Tag: Worldloppet

Sweden’s Susanne Nyström is first double Tjejvasan-Vasaloppet Champion

This year’s Swedish Vasaloppet saw a record number of racers. There were 15,702 finishers in the 90 kilometer classic race, which saw it’s first running in 1922 with 100 participants.

The race’s history comes from the beginning of Sweden’s independence from Denmark, led by nobleman Gustav Vasa. After his first failed attempt at recruiting his countrymen to join in his revolt, Vasa fled toward Norway. Two Swedish skiers were sent to bring Vasa back and they found him 90 kilometers away in the town of Salen. Vasa then led Sweden in a successful revolt against the Danes and became King of Sweden.

The race is the biggest sporting event in Sweden, drawing 300,000 spectators and racers. There is a 10 day winter festival which culminates in the 90km classic race. There are also shorter classic and skate races held in the days leading up to the main event, and in most of these races participants finish at a wooden door on Mora’s main street which is inscribed with the words: “For Victory and the Future in the Trail of the Fathers.”

The Vasaloppet is the 8th of 10 Worldloppets that are scored in the FIS Marathon Cup. With her win, Susanne Nystrom is now tied with Sandra Hansson in second place with 360 points. Jenny Hansson is in first place with 455 points. Next Up: The Engadin Marathon on March 14th and the Norwegian Birkebeiner on the 20th.

The following photographs and article (translated) are taken from www.vasaloppet.se.

Susanne Nystrom skis into the finish of the Vasaloppet (photo: vasaloppet.se)

Susanne Nystrom

What a Vasaloppet Week for Mora’s Susanne Nystrom: Last Saturday, she won TjejVasan [the largest women’s-only ski race, which is 30km long and has more than 8,000 participants] for the fourth time. One week later she brought victory home in the Vasaloppet.

“This is the biggest thing to happen to me as a skier. I’m both touched and happy at the same time,” said Nystrom after a race which was quite dramatic.

Immediately after the start, the three favorites – Jenny Hansson, Sandra Hansson, and Susanne Nystrom – were racing together, an unusual situation for the women’s Vasaloppet.

Never Gave Up

The distance between Sandra Hansson and Susanne Nystrom grew and was at most two minutes just before Oxberg.

“Even with the great distance I never felt that it was impossible to go catch up because the time between us went back and forth,” said Nystrom.

After Hökberg Sandra Hansson hit a wall. Nystrom worked to decrease the gap meter by meter. Shortly before Eldris, about ten kilometers from the finish, Nystrom could see Hansson.

“Then I felt that there was a chance. I began to wonder if I could pull directly or wait to make the move,” said Nystrom.
The result was that they were together for awhile just before Hemus, about four kilometers from the finish. This was when Nystrom increased the tempo.

“ The problem was that I immediately began cramping in the legs, but [increased the lead on Hansson]. Then it was only to fight on, “said Nystrom, who then raced into the finish alone to the cheer of the crowd.

“It was powerful to experience the feeling of being alone in the finish as a winner as I was both empty and tired but incredibly happy. I’m not familiar with the situation because I lost my four victories in TjejVasan by a sprint finish,” said Nystrom.

Tired second

Sandra Hansson came in as runner-up. She was extremely tired after the race and got taken care of in order to recover. In her case there was nothing wrong with her will to win. Third place was Sofia Bleckur, of Mora.
In the case of Susanne Nystrom, we are seeing the beginning of a continued investment in the long races. Nystrom has admitted that she viewed the previous season’s start in the long races as a time to see and learn. She got her perfect delivery by winning this year’s Vasaloppet. The question is what will happen next winter when she takes marathon racing more seriously?
It will be exciting to see.

The first ten women finishers:
1 Susanne Nystrom, IFK Mora SK, 4:33:07
2 Sandra Hansson, Norway, 4:33:39
3 Sofia Bleckur, IFK Mora SK, 4:35:59
4 Jenny Hansson, Vålådalens SK, 4:44:21
5 Nina Lintzén, Årsunda IF, 4:46:31
6 Kristina Strandberg, IFK Hedemora SK, 4:50:40
7 Manuela Henkel, Germany, 4:53:45
8 Solveig Steinsland, Norway, 4:55:16
9 Ellen Sandbakken, Norway, 5:00:57
10 Karin Nilsson, IFK Umeå, 5:09:39

Footnote: Women were allowed to officially (modification of the FIS competition rules) enter Vasaloppet in 1981. Vasaloppet has had an official women’s race since 1997. Susanne Nystrom has now become the first woman to win an official double, that is, both TjejVasan and Vasaloppet, in the same year.

Full Results: Coming Soon

March 8, 2010
Robin McKeever, Megan McTavish win Gatineau Loppet

Stadium of the Gatineau Loppet

Gatineau, February 21, 2010 – Although more than 20 countries were represented at this year’s Gatineau Loppet, the podium’s top rung belonged to Canadians after nearly every run. On this second and last day of competition, several hundred cross-country skiers turned out to take part in the different free style races, that is to say the 10 km, 27 km and 49 km Bell. Today’s snow conditions were fast, and the 32nd edition ended with some tantalizing racing!
Once again this year, the decision to modify the route because of the weather proved to be the right one. The organizers received some very positive feedback from the participants.

