway went on to win while Russia placed second.
Russia’s Andrey Larkov leads Norway’s Didrik Tønseth on the first leg of the men’s 4 x 10 k relay at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland. Norway went on to win while Russia placed second.
Russia’s Andrey Larkov leads Norway’s Didrik Tønseth on the first leg of the men’s 4 x 10 k relay at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland. Norway went on to win while Russia placed second.
Germany’s Thomas Bing leading Sweden’s Daniel Rickardsson and Switzerland’s Jason Rueesch during the first leg of the men’s 4 x 10 k relay at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Germany’s Thomas Bing leading Switzerland’s Jason Rueesch and Sweden’s Daniel Rickardsson during the first leg of the men’s 4 x 10 k relay at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
American Kyle Bratrud and Canada’s Graeme Killick skiing the first leg of the men’s 4 x 10 k relay on March 3 at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Canada’s Graeme Killick racing the first leg of the men’s 4 x 10 k relay at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Finland’s Iivo Niskanen skiing the second leg of the men’s 4 x 10 k relay at 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland. His team ultimately placed fifth.
Sweden’s Marcus Hellner (r) leads Germany’s Florian Notz (7) during the men’s 4 x 10 k relay at the 2017 Nordic World Championships on Friday in Lahti, Finland.
Sweden’s Marcus Hellner leads Germany’s Florian Notz during the third leg of the men’s 4 x 10 k relay at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland. Sweden ultimately placed third and Germany sixth. (Photo: John Lazenby)
Russia’s relay anchor Sergey Ustiugov in pursuit of Norway’s Finn Hagen Krogh during the final leg of the men’s 4 x 10 k relay at 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Finn Hagen Krogh is congratulated by his teammates after anchoring Norway to gold in the men’s 4 x 10 k relay on March 3 at World Championships in Lahti, Finland, 4.6 seconds ahead of Russia in second place.
Finn Hagen Krogh is congratulated by his teammates after anchoring Norway to gold in the men’s 4 x 10 k relay on March 3 at World Championships in Lahti, Finland, 4.6 seconds ahead of Russia in second place.
The Norwegian men’s gold-medal relay team with (from left to right) Martin Johnsrud Sundby, Didrik Tønseth, Niklas Dyrhaug, and Finn Hagen Krogh, on March 3 at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
The lead pack in the women’s 30 k freestyle mass start, with (from left to right) Norway’s Marit Bjørgen, Norway’s Heidi Weng, Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla and Norway’s Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen near the front.
The lead pack in the women’s 30 k freestyle mass start, with (from left to right) Norway’s Marit Bjørgen, Norway’s Heidi Weng, Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla and Norway’s Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen near the front.
Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla (5) leads Norway’s Marit Bjørgen (3) in the women’s 30 k freestyle mass start on March 4 at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Chelsea Holmes (Alaska Pacific University) racing for the U.S. and en route to a career-best 13th in the women’s 30 k freestyle mass start at 2017 World Championships.
Canada’s Cendrine Browne racing to a career-best 26th in the women’s 30 k freestyle mass start on March 4 at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Marit Bjørgen (3) leading the pack in the women’s 30 k freestyle mass start on March 4 at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
Marit Bjørgen hugs her Norwegian teammate Ragnhild Haga after they placed first and fourth, respectively in the women’s 30 k freestyle mass start at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Norway’s Marit Bjørgen (r) and American Jessie Diggins embrace after they placed first and fifth, respectively, in the women’s 30 k freestyle mass start on March 4 at the 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
The all-Norwegian women’s 30 k freestyle mass start podium at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland, with Marit Bjørgen (c) in first, Heidi Weng (l) in second, and Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen (r) in third.
Norwegian fans on the women’s 30 k freestyle mass start day, March 4, at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Norwegian fans on the women’s 30 k freestyle mass start day, March 4, at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Chelsea Holmes with her Alaska Pacific University (APU) coach Erik Flora after Holmes placed a career-best 13th in the women’s 30 k freestyle mass start at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
Norway’s Anders Gløersen (14) leading Alex Harvey and the rest of the pack in the men’s 50 k freestyle mass start on March 5 at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Norway’s Anders Gløersen (14) leading Alex Harvey and the rest of the pack in the men’s 50 k freestyle mass start on March 5 at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Russia’s Sergey Ustiugov (4) leading the pack in the men’s 50 k freestyle mass start at 2017 World Championships on March 5 in Lahti, Finland.
