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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: Nels Dyste

  • Masters World Cup: Day 5 Train Roadblock

    Masters World Cup: Day 5 Train Roadblock

    Zachary Handler, of the U.S., racing in the 40 k classic men’s age group 2 at the 2018 Masters World Cup on Thursday at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Masters World Cup organizers had to make a fast change on Thursday partway through its classic distance races when a train parked itself on the course.

    “We had a lot of plans going into this race,” 2018 Masters World Cup Chief of Competition Nels Dyste explained. “We had plans for road crossings, we had plans for snow, we had plans for low year snow, plans for high snow. Unfortunately, the railroad did not coordinate very well with us.”

    This meant a quick route change on the 15-kilometer course to keep skiers moving, but difficulty in keeping the course the same for all racers.

    Monday’s snowstorm allowed for the expansion of Theodore Wirth Park’s manmade loop to the other side of the golf course across a road, where the natural course crosses over train tracks. The train, which parked at that very spot around 10 a.m., diverted later-starting skiers back to the hillier, manmade loop creating a lack of consistency in distance. The early 15 k races, and men’s and women’s 1-6 age groups were unaffected.

    “We’re still sorting it out,” Dyste said on the Thursday. “Fortunately, with electronic timing, we have chip checks all over the course and are kind of piecing together what race courses people went on.

    “We’ve run almost a hundred races on that section, doing that same crossing,” he continued. “We’ve never had any issue on that.”

    Laurel Smith, of Jackson, N.H., after racing to ninth in the 30 k classic women’s age group 6 on Thursday at the Masters World Cup in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    Racers took the changes in stride. Laurel Smith, 60, of Jackson, New Hampshire, noted course marshals helped direct racers to the new route.

    “The volunteers were really good. That’s pretty amazing, being able to change a course midway through,” she said.

    The race was her third of the week after competing in the women’s age group “6” 15 k skate and 10 k classic as well. She said the natural snow not only lengthened the course, but it also affected the corners on the downhills.

    “By the third lap [of the 10 k shortened loop], they were getting really … piled-up snow and icy on the inside,” Smith said, adding that she met her goal in successfully navigating all the turns. She finished ninth in her age group’s 30 k on Thursday.

    Some racers, like “Bad” Bob Baker of Fairbanks, Alaska, were more comfortable with the addition of more hills.

    Bob Baker, of Fairbanks, Alaska, after racing to 12th in the 40 k classic men’s age group 6 at Masters World Cup in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    “[They] probably helped me,” Baker said. “I seem to do better against others on them, so it’s a good thing.”

    Baker said he likes to come to these events to test his waxing techniques. Fairbanks relies on natural snow, so he gets to use waxes he otherwise wouldn’t when he visits places like Minneapolis.

    “I nailed the wax,” he said. “It was good. I was so glad; I would’ve been hurting if I’d had to step out of the tracks.”

    Baker, who competes in the men’s age group “6”, has raced all the individual classic events over the last week: the 7.5 k (shortened due to snow on Monday from 15 k), 30 k, and 40 k (shortened from 45 k). He finished 12th in the 40 k on Thursday.

    A warm up is on the way for Friday’s freestyle distance races (15/30/45 k), the last day of the Masters World Cup, as is a slight course change after Thursday’s minor fiasco.

    “Rest assured they’ll be all ready to go for tomorrow … with no train tracks,” Dyste said.

    Day 4 Age Group (AG) Winners

    Women’s 30 k Classic (3 x 10 k loops)

    • AG 1: Elspeth Ronnander (USA) 1:47:31.8
    • AG 2: Josie Nelson (USA) 1:41:08.4
    • AG 3: Linda Hasselqvist (Sweden) 1:42:21.3
    • AG 4: Bonnie Weiskopf (USA) 1:38:20.9
    • AG 5: Ragnhild Bolstad  (Norway) 1:36:20.8
    • AG 6: Elizabeth Youngman (USA) 1:47:53.4
    • AG 7: Marianne Niemi (Finland) 1:49:35.5

    Women’s 20 k Classic (2 x 10 k loops)

    • AG 7: Magdalena Bowen (USA) 1:15:40.5
    • AG 8: Berit Hoeyvik (Norway) 1:34:12.3

    Women’s 15 k Classic (3 x 5 k loops)

    • AG 9: Gabriele Andersen (USA) 50:01.4
    • AG 10: Gerd Lysne Johansen (Norway) 1:03:15.9
    • AG 11: Patricia Kaald (USA) 1:42:37.0

    Men’s 40 k Classic (4 x 10 k loops)