“I am most grateful to the volunteers and partners who had to work extra hard to bring the trails to our high standards!” indicated President Alain d’Entremont.

49 km Bell free style

Three of the favourite skiers managed to pull ahead of the rest to earn their places on the podium. There was a tight race for second place between Alberta’s Chris Butler and Chelsea’s Karl Saidla. In the end, Chris Butler took the lead in the last few centimetres, finishing with a time of 2:16:25.2. Karl Saidla crossed the line only 3 tenths of a second later, with 2:16:25.5. Alberta’s Robin McKeever had taken the lead on them only 10 seconds before, ending with a time of 2:16:02.4, and in one fell swoop earning the gold and the $1,500 purse. Remember that McKeever holds nine national cross-country ski champion titles, and will soon be taking part in the paralympic games as a sighted guide for his brother Brian.

Among the women, it was Gatineau’s Megan McTavish who took the gold with a time of 2:41:55.7. She had finished second last year in this same competition. Her closest rival, Kelly Skillicorn from the United States, was about 10 minutes behind her, ending with 2:51:28.0. Renée Hamel, from St-Pierre on Île d’Orléans, got the bronze, finishing the race in 2:51:28.0.

27 km free style

Some people really have energy to spare! This would be the case with the first two women to finish the race. Ottawa’s Sheila Kealy, who had finished first the day before in the 49 km classic style, turned in a repeat performance, this time finishing the 27 km in 1:28:41.5. Rimouski’s Louise Martineau, who had finished third the day before in the 49 km, wrapped up the race in 1:34:26.7 to grab the silver. The bronze went to another Ottawan, Colleen Mortimer, for her time of 1:34:36.0 in the 27 km.

On the men’s side, Riell Allain from Chelsea, the winner of the 10 km in 2009, took the gold with a time of 1:21:14.6. He was followed by Sacha Desfossés from Prévost at 1:21:52.2, who had been the second-place finisher in 2008 as well. Another Chelsea resident, Sebastien Townsend, came in third, with a time of 1:24:00.4.
10 km free style

Andrew Morehouse, from Canton, U.S.A., won with a time of 28:17.2, followed by Jiri Suchy, from Prague, Czech Republic, with a time of 28:41.4 minutes. Ottawa’s Ben Wilkinson-Zan finished the race in 28:56.1, finding himself in third place, after winning first place the day before in the 5 km Louis Garneau.

Among the women, Émilie Chartrand of Saint-Ferréol-Les-Neiges came in first with a time of 33:23.6, beating Gatineau’s Sophie Carrier-Laforte, who wrapped up her race in 33:38.3. She was the same one we saw on the third step of podium yesterday after the 5 km Louis Garneau classic style. Frédérique Vanier, from Gatineau, completed the race in 34:19.4, finding herself in third place.

This weekend’s big winners

49 km Bell Free Style
Men/Women
1st Robin McKeever, Canmore, 2:16:02.4 1st Megan McTavish, Gatineau, 2:41:55.7
2nd Chris Butler, Canmore, 2:16:25.2 2nd Kelly Skilicorn, Winona, 2:51:28.0
3rd Karl Saidla, Chelsea, 2:16:25.5 3rd Renée Hamel, ST-PIERRE-ILE-DORLEANS, 2:58:04.9

49 km Classic Style
Men/Women
1st Phil Shaw, Rosemère, 2:50:53.8 1st Sheila Kealey, Ottawa, 3:03:55.7
2nd Stefan Desfosses, Ste-Adèle, 2:51:37.1 2nd Ingrid-Anne Ingvoldstad, Norway, 3:14:53.7
3rd Frédéric Grandjean, Switzerland, 2:53:25.2 3rd Louise Martineau, Rimouski, 3:17:32.9

27 km Free Style
Men/Women
1st Riell Allain, Chelsea, 1:21:14.6 1st Sheila Kealey, Ottawa, 1:28:41.5
2nd Sacha Desfosses, Prévost, 1:21:52.2 2nd Louise Martineau, Rimouski, 1:34:26.7
3rd Sebastien Townsend, Chelsea, 1:24:00.4 3rd Colleen Mortimer, Ottawa, 1:34:36.0

27 km Classic Style

Men/Women
1st Samuel Dostie-Menard, Gatineau, 1:36:16.7 1st Geneviève Masson, Longueuil, 1:45:54.1
2nd Chris Mcmahon, Chelsea, 1:37:55.2 2nd Natalya Kuziak, Chelsea, 1:50:51.9
3rd Frédéric Gobeil, Piédmont, 1:38:28.4 3rd Andrea Vogl, U.S.A., 1:51:10.2

Results

February 23, 2010
Anders Aukland, Sandra Hansson win Tartu Marathon

The fastest man on the 63km ski track of 39th Tartu Marathon in Estonia was
Anders Aukland (with 2:59:41) from Norway. The second place belonged to
Joergen Brink (2:59:42) and third to Oskar Svaerd (2:59:42), both from
Sweden.