American Tad Elliott (41) skiing in the pack of the men’s 50 k freestyle mass start at 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
American Tad Elliott (Ski Club Vail) after placing a career-best 27th in the men’s 50 k freestyle mass start on the last day of 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Canada’s Alex Harvey celebrating his first individual World Championships gold on March 5 after winning the men’s 50 k freestyle mass start 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
The men’s 50 k freestyle mass start podium on March 5 at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland, with Canada’s Alex Harvey (c) in first, Russia’s Sergey Ustiugov (l) in second and Finland’s Matti Heikkinen in third.
Canadian World Championships team members, support staff and fans, including Emily Nishikawa (c) and technical services coordinator Joel Jaques (far right) celebrate Alex Harvey’s gold in the 50 k freestyle mass start on March 5 at 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
An Austrian athlete tests skis as he glides back into the main stadium. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
LAHTI, Finland — Tuesday at Lahti’s venue for the 2017 Nordic World Ski Championships, the sun sets early. Although technically sunset was 5:22 p.m., the sun on this clear-sky day was still wintertime reluctant. It seemed too short a time for the sun’s transect to thaw Lahti. Temps were in the mid-to-low 20 degrees Fahrenheit. But a brisk wind called for down coats and insulated pants for those not actively skiing — in the shade, it felt like the teens.
Basked in an early evening glow, Lahti’s three iconic ski jumps dominate the 2017 Nordic World Championships venue. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
For athletes, it was a day of pre-competition ski and wax testing on bulletproof tracks that gradually deteriorated on the steeper climbs. The ski loops have good coverage. The snow remains coarse, as the tracks are covered with predominately manmade snow with trace amounts of natural snow tilled in.
Lahti’s most dominant feature are its ski jumps, which are among the first objects to catch morning light. The surrounding landscape isn’t marked by serrated mountains, but by subtle hills that make the venue’s three domineering jumps (a K 116, K 90, and K 64), that much more ominous. First nordic-combined skiers then women’s ski jumpers had an opportunity for test flights off the K 90.
On the non-skiing side of things, the venue was abuzz of last-minute prep: television cables being covered for protection before the onslaught of spectators, event producers testing the stadium’s Skycam, sponsors unpacking schwag, and media arriving to pick up credentials. Like the athletes fine tuning before the competition begins, Lahti’s organizers are near set for the big show.
On Wednesday, two qualification races will ensue: the women’s 5-kilometer classic and men’s 10 k classic individual starts. These races are for athletes from “non-skiing” nations who have not met the FIS-point benchmark to participate in the championships. Start rights to Lahti’s distance races are granted to the top-10 male and female finishers. (All skiers are granted start rights for Thursday’s freestyle sprint regardless of their results in Wednesday’s qualifier.)
The top finishers shortly after the women’s 30 k classic mass start at 2016 U.S. Distance Nationals in Craftsbury, Vt., on Saturday, March 26. Jessie Diggins (r) with Liz Stephen (second from r), and Craftsbury’s Caitlin Patterson (l), Kaitlynn Miller (second from l) and Ida Sargent (c), all of which finished in the top five. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
Special thanks to John Lazenby of Lazenbyphoto.com for his contributions to our coverage over the last several months.
Americans Andy Newell and Dakota Blackhorse-von Jess during official training on Monday, one day before the start of the 2016 Ski Tour Canada in Gatineau, Quebec. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
(Note: This article has been updated to reflect the adjusted distances for the men’s and women’s classic mass starts in Montreal on Wednesday, March 2.)
The U.S. Ski Team is ready. And we’re sure the Canadians are bursting at the seams. Are you? Over the last week, World Cup cross-country ski racers from about 25 nations descended on Ottawa, Ontario, and the Gatineau just across the river in western Quebec in anticipation of the first of eight stages at the Ski Tour Canada, which doubles as World Cup finals.
Races start Tuesday with the men’s and women’s 1.7-kilometer freestyle sprints in Gatineau, with the elimination rounds starting at 1:45 Eastern time, and continue Wednesday about 200 kilometers east in Montreal, Quebec, with the first distance races of the Tour: the women’s 10.5 k and men’s 17.5 k classic mass starts.