    Sweden’s Tomas Persson racing to seventh in the 40 k classic men’s age group 4 at the Masters World Cup in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
    • AG 1: Christopher Harvey (USA) 1:56:49.3
    • AG 2: Craig Cardinal (USA) 1:58:40.2
    • AG 3: Andrey Lushnikov (Russia) 1:58:00.8
    • AG 4: Magnus Karlsson (Sweden) 1:54:10.1
    • AG 5: Truls Valmestad (Norway) 1:48:24.1
    • AG 6: Jon Arne Enevoldsen (Norway) 1:51:26.5

    Men’s 20 k Classic (2 x 10 k loops)

    • AG 7: Carl Hoerger (USA) 1:35:32.0

    Men’s 25 k Classic (1 x 15 k and 1 x 10 k loop)

    • AG 7: Daniele Vuerich (Italy) 1:12:52.8

    Men’s 30 k Classic (3 x 10 k loops)

    • AG 7: Markus Gapany (USA) 2:15:55.1
    • AG 8: Ferdinand Kraller (Germany) 2 1:17:10.5
    • AG 9: Veikko Piirainen (Finland) 1:23:27.5

    Men’s 35 k Classic (1 x 15 k and 2 x 10 k loops)

    • AG 7: Kim Poole (Canada) 1:53:03.7

    Men’s 15 k Classic (3 x 5 k loops)

    • AG 10: Alpo Virtanen (Finland) 45:48.8
    • AG 11: Boris Kirillov (Russia) 1:01:38.9
    • AG 12: Reno Deprey (USA) 1:25:57.3
    • AG 13: Charles French (USA) 1:18:09.1

    Results

    Schedule

    ***

    About Andrea Potyondy-Smith: Andrea hails from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis (dontchya know) and has an MFA in creative writing. When she is not being an English geek, she can be found on her bike or skis, or playing in the Northwoods … typically on her bike or skis.

  • Masters World Cup: Day 3 Snowy Doubles

    Masters World Cup: Day 3 Snowy Doubles

    MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — After a dearth of snow and two days of unseasonably warm weather, winter decidedly returned to South Central Minnesota for Day 3 of the Masters World Cup.

    Snow started falling at Theodore Wirth Park at about 10 a.m., and continued throughout the day, with accumulations around six inches. With a close eye on the forecast, the competition jury decided Monday morning before races — which included morning classic races followed by afternoon skate races — to shorten some of them (from 10 kilometers to 7.5 k), according to Chief of Competition Nels Dyste.

    None of the skiers seemed particularly put out by the day’s snow.

    The World Masters Cross-Country Ski Association banner at the 2018 Masters World Cup at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    “Weather is weather,” said Toris Sundt of Oslo, Norway. She finished sixth in the 5-kilometer classic women’s age group 9.

    Twin Cities native Nancy Bauer followed in seventh, and called their race, with a shortened course for ages 70 and up, the “Baby Masters”. But she wouldn’t have it any other way.

    “I’m really excited because I’m better at the beginning of a race,” Bauer said.

    “I like it because I couldn’t go 30 kilometers now, because I’m in not so good of shape,” Sundt said. “So, for me … it’s very good.”

    Skiers looked to be faring well in the snowy conditions, even as flakes fell faster. Trina Hosmer, 72, of Stowe, Vermont, clocked in an impressive time in the 5 k classic women’s age group 9 in 16:53.6, just 19.5 seconds behind first-place finisher Gabriele Anderson, also of the U.S.

    Hosmer has raced in varying conditions all over the world. She was a member of the first international U.S. Women’s Ski Team in 1970 (racing in Czechoslovakia), and was on the first U.S. women’s Olympic ski team in 1972 (in Sapporo, Japan). But even for her, the course was a little tough.

    “It was more difficult, because it had been chewed up a lot by all the other skiers, but that’s to be expected,” Hosmer said.

    Hosmer raced this past Saturday and Sunday as well, finishing second in her age group in the 10 k classic, and first in the 10 k freestyle. Each racer can only do three individual races during the weeklong event. “That’s enough,” Hosmer said. “The good thing about it [skiing], is I’m still doing it.”

    After 50 years of skiing, Hosmer said she had no particular strategy or training for these championships.

    “I’ve been doing it so many years, I just ski,” she said.

    Her husband David Hosmer, 73, also raced over the weekend and on Monday, placing 27th in the 7.5 k classic men’s age group 9 with a time of 35:37.1

    “There’s a lot of fast guys,” he said when asked about his competition. “There are some very fit men out there.

    The Masters World Cup classic course at Theodore Wirth Park as seen on Monday morning. (Photo: RJ Ochmann)

    “They have done a very good job with the course here given the terrain that they have and the weather and everything,” he added.

    Race organizers will have their hands full on Tuesday’s rest day as they determine who will be eligible to compete in Wednesday’s relays. Dyste noted how relay teams are chosen.