Anders Aukland, the winner of the second consecutive year said that is was a
difficult race and the track was very good. “I felt strong during the last
kilometers and stayed up front. I had enough power,” comments the winner.

The best female skier on the track was Sandra Hansson from Sweden who
finished 37th in overall standings. She managed to beat Jenny Hansson from
Sweden and Anu Taehtinen from Finland who took the second and the third
place in female standings.

The race was held in temperatures a little bit below -10 with no wind or
snowfalls.

The 39th Tartu Marathon took place on 21st of February on the hills and
slopes of Southern-Estonia. This year the event celebrated its 50th
anniversary with the largest number of registered participants (6500 people)
in more than twenty years. Tartu Maraton is also a part of Worldloppet and
FIS Marathon Cup.

Video of Press Conference

Overall Results

February 23, 2010
Winning the Sapporo

The start of the 30th Sapporo Marathon: winner Seth Downs is numer 83, second in center line

“Definitely Not the Typical Worldloppet, by any means.”

I caught up with Seth Downs yesterday as he was still trying to process his big win in Sunday’s Sapporo International Ski Marathon. He was still in Japan, but soon to continue on to China before returning to America in time to watch friend and Vancouver Olympian Holly Brooks compete in her last race of the Olympics.

Seth Downs is a self-described average master racer from Anchorage, Alaska, who had never won a ski race in his life. Downs had competed in three other Worldloppets before the Sapporo Marathon: the Finlandia, the Engadin, and the American Birkie (where he raced to a commendable 32nd place).

As a Fed-ex pilot, Downs is able to put in bids for his upcoming work schedule, and as a “blaster” with a Wordloppet passport he is also always looking for the chance to compete in international marathons. So when he saw an 80 hour lay-over opportunity in Osaka, which happened to fall on the weekend of the Sapporo Marathon, he signed up for the flight.

“I’ve got my Worldloppet passport, you know, and being the good Master-Blaster that I am, I’m going around getting my stamps and stuff.”

Downs made just one small oversight when planning the trip, admitting “I forgot about the timeline, I didn’t realize I’d be traveling 16 hours the day before the race – but it all worked out.”

One unexpected challenge before the race was finding some sort of sports drink to put in his bottle. “Trying to find Gatorade in Japan is fruitless,” said, Downs. He did eventually manage to find a drink that, when translated, spells “Pocari Sweat”. Not the most appetizing name for a drink, but at least it was familiar, sweet, and drinkable – unlike two of the feeds he encountered at feed stations on the race course.

The Sapporo Marathon starts and ends near the Sapporo Dome, the site of the 2007 World Championship opening ceremonies. The Dome is a short 10 minute subway ride outside of the city, but once on the race course – part of which is run on the 1972 Olympic Trails – Downs says that you could forget you were even near the city.

“You’re next to this big dome, but then it’s Bam!, it’s fields and woods,” describes Downs. “You feel like you’re in West Virginia, you’re kind of going through these rolling hills and they have terraced trails on the side of the mountains and its mostly hardwoods. They actually have these big, green, waxy-leaved bushes – kind of like rhododendrons, but bigger leaves – so it kind of had a tropical feel.”

Start line of the marathon, with the Sapporo Dome in the background

Downs describes the actual race start:

“The race was so different than other worldloppets. First, they give foreigners almost half the start lanes. So I got out early and put my race skis in the front line and warmed up on my other pair. Fast forward to 5 minutes before the race and I can’t find my skis! They seemed to have disappeared, I panicked, then started to look closely at everyone else’s skis… some Russian master blaster was in my skis thinking they were his!”

Shortly after getting his skis back – the Russian racer found his own similar-looking skis three lanes down – the race started.

Downs said he had no clue what to expect of the event, and for the start of the race – which was into a head wind and uphill for 2 kilometers – he dropped in behind a tall Russian who had “the look” of a real racer.
“You know, he had those fancy Fisher skis with holes in the toes,” said Downs (insert tinge of sarcasm) who followed the Russian until, at 12 km, two local skiers caught up. The four-pack stayed together for 20 more kilometers, until one of the Japanese racers made a break for it, and Downs went with him. After trying to make a break and being reeled in himself, Downs settled in until 37km, when he passed his competitor and skied the last 13 km, “alone, but looking over my shoulder until the finish.”

The lead pack of the 2010 Sapporo Marathon

Downs said one of the weirdest things about the race was that, “During the race, not a word was spoken.”

There was also another familiar sound missing: “There was a bit of cheering, but no cowbells!”

Another difference: “Funny thing with the feeds is they don’t hand it to you…. you have to stop and get one yourself… bad enough with 4 guys, must be insane when the masses hit it!”

One of the feeds Downs tried was very bitter, and he found out later – after receiving several cases of the stuff as part of his prize – that it was called “Trophy” drink. He was also surprised to get a feed during the race which nearly gagged him with its saline content. If he didn’t know better, he said, he would have guessed it was just “warm ocean water”.

And then, the finish line:

Never having won a race, the novelty of breaking through the thick finish line ribbon stunned Downs into the simple realization, “Wow, I’ve never done this before.”

