Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

[BullsFan22]

I think there was a 30k individual a couple of years back in Beitostolen, but anyway I definitely agree and that there should at the vey least be 2 of them each year.

Yep, my bad, the 30km and 15km in Beitostølen in December 2018 were individual starts. The sprints, team sprints, skiathlons, and relays are all mass starts. It wouldn’t hurt at all to mix things up. When will Holmenkollen go back to an individual start? I’ve heard soon. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

 

[Erwin]

Yep, my bad, the 30km and 15km in Beitostølen in December 2018 were individual starts. The sprints, team sprints, skiathlons, and relays are all mass starts. It wouldn’t hurt at all to mix things up. When will Holmenkollen go back to an individual start? I’ve heard soon. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

Already this year if the pandemic doesn't force the local organizers to shorten the loop like they did last year. The plan is to do 5x10 km. If they can't use the track to Frognerseteren because of the risk for spectators, it will most likely be converted back to mass start with 8x6,3km. Of course, this is all assuming that the races will be organized in the first place, which is something I very much doubt.

 

[zarnack]

The big issue with sprints is if they are run on an easy course. Ulricehamn is without any proper climbs, which means only slightly harder than Dresden. And team sprint on such a course is pointless anyway with most of the teams finishing together.

 

[Discgear]

Norway stretching every possible rule to gain advantages. The collaboration with the Chinese team, Bjoerndalen trainer, cover also the waxing team. Now, when China can't participate due to Covid restrictions, the Norwegians shamelessly announces they will use 8 waxers instead of the allowed 6. Norwegian Biathlon boss Per-Arne Botnan: "now we can have 8 waxers instead of 6!"

 

[Bubba]

Moilanen seems a serious talent in the Junior Worlds.
Distanced the field with more than 5 seconds in the prologue and continued just leaving the field behind in every heat after.

 

[BullsFan22]

The guy is physically more mature than everyone else in that field, compare him with the rest he’s a man amongst boys.

 

[zarnack]

So the biathlon world championships have started. Norway, who hasn't really maximized the relays so far this season, delivered the goods this time with their favourite status.

Interesting fight for second between bigger and smaller biathlon nations. Austria beat the rest, which counts as beating the odds, although they have a team, which is capable of surprising if the stars align. Also remarkable, how the aging Ukrainian team always manages to time their form well for major championships, although they narrowly missed the medals.

 

[Mayomaniac]

So the biathlon world championships have started. Norway, who hasn't really maximized the relays so far this season, delivered the goods this time with their favourite status.

Interesting fight for second between bigger and smaller biathlon nations. Austria beat the rest, which counts as beating the odds, although they have a team, which is capable of surprising if the stars align. Also remarkable, how the aging Ukrainian team always manages to time their form well for major championships, although they narrowly missed the medals.

Men's relay or single mixed yes, but this one was a really big surprise.

 

[Norbea]

Norway stretching every possible rule to gain advantages. The collaboration with the Chinese team, Bjoerndalen trainer, cover also the waxing team. Now, when China can't participate due to Covid restrictions, the Norwegians shamelessly announces they will use 8 waxers instead of the allowed 6. Norwegian Biathlon boss Per-Arne Botnan: "now we can have 8 waxers instead of 6!"

I am Norwegian, but I agree. This is not fair. Norway shouldn't use an advantage like this even if they can.

 

[zarnack]

Men's relay or single mixed yes, but this one was a really big surprise.

In a mixed relay there would normally be 6 major medal contenders (Nor, Fra, Swe, Ger, Rus, Ita). Outside of those often someone is able to pull above their weight, like last year in the WCh Czech Rep. finished third. And currently Austria has one of the strongest teams outside the "6". Komatz, Eder and Zdouc are all inside top 30 in world cup overall. And we know Hauser is on fire these days.

 

[KZD]

The Norwegians really had good skis today, unlike the French, but Olsbu almost blew it off in the end, they should thank JTBs incredible leg.

Austria had a brilliant day in the shooting range with only 2 shots missed its a shame that Hauser its their only fast skier at the moment.

For the rest of the Championships, I see Johannes Boe dominating in the men's, with their teammates not far off while in the women's things look much more open (I can see the Ukrainians surprising).

 

[Libertine Seguros]

In a mixed relay there would normally be 6 major medal contenders (Nor, Fra, Swe, Ger, Rus, Ita). Outside of those often someone is able to pull above their weight, like last year in the WCh Czech Rep. finished third. And currently Austria has one of the strongest teams outside the "6". Komatz, Eder and Zdouc are all inside top 30 in world cup overall. And we know Hauser is on fire these days.

Czechs this year are really tailing off though, only Davidová really being up there. The generation that underpinned their greatest successes is either gone or going; Koukalová and Vitková are retired, the latter after some injury problems, as is Šlesingr, while Moravec is still around but clearly not able to replicate his best days. Puskarčíková looked like she could step up to the plate 3-4 years ago but has stagnated, while Krčmář has missed a lot of this season recovering from Covid, and even at his best, he is capable of some really high end performances but a bit like Soukup, he only pops up with them from time to time so you have to accept he will blow hot and cold. They have some promising youngsters out of that generation that may have been inspired to take up the sport due to the successes of the last 10 years, but they need them to start coming through quickly, as Moravec I'm sure will retire after the Olympics, and they might go through a bit of a phase like the Swedes had five or six years ago - Ferry, Bergman, Ekholm, Nilsson and Olofsson-Zidek all retired in short order, and they only really had Lindström popping up from time to time to bank results until the next generation was ready. Davidová is prominent enough that they won't fall to become absolute also-rans like the Swedish women did at the time, but they're definitely in the process of regressing into the midfield as Sweden return to prominence and Austria and Ukraine become more balanced teams (previously they were very one-gender, save for Semenov's annual one-a-year podium in an Individual).