With temperatures up around freezing on Monday afternoon, the Gatineau sprint course both softened and transformed under the sun. It cooled down considerably overnight, with temperatures around -17 degrees Celsius (1 Fahrenheit) and a forecast high of -10 (14 Fahrenheit) with high winds expected.
Looking down the finishing stretch at the World Cup course in Montreal, as seen Monday two days before the races there on Wednesday. (Photo: Francois Leger Dionne)
A blizzard is also on the way, with snowfall anticipated in Montreal starting between 4 and 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Accumulation could be around 25-30 centimeters (10-12 inches) of snow Tuesday night and into Wednesday: race day in Montreal.
There, the 3.5 k course has been altered slightly from its original plan due to “technical challenges related to the water supply service,” which would have made snowmaking difficult atop Mount Royal, a large hill just west of downtown Montreal, organizers explained in press release earlier this month. The course was moved from the top to the bottom, near the George-Étienne Cartier Monument, “a location that is easily accessible to the public,” the release stated.
Snow conditions on Monday were “rock hard” and icy, according to one FasterSkier reporter, due to freezing rain Monday morning.
Like Gatineau, Montreal’s high temperatures were around freezing on Monday and forecast to be -10 Celsius on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Here is a collection of photos and quotes from the days leading up to the Tour, as well as a complete schedule below.
A sunny day for the final day of official training before the start of the 2016 Ski Tour Canada in Gatineau, Quebec. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
A little wax testing on Gatineau’s 1.7 k sprint course, with the start/finish area visible at the upper right. (Photo: John Lazenby/lazenbyphoto.com)
Petter Northug (Norway) during official training on Monday in Gatineau, Quebec. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
FasterSkier: “Is this your first time in Ottawa?”
Simi Hamilton: “It is! I’ve been up to Quebec quite a few times and obviously Canmore a whole bunch, but first time to Ottawa and it’s awesome. Really cool. The skiing up here is amazing. I was telling the crowd earlier, it’s probably the best skiing we’ve had all winter, on natural snow and just hundreds of k’s of trails out here. So it’s really cool.”
–Interview by Alex Slobodan
The German World Cup team during official training in Gatineau, Quebec. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
Alex Harvey (Canadian World Cup Team) surrounded by media on Monday, one day before the start of the Ski Tour Canada in Gatineau, Quebec. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
Patrick Stewart-Jones representing Canada during Monday’s press conference, the day before the Ski Tour Canada’s first stage in Gatineau, Quebec. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
Jessie Diggins speaking on behalf of the U.S. team during Monday’s press conference, the day before the Ski Tour Canada’s first stage in Gatineau, Quebec. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
Maurice Manificat during Monday’s press conference, the day before the Ski Tour Canada’s first stage in Gatineau, Quebec. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
Stina Nilsson during Monday’s press conference, the day before the Ski Tour Canada’s first stage in Gatineau, Quebec. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
Federico Pellegrino during Monday’s press conference, the day before the Ski Tour Canada’s first stage in Gatineau, Quebec. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
(Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)
FasterSkier: “Have you ever been to Ottawa before?”
Francesco de Fabiani: “No, it is the first time I come in Canada and in America in general. I am surprised … Canada is a very nice place for cross-country skiing.”
FS: “What are your goals for the Tour?”
FDF: “Well, I hope to stay in the top 10 in the final ranking, but I know that it will be difficult with the free sprint. I don’t know how is the track in Montreal, the 20 k. And classic is my favourite technique, but if it is not so hard and someone can go with only double poling, I think that they will be difficult to stay with.”
FasterSkier: “What are your goals for the Tour?”
Erik Bjornsen: “I’ve had some pretty good races the last couple of weeks on the World Cup so I am hoping to keep that momentum going and score some points and just ski strong all the way through.”
A Russian athlete signs the toque of a local child at the Nakkertok ski trails in Cantley, Quebec, last weekend. (Photo: Doug Ranahan)
Nakkertok head coach Kieran Jones on the impact of a local World Cup: “Having the World Cup arrive in the Ottawa/Gatineau area is a great chance for our athletes to see what the strongest in the world look like. In North America you barely get to see the best cross country skiers on TV, much less in person, so the myth and legend grows to the point where they can seem inhuman. Having Northug, Kalla, and Caspersen Falla skiing around at Nakkertok really brings home the reality of the sport to the kids and young adults, and shows them that these fast skiers are still people, and are totally approachable, and people you can aspire to. The buzz that having the world in your city and club generates is great for the sport, and great for the club.”