And then the glory, which was also a unfamiliar to Downs:

Right away, a wreathe was draped around his neck, a personal translator was at his side, little kids ran up to him wanting to shake his hand, and a Nepalese man kept repeating, “You are King!”

There were also “people asking for my photograph, asking me if I was going to the Olympics. I told them I had never won a race before, but I guess that didn’t sink in.”

Press for Seth Downs of team OIA (Only in Alaska)

There was no cash prize, but Downs said he received so much stuff on the podium that he could barely hold it all. In sum, Downs made out with several hundred dollars worth of chocolate wafers, sports drink powder, and a Japanese equivalent of “a fancy glide wax kit, with 6 pages of what I assume are instructions for use… in Japanese of course.” Included in the kit was something called “Rescue Wax: Dead or Alive” and also a “Samurai” brand of ski sidewall wax, which Downs jokes is sure to be the key to his next success.

When reflecting on his win, Downs attributes his successful race to one important factor: “Personally I think it was the bidet in my bathroom. I’ve seen a lot of them in my travels, but I never was brave enough to try one. Well that all changed today before the race, and look at the results! A happy ass is a fast one!”

February 16, 2010
Perillat and Nystrom win FIS Marathon Cup events at the Transjurassienne

La Transjurassienne Ski Marathon, France

Sunday was the 5^th Worldloppet in the FIS Marathon Cup Series: La Transjurassienne.

Since 1979 the Transjurassienne has been held on the third Sunday in February, and prides itself not only on attracting a large number of racers, but on the great international mix of racers who come to ski in one of seven events. This year there were nearly 4000 racers from 26 nations.

There are short and long classic races on Saturday, followed by short and long skate races on Sunday, the 52 km women’s skate and the 76 km men’s skate being the main Marathon Cup events. This year there was also an additional event, the Ultra Trans. Dubbed by race organizers as the “invincible skiers challenge”, it combines the 50km classic with the 76km skate for a total of 126 kilometers in 2 days.

The 54 kilometer race runs from Rousses to Mouthe, while the 76 kilometer race runs from Lamoura to Mouthe. The course winds along the base of the Jura Massif – a mountain range which divides France and Switzerland. The course crosses ten villages before ending in Mouthe, a small village in the French-Comte region of eastern France.

This year the snow and tracks were good, and the weather was a stable 20 degrees and partially cloudy at race time.

Christophe Perillat

As usual in these Worldloppet events, the top ten in the men’s race finished within a close margin. Christophe Perrillat, of France, brought victory to the home event, after putting a 50 second gap on the field at the finish line. It was a four-way sprint to the finish for second place, which was won by Mathias Fredriksson of Sweden. Next across the line were Fabio Santus (ITA) in third, Rikard Andreasson (SWE) in fourth, and Bruno Carrara (ITA) in fifth. For Carrara, it matched last year’s effort. The two other repeat top-ten finishers were sixth place Sergio Banoladi (ITA) who had placed fourth last year and seventh place Marco Cattaneo (FRA) who had placed third last year.

Fredrickson, at 37 years, was the oldest finisher in the top ten whereas eighth place Thibault Mondon of France, at 25 years old, was the youngest.

Fredrickson wrote on this blog that the race for him this year was a much better experience than when he had raced for the first time, 10 years ago, and had hit a wall 10 kilometers from the finish. Fredrickson also wrote of this year’s victorious “rematch” with Catteneo, who had beaten him two years ago in this race.

The following is roughly translated from Fredriksson’s blog:

“First 35 km went pretty smoothly today, it was hard driving, mixed with lots where the pack was almost completely quiet … no one wanted to take an uphill battle … but in the long climb between 37 and 46 km we became a 10 man cluster. . . it was just a bit of climb at 63 kilometers [which mad a small gap in the pack]. When I felt that I needed help to catch up to the Frenchman [Perillat], I stepped aside to let the Italians [take the lead]. Then I fell like an ox … and got stuck with the ski tip down in the snow (must have looked funny) and then … had to work hard to join the group again. Back at the Peloton, nobody took up the hunt for Perrillat seriously (I was too tired at the time). So he had over 30 seconds [into the finish stretch].”

Alexandre Rousselet of France

Rezac Stanislav, a top competitor at Marathon events, decided to compete in the 50 km classic, which did not give him any points for the FIS Marathon cup rankings. He won the 50km race by just one second over Alexandre Rousselet of France.

Rousselet was perhaps the story of the weekend. After taking second in the 50 km classic race on Saturday, he then took 10th – finishing less than 3 minutes from first place – in the 76 km skate on Sunday, making him the winner of the new Ultra Trans event.

There was a sprint for the top three places in the women’s 50km race. Suzanne Nystrom of Sweden took first by a slim two second margin. Natascia Leonardi Cortesi (SUI) and Pia Sundstedt (FIN) had a virtual photo finish at the line, Cortesi taking second by less than two tenths of a second.

With her win, Nystrom now sits in second place on the overall FIS Marathon Cup points list, with 260 points. In first in Jenny Hansson, also of Sweden, with 325 points.

With his third place finish in today’s race Fabio Santus is now at the top of the points list, with 265 points. In second is Oskar Svard of Sweden, with 226 points and third is today’s 7^th place finisher, Marco Cattaneo, with 203 points.

