Ivan Babikov: Thoughts On the Early World Cups

Salomon Nordic caught up with Ivan Babikov in Canmore, Alberta following his return from the Davos World Cup, where he finished 26th - still ill from a cough/cold that crept up on him a few days before the race. Here are his thoughts and feelings on the early World Cup season...

We heard you got sick a few days before the Davos World Cup…Can you describe your feeling and what you did to prepare?
When I realize that I was getting sick, I got very upset. I was feeling very good a few days before and was looking forward to start the Davos World Cup. Then I just stayed in the hotel room and tried recover as soon as possible.

Did you think of skipping the race? Or were you always planning on racing regardless of being sick?
There was a day (two days before the start) when I felt very bad and was thinking that there was no way I would be able to start, but next day (after a good night's sleep) I felt a little bit better and I wanted to start no matter what.

What kind of training did you do while you were sick?
I was locked in my room with a lot of chocolate, a kettle of tea and a jar of honey!

How did you feel during the race?
I didn't feel great...I just felt like couldn't push hard enough.

I heard you had some fast skis…How did you compare to others around you?
I had THE fastest skis that day, rockets. I'm super happy with my skis this season so far. Just amazing how much Salomon improved since last year.

Are you happy with first part of WC season?
Not 100%, sometimes I wasn't ready, sometimes just bad luck, but hopefully the rest of the season will be better for me.

What is the focus now that you are back in Canada ?
I'll try to keep my shape up, do some little tune up before Tour de ski, and of course spend my first Christmas with family in like 7 years. :)

Good luck Ivan and Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Nystad News Tronds: Davos

As far as Davos went, All in all it was business as usual. Fair races and fair courses....great to see that the french team had 5 people top 8....sprint course was for me way too long, but those discussions are never ending..some think the sprint should be longer, other think it should be shorter. Also nice to see that Dahl got his first WC win.

La Sqambeda was also on Sunday - all the WC skiers that did not race the sprint went there - they had a pretty easy match as they all sprinted for the win.

Other than that not much to report....Rogla will be interesting - only a 2.5km loop. 30 km mass start will be pretty tight...sprint to get into the first row, then a sprint again at the finish. The course does not open till Thursday, so more to tell then..t

Salomon Nordic System Athletes Continue to Win at Sovereing Lakes, BC

NST/Salomon's Phil Widmer (far lane) lunges for the line against Garrot Kuzzy (USST) in the "A" Finals of the Teck Sprint in Sovereign Lake

Dec 13, 2009 - Canadians Phil Widmer and Dasha Gaiazova Strike Gold at Teck Sprint Series in British Columbia http://www.cccski.com/main.asp?cmd=doc&ID=6036&lan=0

VERNON, B.C.—Canadian athletes defended home snow by winning double gold in the opening Teck Sprint Series race of the Haywood NorAm event taking place near Vernon, B.C. on Sunday.
Phil Widmer and Dasha Gaiazova, both of Banff, Alta., bolted their way around the 1.1-kilometre skate-sprint track at the picturesque Sovereign Lake Nordic Ski Club to win gold in both the men’s and women’s races.


The 26-year-old Widmer, who is one of the country’s strongest sprint athletes and competed at the 2006 Olympics, was first out of the gate in the qualification round and fought his way through the challenging heats to hold off the hard-charging Americans.

“It was a good day for me despite the qualifying round not going well for the team as a whole, but to get two Canadians on the podium is great,” said Widmer. “My energy was good today. I was nervous after not qualifying well but things got better in the first heat. I gained confidence as I went along and it was great to get Garrott at the line. I have a lot of respect for him.”

Gaiazova fought off Americans Holly Brooks (CXC/Salomon) who grabbed the silver medal, while Katie Ronsse (Atomic) powered her way to the bronze.

COMPLETE NORAM RESULTS: Qualifying ResultsFinal Results

Top-5 Women’s Results:
1. Dasha Gaiazova, Banff, Alta.

2. Holly Brooks, USA (Salomon)

3. Katie Ronsse, USA (Atomic)

4. Kasandra Rice, USA

5. Rebecca Dussault, USA (Salomon)

Top-5 Men’s Results:
1. Phil Widmer, Banff, Alta., CAN (Salomon)

2. Garrott Kuzzy, USA (Salomon)

3. Sean Crooks, Thunder Bay, Ont., CAN (Atomic)

4. Mark Iverson, USA

5. Leif Orin Zimmermann, USA

Top 3 Junior Men's Results:
1. Erik Fagerstrom, SVFUS, USA

2. Steffan Lloyd, Nakkertok, CAN (Salomon)

3. Etienne Richard, CNEPH, Can (Atomic)

Top 3 Junior Women's Results:
1. Dahria Beatty, Whitehorse, CAN (Salomon boots/bindings)
2. Janelle Greer, Whitehorse, CAN (Salomon boots/bindings)

3. Alysson Cummings, Sovereign Lakes Nordic, CAN (Salomon boots/bindings)

Salomon Athletes Victorious Again at Sovereign Lakes NorAm FIS race!