    “Everybody has the opportunity to choose three of the six different races. If they do well, they’ll typically get selected for their national team’s relays,” he said. “Relays are by age group as well. There are some formats for teams where older skiers are able to ski down onto a younger team relay, and there’s also opportunities to do a mixed relay between nations, as well.”

    This applies to both the men’s and the women’s relay teams.

    Each nation’s coach must submit their team lineups by 11 a.m. on Tuesday, and the start lists will be posted Tuesday night so racers can prep for their 4 x 5 k relays on Wednesday.

    Though the new snow made for some tougher conditions today, it will be beneficial for the marathons coming up on Thursday and Friday.

    “Hopefully, this snow will come in a good volume so we have the ability to run longer courses later this week,” Dyste said.

    Day 3 Age Group (AG) Winners

    CLASSIC RACES

    Women’s 7.5 k Classic

    • AG 1: Kathleen Dewahl (USA) 24:45.4
    • AG 2: Josie Nelson (USA) 23:14.9
    • AG 3: Linda Hasselqvist (Sweden) 23:23.8
    • AG 4: Bonnie Weiskopf (USA) 22:47.7
    • AG 5: Ragnhild Bolstad (Norway) 22:16.7
    • AG 6: Kelly Milligan (USA) 24:03.9
    • AG 7: Marianne Niemi (Finland) 23:59.7
    • AG 8: Berit Hoeyvik (Norway) 30:31.4

    Women’s 5 k Classic

    • AG 9: Gabriele Andersen (USA) 16:34.1
    • AG 10: Else Marie Scharff (Norway) 22:27.3
    • AG 11: Patricia Kaald (USA) 34:49.0

    Men’s 7.5 k Classic

    • AG 1: Matthew Liebsch (USA) 17:25.3
    • AG 2: Craig Cardinal (USA) 20:29.4
    • AG 3: Andrey Lushnikov (Russia) 18:50.2
    • AG 4: Magnus Karlsson (Sweden) 18:26.6
    • AG 5: Truls Valmestad (Norway) 17:34.8
    • AG 6: Jon Arne Enevoldsen (Norway) 19:07.0
    • AG 7: Daniele Vuerich (Italy) 21:04.5
    • AG 8: Walter Steiner (Switzerland) 21:52.1
    • AG 9: Veikko Piirainen (Finland) 24:13.5

    Men’s 5 k Classic

    • AG 10: Alpo Virtanen (Finland) 15:09.0
    • AG 11: Tuomo Venalainen (Finland) 19:46.6
    • AG 12: Irvin Servold (Canada) 26:36.8
    • AG 13: Charles French (USA) 25:25.7

    Classic results

    (Results continue below)

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BeRVNrtDwkt/?taken-by=skinnyskipics

    FREESTYLE RACES

    Women’s 7.5 k Freestyle

    • AG 1: Alexandra Jospe (USA) 24:28.6
    • AG 2: Gina Chythlook (USA) 24:32.5
    • AG 3: Erika Saveraid (USA) 27:44.4
    • AG 4: June Rognmo (Norway) 23:51.6
    • AG 5: Kelly Skillicorn (USA) 24:03.9
    • AG 6: Elizabeth Youngman (USA) 25:31.2
    • AG 7: Kate Ellis (USA) 27:46.4
    • AG 8: Carolyn Tiernan (USA) 30:47.3

    Women’s 5 k Freestyle

    • AG 9: Nadezda Poljakova (Estonia) 21:12.5
    • AG 10: Eivor Lindgren (Sweden) 21:32.0

    Men’s 7.5 k Freestyle

    • AG 1: Eugenio Bianchi (Italy) 18:41.2
    • AG 2: Joachim Gustafsson (Finland) 18:47.6
    • AG 3: Ivan Batyutenko (Russia) 20:32.4
    • AG 4: Aleksandr Pushkarev (Russia) 18:53.9
    • AG 5: Virgo Karu (Estonia) 20:45.8
    • AG 6: Stefan Storvall (Finland) 20:22.3
    • AG 7: Aito Pennanen (Finland) 24:25.1
    • AG 8: Einar Bertrand Vikingstad (Norway) 24:12.2
    • AG 9: Paul Graber (Switzerland) 26:48.9

    Men’s 5 k Freestyle

    • AG 10: Finn Magnar Hagen (Norway) 17:21.4
    • AG 11: Jim Ballendilne (Canada) 24:00.5

    Freestyle results

    Schedule

    ***

    About Andrea Potyondy-Smith: Andrea hails from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis (dontchya know) and has an MFA in creative writing. When she is not being an English geek, she can be found on her bike or skis, or playing in the Northwoods … typically on her bike or skis.