 

[roundabout]

The Norwegians really had good skis today, unlike the French, but Olsbu almost blew it off in the end, they should thank JTBs incredible leg.

Austria had a brilliant day in the shooting range with only 2 shots missed its a shame that Hauser its their only fast skier at the moment.

For the rest of the Championships, I see Johannes Boe dominating in the men's, with their teammates not far off while in the women's things look much more open (I can see the Ukrainians surprising).

Weather forecasts suggest that it should be colder in the coming days so it remains to be seen whether today was about the fitness or mastering the softer conditions (mainly referring to Ukraine here, because looking at the race and the splits their skis were working very well).

 

[search]

all upcoming races in Norway were just cancelled...

All Remaining FIS World Cups in Norway Cancelled

Due to new Covid-19 government restrictions announced today by the Norwegian government that the Norwegian Ski Association will be unable to host any further competitions through the end of current World Cup season, due to the stricter travel and event-related restrictions.

www.fis-ski.com

 

[titan31]

all upcoming races in Norway were just cancelled...

All Remaining FIS World Cups in Norway Cancelled

Due to new Covid-19 government restrictions announced today by the Norwegian government that the Norwegian Ski Association will be unable to host any further competitions through the end of current World Cup season, due to the stricter travel and event-related restrictions.

www.fis-ski.com

Assume same for Biathlon then and they'll just finish at Nove Mesto

 

[Bavarianrider]

So finally we World habe had a 50km individual start and the of course it cant happen die to extraordinary circumstances. I Highlights doubt These races will be relaxed. So the Session is over after the worlds.

 

[zarnack]

How convenient to take your first world level win at the championships. Though Ponsiluoma winning isn't a shocker, given his ski speed. Whenever he shoots a 0, he would be pretty much set for a podium at least.

Pursuit will be interesting. 4 Norwegians (none with a medal today), 3 Frenchmen and 2 Swedes all start within 30 seconds. The order will be shuffled around a lot I think.

Meanwhile Germans flopped completely in the sprint.

 

[titan31]

How convenient to take your first world level win at the championships. Though Ponsiluoma winning isn't a shocker, given his ski speed. Whenever he shoots a 0, he would be pretty much set for a podium at least.

Pursuit will be interesting. 4 Norwegians (none with a medal today), 3 Frenchmen and 2 Swedes all start within 30 seconds. The order will be shuffled around a lot I think.

Meanwhile Germans flopped completely in the sprint.

I thought Desthieux was more interesting than Ponsilouma. He's been crap all year.

Wonder did the Norwegians get the skis wrong too as outside of JTB, they all seemed slowed. You wouldn't really expect Laeigreid to be so off after shooting clean even if it was slower earlier, and likewise then Dale went later and he's usually a similar pace to Jacquelin but 10 seconds off today

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Actually Dale lost all that time in the range. Dale was 2nd fastest course time (+21,6 from JTB), Jacquelin was 3rd fastest (+25,1). Lægreid was 15th best course time, but the other 3 were in the top 5 course times.

 

[titan31]

Actually Dale lost all that time in the range. Dale was 2nd fastest course time (+21,6 from JTB), Jacquelin was 3rd fastest (+25,1). Lægreid was 15th best course time, but the other 3 were in the top 5 course times.

Fair enough. Laigreid was slower than he usually is though I thought.

 

[Discgear]

all upcoming races in Norway were just cancelled...

They are strong on the skis, but solidarity is a word not included in Norwegian.

 

[Norbea]

They are strong on the skis, but solidarity is a word not included in Norwegian.

What do you suggest doing? Breaking with government enforced covid -rules and regulations? It is not something anyone wants, but it is what national health authorities advise and the government decides. The restrictions may be stronger than necessary, but that isn't anything any ski-federation has any jurisdiction over anyway.

 

[BullsFan22]

What do you suggest doing? Breaking with government enforced covid -rules and regulations? It is not something anyone wants, but it is what national health authorities advise and the government decides. The restrictions may be stronger than necessary, but that isn't anything any ski-federation has any jurisdiction over anyway.

But they can travel abroad for biathlon, alpine, NC, etc?

 

[Mayomaniac]

So the first distance races at the Nordic junior WC have happened.
On the men's u23 side Lapalus finished ahead of Moch and Andersen. I expected a bit more from Gus Schumacher, who finished 9th, just ahead of the Austro-Dutch hope Vermeulen. The Armenian Mikajel Mikajeljan finished 8th and overall we had 8 different nations inside the top 10, that's at least something.
Overall it looks like Poland has some interesting prospects on the Women's side, then becoming relevant once again would be good for the sport. Someone from China finishing 6th in the Women's 5km is also a bit of a surprise, but she has world cup experience and it's a good thing for the sport.
Let's hope that some of them will make it once they move up, having more than 2 nations fight it out for the win (mainly on the men's side) would only be good for the sport.

 

[Discgear]

But they can travel abroad for biathlon, alpine, NC, etc?

Exactly.