The top American finisher in the 76km skate was Christophe Martin of Repentigny, Quebec, in 268^th place with a time of 4:18:46. There were no American women listed.

The top American finisher in the 50km classic was Mark Sharon, of Plymouth Massachusetts in 207^th place with a time of 3:30:47. The top American woman was Denise Snow of Divide, Colorado, in 72^nd place with a time of 4:56:17.

Top Ten Men, 76 km skate, FIS Marathon Cup event:

1. Christophe Perrillat (FR)                 3:23:39.44

2. Mathias Fredriksson (SWE)            3:24:28.74

3. Fabio Santus (ITA)                         3:24:29.79

4. Rikard Andreasson (SWE)             3:24:30.40

5. Bruno Carrara (ITA)                       3:24:30.64

6. Sergio Bonaldo (ITA)                     3:24:31.74

7. Marco Cattaneo (ITA)                    3:24:38.68

8. Thibault Mondon (FRA)                 3:24:45.12

9. Vadim Nesterov (RUS)                  3:24:52.86

10. Alexandre Rousselet (FRA)         3:26:31.30

Top 5 Women 52 km skate, FIS Marathon Cup event:

1. Suzanne Nyström (SWE)                2:43:51.66

2. Natascia Leonardi Cortesi (SUI)    2:43:53.94

3. Pia Sundstedt (FIN)                       2:43:54.09

4. Lena Pichard (SUI)                         2:45:45.69

5. Pauline Caprini (FRA)                    2:47:41.02

Full Results

The top American finisher in the 76km skate was Christophe Martin of Repentigny, Quebec, in 268^th place with a time of 4:18:46. There were no American women listed.

The top American finisher in the 50km classic was Mark Sharon, of Plymouth Massachusetts in 207^th place with a time of 3:30:47. The top American woman was Denise Snow of Divide, Colorado, in 72^nd place with a time of 4:56:17.

February 15, 2010
Aukland Brothers finish 1-2 in König Ludwig Lauf

The scenery of the König Ludwig Lauf

The König Ludwig Lauf is held every year on the first weekend of February, and is known by the local people by it’s nickname, “Luggi”. It is the most popular race in Germany and this year marks it’s 38^th running. It is part of the Worldloppet, Euroloppet, and DSV cross country skiing series.

The race is run from Oberammergau, a small village in the Bavarian Alps of South Germany, right near the border of Austria. The usual 50km course winds through the Graswang valley, with the Ammergau Alps towering overhead. This year, though, there was little snow to work with, and the race was instead run on a 21 kilometer loop – one lap for the short distance races and two laps for the full marathons.

3500 racers from 32 nations raced in one of four events over the weekend: Saturday’s 21 and 42 km skate races, and Sunday’s 21 and 42 classic races, of which the 42 classic was the main event.

Jorgen and Anders Aukland of Norway, Team Xtra Personell

The Aukland brothers of Norway took first and second, but it was Anders Aukland who won the race over brother . Last year it was also Anders who beat his brother, taking fourth to Jorgen’s 6^th place at this event. This year, however, Jorgen came into the race with a higher ranking on the FIS points list, after taking 5^th at the Jizerski Padeska and 3^rd at the Marcialonga. Anders took this year’s victory by finishing over a minute ahead of Jorgen in a relatively short race in which his winning time was 1:44:13.

The Ludwig Lauf is not part of the FIS Marathon Cup, and may be a reason that there were fewer elite marathon cup racers in the event. Stanislov Rezac (CZE) however, was in the race to defend last year’s title. He ended up sprinting toward the finish with three competitors – Jorgen Aukland, John Bjorgaard (NOR), and Martin Sutter (AUT) – who finished less than 3 seconds apart in that order, Rezac the last of the pack to cross the line in 5^th place.

In the women’s race Suri Karjaluoto of Finland won the race in 2:10:11. Martina Stursova of Poland finished one and a half minutes back, for second place.

The top U.S. finisher was in the men’s race: William Bothe of Park City, in 186^th, with a time of 2:12:04.

Race Results

Racing the Konig Ludwig Lauf: Oberammergau, Germany

February 8, 2010
Sweden Triumphs in 37th Marcialonga
The start of the Marcialonga

SWEDEN TRIUMPHS WITH SVÄRD AND HANSSON. 70KM OF SUCCESS FOR THE 37TH MARCIALONGA

– In the last meters, Svärd and Ahrlin ski away from Jörgen Aukland
– In the women’s race Jenny Hansson races solo
– In the “Light” (45km), Antonella Confortola and Fulvio Scola prevail

Trentino, Italy

Sweden triumphed in the 37th Marcialonga, the men’s race won for the first time by Oskar Svärd, and the women’s race won again by Jenny Hansson. Svärd had been chasing this success for seven years, having won three Vasaloppet races in the past.

Racing the Marcialonga

There were 6500 athletes today on the start line in Moena, Trentino. It was a cold and gray day that turned into clear blue sky, and it was a tactical race along 70 km which was decided, as expected, only at the “final climb” of Cascata, just before the finish line of Cavalese.