Norway’s Maiken Caspersen Falla (in pink) skis by a young local skier at the Nakkertok ski trails on Saturday in Cantley, Quebec. (Photo: Doug Ranahan)
Norway’s Maiken Caspersen Falla training on Saturday at the Nakkertok trails in Cantley, Quebec. (Photo: Doug Ranahan)
Two Nakkertok juniors, Pat Paradine (in yellow) and Hugh Graham (left, in blue and black), chase Russian World Cup skiers on Saturday during training at the Nakkertok trails in Cantley, Quebec. (Photo: Doug Ranahan)
Nakkertok’s Hugh Graham (l) and Pat Paradine double pole behind two Russian World Cup skiers (not shown) at the Nakkertok trails in Cantley, Quebec, the weekend before the Ski Tour Canada stage in Gatineau, Quebec. (Photo: Doug Ranahan)
Nakkertok’s Alex Slobodian chases a Norwegian on the Nakkertok trails in Cantley, Quebec. (Photo: Doug Ranahan)
FasterSkier: “Have you been to Ottawa before?” Markus Cranmer, former German junior coach, now a Russian coach for Alexander Legkov’s training group: “No. It’s the first time for me to be here. Very nice, very nice for skiing and very nice tracks here. I’m really surprised! … Not too far from the city and so it’s very nice.”
“I’m looking forward to the entire experience and not putting too much weight into any single race,” Jackson wrote in an email. “Every race as my next best opportunity, in a Tour format you can’t write off any race because every day matters if you want to get to the next one. I am a more partial to the sprints though.
“Racing for Canada on home soil is pretty darn cool, but being able to represent my training centre (NDC Thunder Bay), province (Ontario), and club (Team Hardwood), is even more inspiring because they are the ones who have fostered my development as a skier to a level where I can be part of Team Canada.”
All races are expected to be broadcast on NBC Sports Live Extra (accessible to U.S. subscribers via cable or satellite), and all times are Eastern Standard Time.
Tuesday, March 1: Gatineau
(Not part of broadcast: Women’s qualifier at 11:15 a.m.: start list | Men’s qualifier at noon: start list)
1:45 p.m. – Men’s and women’s freestyle sprint heats
Wednesday, March 2: Montreal
12:00 p.m. – Women’s 13 k classic mass start
2:30 p.m. – Men’s 20 k classic mass start
Friday, March 4: Quebec City
3:30 p.m. – Men’s and women’s freestyle sprint
Saturday, March 5: Quebec City
3:00 p.m. – Women’s 10 k freestyle pursuit
4:00 p.m. – Men’s 15 k freestyle pursuit
Tuesday, March 8: Canmore
3:00 p.m. – Men’s and women’s classic sprint
Wednesday, March 9: Canmore
12:00 p.m. – Women’s 15 k skiathlon
2:30 p.m. – Men’s 30 k skiathlon
Friday, March 11: Canmore
11:45 a.m. – Women’s 10 k freestyle interval start
3:00 p.m. – Men’s 15 k freestyle interval start
Saturday, March 12: Canmore
3:00 p.m. – Women’s 10 k classic pursuit
4:00 p.m. – Men’s 15 k classic pursuit
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![The top finishers shortly after the women's 30 k classic mass start at 2016 U.S. Distance Nationals in Craftsbury, Vt., on Saturday, March 26. Jessie Diggins (r) with Liz Stephen (second from r), and Craftsbury's Caitlin Patterson (l), Kaitlynn Miller (second from l) and Ida Sargent (c), all of which finished in the top five. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)](http://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2016/03/D7K__6158copyWFS.jpg")
![Andy Newell and Dakota Blackhorse-von Jess during official training on Monday, one day before the start of the 2016 Ski Tour Canada in Gatineau, Quebec. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)](http://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2016/03/Newell-and-Dakota-Blackhorse-von-Jess.jpg")
![Looking down the finishing stretch at the World Cup course in Montreal, as seen Monday two days before the races there on Wednesday. (Photo: Francois Leger Dionne)](http://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2016/03/P1014776.jpg")