Dec 12,2009

Top-10 Women’s Results:
1. Holly Brooks, USA, 29:37 (Salomon)
2. Dasha Gaiazova, Banff, Alta., CAN, 29:46
3. Rebecca Dussault, USA, 30:24 (Salomon)
4. Madeleine Williams, Edmonton, CAN, 30:31
5. Caitlin Compton, USA, 30:48 (Salomon)
6.Tazlina Mannix, USA, 30:51
7. Nicole De Yong, USA, 30:58
8. Brooke Gosling, Calgary, 31:17 (Salomon)
9. Rebecca Rorabaugh, USA, 31:21
10. Kristina Trygstad-Saari, USA, 31:24




Top-10 Men’s Results:
1. Garrot Kuzzy, USA, 37:35 (Salomon)
2. James Southam, USA, 38:24 (Atomic)
3. Matt Liebsch, USA, 38:27 (Salomon)
4. Gord Jewett, Canmore, Alta., CAN, 38:43
5. Brian Gregg, USA, 38:45 (Salomon)
6. Bryan Cook, USA, 38:46 (Salomon)
7. Brian McKeever, Canmore, Alta., CAN, 38:59 (Salomon boots/bindings)
8. Kevin Sandau, Calgary, CAN, 39:12
9. Drew Goldsack, Red Deer, Alta., CAN, 39:12
10. Graham Nishikawa, Whitehorse, Yukon, CAN, 39:13 (Salomon boots/bindings)

Etienne Richard (Atomic) takes the Junior Men's title

La Sgambia: Shiriav Wins by FF

Russian Sergey Shiriaev won in photo finish the twentieth edition of La Sgambeda beating Fabio Santus from Bergamo, Italy. Third, René Sommerfeld of Germany was third. Among women the Ukrainian Valentina Shevchencko dominated by posting Antonella Confortola of Italy second.

Over 1,700 cross-country skierstook part in the long weekend "distance runners" in Livigno, which began on Friday with Sgambeda in Classical and continued yesterday with the MiniSgambeda. The main race today was truly international with 9 countries represented in the top 11 standings in the men category and 12 nations present in the top 20. http://www.lasgambeda.it/

La Sgambeda

La Sgambeda will mark the start of the popular skiing competition season in Central Europe this Sunday.

Friday 11 December 2009

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Photo: Nordic Focus - La Sgambeda 2008

Classic race new program
For the first time this year there will be a classic race in the La Sgambeda in Livigno (Italy)., Classics specialists will fight on a round of 21 kilometers already on Friday. The highlight of the weekend will be on Sunday when 42 and 21 kilometers F is on the program. The start is scheduled at 11.00.

Famous Cross-Country skiing names on start
The the start list includes the Vasaloppet winners Daniel Tynell and Sandra Hansson. The overall winner of last season, Marco Cattaneo and Jenny Hansson will try again this year. Some athletes will use the short distance of La Sgambeda to Davos. Rikard Andreasson and Geir Ludvig Aasen plan to eat up another portion of kilometers after the Saturday's World Cup race at La Sgambeda. From a German perspective, and Steffi Thomas Freimuth likely Felgenhauer, and DSV-series cross-country champion Anja Kretschmer has the greatest chance to have a front rank.

Ideal conditions
While in central Europe snow is rare the Italian Livigno can offer already plenty of it. 60 centimeters are around the place. All competitors can look forward to ideally prepared track and great sportive conditions.

For more information go to the OC's website.

Contributed by: XC-SKI.de and FIS http://www.fiscrosscountry.com/

World Cup Insights: Fabien Blondeau

Looking Back at Kusaamo (Finland)...

While all Nordic skiers were watching the racing back home at West Yellowstone Ski Festival, last week end was the Nordic Opening in Kusaamo (ski jumping, nordic combined and XC skiing). Temperature in Finland at this period of the year should be around -15C, but the coldest we had was -3C and snow falls or rain : so every one was thinking about a tough waxing week end.

First race was classic sprint on saturday with a klister day (+1C, cloudy, little rain sometimes), so ski selection was important to keep the klister away of the snow in the gliding parts! At the end Justyna Kolwacyk (Salomon boots/bindings)gave an other proof that she is a very good overall skier by winning the race. She will be tough to challenge for the overall WC. On the men side, Hattestad is still the best sprinter in the world so far.