At the start line of the race three of the top contenders made a calculated decision: the Norwegian brothers Anders and Jörgen Aukland, along with Italy’s Stanislav Rezac decided to start with skate skis (and therefore without wax) and Oskar Svärd started with classic skis which had no kick wax on them; hence, for them all it was to be a 70 km double pole race.

All the best competitors remained in the lead group without any twists, excluding a fast start by Bruno Debertolis (ITA) who was immediately caught by the Scandinavians, the breaking of a ski by Anders Aukland, and a broken pole for Jörgen Aukland.

Things warmed up at the beginning of the “Cascata” climb, where Aukland, Svärd and Ahrlin skied away from the pack, Aukland dictating the pace. Then, in the center of Cavalese, Svärd took the initiative gaining a few meters, with Ahrlin right behind him; the two then fought for the lead and sprinted to the finish line. Svärd beat Ahrlin to the line by 1.4 seconds, in a total time of 3:02:28.9. Jorgen Aukland finished 13.3 seconds back, in 3:02:41.3.

Rezac also did well, placing fourth in front of Italian hometown favorite Marco Cattaneo, who, after a slow start, was able to catch the lead group. A fifth place finish for Cattaneo was considered a great finish in a race dominated by specialists from Scandinavia.

The women’s race was dominated by Jenny Hansson. Hansson was always in the lead and never threatened by competitors Sandra Hansson and Susanne Nystrom, who finished on the podium in that order.

Large numbers of people were on the side of the track to encourage the competitors along the “rails”. It was a great success, then, for the 37th edition of the Marcialonga, which ended with the Swedish flag raised twice to salute the winners Svärd and Hansson, who are now the leaders of the FIS Marathon Cup.

Marcialonga Light (45 km) was won by Fulvio Scola and Antonella Confortola.

The top U.S. finishers of the 70km race were Cory-Peter Berg from Grand Marais, MN, who placed 644th with a time of 4:13:40 and William Bothe of Park City, UT in a time of 4:14:02 in 652nd place.

All U.S. results
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Top Ten Results Marcialonga – 70km  FULL RESULTS HERE
Men
1) Svard Oskar (Swe) 3:02.28,0; 
2) Ahrlin Jerry (Swe) 3:02.29,4; 
3) Aukland Jorgen (Nor) 3:02.41,3 
4) Rezac Stanislav (Cze) 3:02.57,0; 
5) Cattaneo Marco (G.S. Fiamme Oro) 3:02.58,4; 
6) Debertolis Bruno (G.S. Fiamme Gialle) 3:03.16,4; 
7) Morandini Nicola (G.S. Fiamme Gialle) 3:03.23,4; 
8 ) Aukland Anders (Nor) 3:03.43,4; 
9) Alsgaard Thomas (Nor) 3:04.00,6; 
10) Bonaldi Sergio (C.S. Esercito) 3:04.23,1
Women
1) Hansson Jenny (Swe) 3:32.07,8; 
2) Hansson Sandra (Swe) 3:33.43,5; 
3) Nystrom Susanne (Swe) 3:34.01,7; 
4) Lintzen Nina (Swe) 3:39.42,6; 
5) Sandbakken Ellen (Nor) 3:48.01,0;
6) Monrad-Hansen Marte (Nor) 3:49.00,3; 
7) Benedicic Maja (Slo) 3:50.22,2; 
8 ) Kruger Inger Hegstad (Nor) 3:59.15,1; 
9) Skari Hege (Nor) 3:59.36,9; 
10) Ruud Astrid (Nor) 4:04.14,2

Marcialonga "Light" (45Km) Results

(above article adapted by Aubrey Smith from today’s
 article on Worldloppet.com.  Original article here)

Kids hand out drinks on the trail of the Marcialonga
```
January 31, 2010
Preview of the Italian Marcialonga

Off the start of the Marcialonga

The “Queen”

Universally acknowledged as one of the most popular cross-country ski race in the world, the Italian Marcialonga is ready to kick off this Sunday, the 31^st of January, in the Trentino region of Italy.
The 37th annual “Queen” of the Italian ski-marathons is a 70km race through the Fiemme and Fassa valleys which starts in Moena and finishes in Cavalese. The Italian Marcialonga is part of both the prestigious Worldloppet circuit and the FIS Marathon Cup (since 2000).

Preparations

150,000 cubic meters of man-made snow have been spread across the race course in anticipation of perfectly set tracks. Low temperatures over the last couple days have also helped preparations, and the forecast for Saturday and Sunday morning predict a low of -12°C (10F). As a result of these promising conditions, OC president Alfredo Weiss has claimed that this year’s course will probably win the award for “best Marcialonga tracks” ever made in the race’s history.

Among the mountains in the Marcialonga

Star Studded

Many top athletes are set to be on the start line this year. Among them are Swedish stars Jerry Ahrlin – who won the Marcialonga last year as well as 2007 – Oskar Svärd, Daniel Tynell, and their fellow countrywomen Sussane Nyström, Nina Lintzen and Jenny Hansson. Hansson, who won last weekend’s Dolomitenlauf, is currently the leader in the overall Worldloppet series.

For the Norwegian contingent, champion Jörgen Aukland – who won the race in 2003 and 2006, and arrived second in 2007, 2008 and 2009 – will also be part of the top group, along with his brother Anders Aukland – who won in 2004 and 2008 – and the former world champion Thomas Alsgaard. Norway’s Hilde G. Pedersen, who was the women’s champion of last year’s race as well as in 2007, will try to win the third Marcialonga of her career.

Other big names on the start list are the Austrian Thomas Steurer, the Czech Stanislav Rezac, the Estonian Jaak Mae and the Italian triple-threat of Marco Cattaneo, Bruno Carrara and Fabio Santus.
Bjørn Dæhlie, who is often referred to as the greatest Winter Olympic athlete of all time, will also be on Sunday’s start line.

Racing the Marcialonga

Race is at Capacity

Entries closed three months before the scheduled date, which was at the end of October 2009, and 6,543 athletes from 28 nations were assigned a bib number. Almost one third of the entries are Italians (2,073), with the rest of the participants coming from abroad, in particular from Norway (2,245) and Sweden (1,216).

Other Festivities

Throughout this week in the main square of Predazzo there will be an exhibition about the history of cross-country skiing.

On Friday:

In Canazei: at 6pm the Official Opening Ceremonies take place.

In Predazzo: at 8pm a sprint competition will be run through the center of the village.

In Ziano: there will be music and festivities.

In Molina: A torch-light procession with tea and mulled wine for all.

Festivities!

January 27, 2010
Santus and Hansson win the Dolomitenlauf Worldloppet

The start of the Dolomitenlauf

The third of ten races in the FIS Marathon Cup took place at the foothills of the Dolomite Mountains in Obertilliach, Austria. Now in its 36^th year, the Dolomitenlauf is touted as one of the first Worldloppet races and it is the largest nordic ski event to be held in Austria. Over 2000 participants from more than 20 nations took part in the races.

On Friday the Dolomitensprint, which is advertised as the oldest cross country sprint race in the world, provided a show for the spectators as it raced down main street in Lienz. The 42km Dolomiten Classic race held place on Saturday and ran from Obertilliach to Lienz. Stanislav Rezac of the Czech Republic won the overall race and Martina Stursova , also of the Czech Republic, was the first female finisher.

The titled event, the Dolomitenlauf Worldloppet race, was held Sunday on the same 42 kilometer track, but in the skate technique. Jenny Hansson of Sweden topped the women’s field in 1:56:15 to hold onto her overall lead in the loppet series. Natascia Leonardi from Switzerland finished second, more than two and a half minutes behind, while Tatjana Mannima from Estonia finished another 4 minutes behind, for third place.

The men’s race was much more competitive, as the top 16 men finished within 26 seconds of each other. Another boost to the excitement was the fact that some of the German National Team members who were at a training camp nearby decided to enter the race.

Fabio Santus of Italy outsprinted the field for the win in a time of 1:43:17, and the rest of the lead pack raced across the line within seconds. Tobias Angerer of the German National Team edged Thomas Friemuth of Germany for second place. Also racing at the top of the field from the German National Team were Axel Teichmann and Jens Filbrich who finished 15^th and 16^th, respectively.

The first U.S. finisher was Joshua Smith of the Vail Ski Club, who took 36^th place in a time of 1:52:53.

With 7 races left in the FIS Marathon series, Jenny Hansson is well ahead on the overall list with 225 points. There is a three-way tie for second place between Valentina Shevchenko of Ukraine, Susanne Nystrom of Sweden and Sandra Hansson of Sweden, who all have 100 points.

On the men’s overall list it is Italy’s Fabio Santus in first place with 194 points. Oskar Svaerd is in second with 126 points.

Results (unsorted)

Overall points list

dolomitenlauf map

January 24, 2010

Sim, Calder Win Kangeroo Hoppet as 2009 ANC Concludes

The nineteenth annual Kangaroo Hoppet, Australia’s international ski marathon, was held today at Falls Creek in north-east Victoria. Rain and wind caused the races to be shortened and the main event was held over 25km instead of the usual 42km. Twenty-four year old Australian Ben Sim from Cooma won the men’s 25km event, breaking away from Thomas Diezig of Switzerland in the last 3km and winning by 40 seconds.