Second race : Condition were crazy fast, especially in the classic track. You have to know that in Kusaamo, there are big up hills what means big downhills. In one of these downhills, skiers can go up to 80km/h, so you don't want to crash there. Peter Northung showed to everyone that he was not only good on mass-start by winning the individual classic with a really fast last 5k. You can think whatever you want about this man, he is amazing.

I'm now on the boat from helsinki to kiel (GER). Next wold cup stage is in Dusseldorf beside the river Rhin. Courses are sprint and team sprint in skating in the center of the city. So it should be very exiting to race in the middle of thousands of exited XC ski fans.


Fabian Blondeau,
Team Japan-ski tech

World Cup Insights: Knut Nystad

Thoughts before Davos...

The town is probably full with folks from all over the world gladly opening their wallets to bring small gifts with a huge price tag back home just in time for xmas.

It looks like the town has received snow just in time for the holiday season and the world cups. The weekend looks promising with -6 degree weather and more fresh new snow. Should make for soft conditions, but the swiss normally have no problem grooming perfect trails..both for the folks with high pulse and a start number on their chest and the folks that are out there to justify the glüwein waiting at the cabin.

The course should be the standard world cup course. Slightly mellow boring gradual uphill out of the stadium area up the valley....and equally boring and gradual down the valley toward the end, but the mid section is fun and gives challenges enough to split the field and give a deserving champion.

Food is as always a culinary delight in Davos - the town is set for the holiday season...and so will we be with filled bellies...did you ever try the horse meat...not bad, and a fresh change to the swiss cheese and swiss chocholate.

All the ski industry is gearing up for the Olympics...and for sure there will be some new gear out on the courses...but of course all of it is tried to be kept secret.

Athletes are already on location - In the men's distance race look out for the russian athletes and of course Petter Northug! On the women's side it is for sure more Open, but I expect Justyna C from Poland, Marit B, Kristin S Steira, Therese Johaug, Arianna Follis to battle it out with a few russians for the victory....but look out for a few surprises..it is early in the season and a little bit of altitude.

Knut Nystad,

Team Norway - Chief of Service

Product News: S-LAB Skate Pro

If you haven't seen it on our skiers' feet yet, check it out - the new 2009 SLAB Skate Pro!

Follow the link below, and click on the cool 'video' links...

http://www.salomon.com/minisites/slab-skate-pro/index.aspx

Results: First Podiums of the Season!

It's official - The race season has begun!

While I was coaching masters at the 2009 Silver Star XC Camps, the elite crowd was chasing the snow, and racing down in the US (West Yellowstone and Bozeman) as well as up North in Canmore, Alberta for the first Alberta Cup of the Season!

Team Salomon skiers shot ahead with multiple podiums over the past two weekends - Here are a few team highlights...

SuperTour Highlights after 5 events

Men:
Garrott Kuzzy - CXC/US Ski Team/Salomon leads the men with 4 podiums, including 3 victories and a 2nd place finish!

Women:
Holly Brooks - APU/Salomon leads a competitive women's field, with another 4 podiums, including 3 wins and a 2nd place!

Laura Valaas - APU/Salomon (boots) took 2nd place in the West Yellowstone Classic Sprint event, followed by Shayla Swanson - NST/Salomon in 3rd place!

Salomon team skier, Rebecca Dussault of CXC took her first podium of the season finishing a strong 3rd place in the skate event.


Alberta Cup Update - Canmore, Alberta

Classic Sprint - Men:
Team Salomon skiers dominated the Classic Sprints with NST's Phil Widmer and Stefan Kuhn, taking top honours for the day! The Salomon Nordic System (SNS) swept the top 3 with NST's Sean Crooks taking the 3rd spot.

Classic Sprint - Women:
NST Junior Team member Heidi Widmer (Team Salomon) raised some eyebrows by splipping the Senior Women's division - Shayla Swanson (Team Salomon) took her second podium of the season with a fast time in Canmore.

Classic Sprint - Junior Men:
New recruit and Canmore local Lucas Jungmann (Team Salomon) stepped onto the podium with a 2nd place finish in his first sprint event of the season.

Skate Distance (8km) - Junior Men:
On Sunday, it was Hardwood Hills' duo of Bob Thompson (Team Salomon) and Jordan Cascagnette (Team Salomon) to get on the podium - nice to see these boys getting up to speed in the distance event!

Thompson and Camille cruise up the mainline in Callaghan Valley, BC

Next stop...Sovereign Lakes (Silver Star Mountain) for the first Canada Cup of the season!