The winning margin in the women’s 25km was almost the same, with Katherine Calder of New Zealand taking first place 38 seconds ahead of local Mt Beauty skier Esther Bottomley. Over 1200 competitors from 22 nationalities entered in the three race distances of 25km, 15km, and 5km, although it is likely that the weather deterred a number of skiers from starting.

The Hoppet is the opening race of the 2008/2009 Worldloppet series of cross country skiing marathons, which are held in 15 nations around the world. The event was supported by AGL Hydro, Australia’s largest private producer of renewable energy, Tourism Victoria and the Keep Winter Cool campaign, the Falls Creek Alpine Resort, and Australian sport clothing brand 2XU.

The track was fast and firm at the start but softened quickly for competitors up the back of the field. A pack of six to seven skiers broke clear after 10km then Sim and Diezig went off the front just before the end of the first 15km lap. Sim attacked continuously on the second 10km loop then finally at the Sun Valley turnaround Diezig was unable to follow. It was a close race for the remaining podium place, with three-time Australian Winter Olympian Anthony Evans from Jindabyne taking third 12 seconds ahead of Swiss sprinter Valerio Leccardi and 20 seconds ahead of NSW junior Alex Almoukov.

Kangaroo Hoppet Men's Podium Thomas Diezig (SUI), Ben Sim (AUS), Anthony Evans (AUS) (Photo: Chris Hocking)

In the women’s race Calder went clear soon after the start, with 2006 Winter Olympians Bottomley and Clare-Louise Brumley from Mt Beauty skiing the first 7km together. Bottomley left Brumley behind and closed on Calder towards the end but could not stop Calder from scoring her second Hoppet win. Fourth place went to Lescinska Fackerell of Falls Creek and fifth place to former Dutch Winter Olympic speed-skater Carla Zijlstra-Evans.

Kangaroo Hoppet Women's Podium Esther Bottomley (AUS), Katherine Calder (NZE), Clare-Louise Brumley (AUS) (Photo: Chris Hocking)

It was Sim’s fourth Hoppet win, equalling Ben Derrick’s record number of victories. Sim is the current Australian 10km and 30km champion and one of Australia’s leading cross country contenders for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Calder won her first Hoppet in 2007 but this was her first competing for New Zealand. Originally from Canberra, Calder switched to the nation of her father in 2008 and is also on track to compete in Vancouver.

Australian Team member Nick Grimmer from Falls Creek and NSW junior Lucy Glanville from Sydney won the 15km Australian Birkebeiner event, while Alasdair Tutt from Wangaratta and Anna Trnka from Mt Beauty were first in the 5km Joey Hoppet.

The Kangaroo Hoppet is also the final race in the 2009 FIS Australia New Zealand Cup (ANC), one of eight Continental Cup series around the world endorsed by the International Ski Federation. Diezig from Switzerland and Calder from New Zealand secured the series win with their results today. Sim’s only chance to win the ANC was if Diezig finished outside of the podium. The winners of the Continental Cup series receive a special start position in the 2009/2010 World Cup series.

2009 Kangaroo Hoppet 25km

Top 10 Men	Top 10 Women
1, Ben Sim, NSW 2, Thomas Diezig, SWITZERLAND 3, Anthony Evans, NSW 4, Valerio Leccardi, SWITZERLAND 5, Alex Almoukov, NSW 6, Paul Murray, VIC 7, Callum Watson, NSW 8, Daniel Wieland, USA 9, Gaudenz Flury, SWITZERLAND 10, Andrew Mock, VIC	1, Katherine Calder, NEW ZEALAND 2, Esther Bottomley, VIC 3, Clare-Louise Brumley, VIC 4, Lescinska Fackerell, VIC 5, Carla Zijlstra-Evans, NETHERLANDS 6, Belinda Phillips, VIC 7, Johanna Edin, SWEDEN 8, Chloe McConville, VIC 9, Robyn Rodd, NSW 10, Mary Feeny-Hall, USA/VIC

2009 Australian Birkebeiner 15km

Top 3 Men	Top 3 Women
1, Nick Grimmer, VIC 2, Ewan Watson, NSW 3, Finn Marsland, VIC	1, Lucy Glanville, NSW 2,Juliette Booth, VIC 3, Georgia Merritt, VIC

2009 Joey Hoppet 5km

Top 3 Men	Top 3 Women
1, Alastair Tutt, VIC 2, Nicholas Montgomery, VIC 3, Giles Richardson, VIC	1, Anna Trnka, VIC 2, Siobhan Jones, NSW 3, Gabriella Cigana, NSW

2009 Kangeroo Hoppet – Complete Results (Available Sunday, August 30th)

August 29, 2009

Record Number of Over 100,000 Worldloppet Participants in 08/09 Season

The annual general meeting (AGM) of the Worldloppet organizers was held in Gatineau, Ottawa (CAN) on June 14th 2009. The representatives of the 15 cross-country ski marathons from Europe, America, Asia and Australia that are united under the umbrella of the Worldloppet Ski Federation were pleased to hear the annual report of the Secretary General Angelo Corradini and short reports by each event.

The highlight of the meeting was that, for the first time, the total participant number in the Worldloppet races exceeded 100,000 in one season. Precisely 101,500 cross-country enthusiasts raced either the short and long distance alternatives during the 2008/2009 season.

The total number of Worldloppet passport holders currently amounts to 12,600 while there are 2,800 Worldloppet Masters (racers who have completed Worldloppet races in 10 different countries, at least one of them on another Continent) and 75 global Worldloppet Masters.

Additional items on the agenda included confirmation of the final calendar for the FIS Marathon Cup 2009/2010 which will again start with La Sgambeda and finish with the Birkebeinerennet. There will be ten competitions in total, six in classical technique and four in free technique. For a complete list, visit here. Payment of prize money for the winners in the FIS Marathon Cup races will in the future necessitate them having a FIS code and the races will count for FIS points.

Source: FIS

June 19, 2009