Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

[Bavarianrider]

I am a bit shocked about the norwegians. I've never witnessed them so weak in a big competition. What's going on. (Of course i am not talking abot Björndalen, but Svensen, Boes)

Berger gettingthe relay spot would be cool. Why didn't Northug have to compete in that test race? I am sure Berger would have kicked hiss ***.

If Norwigans want to stand a chance against the Swedish they'll surely need to kick Northug.

 

[kingjr]

O

He was the fastest of those in contention (Røthe, Gjerdalen, Krogh) so perhaps he'll get the spot!

That would be awesome! Maybe he can earn himself a spot in the Biathlon relay too!

 

[maltiv]

Svendsen: "I felt really good today, actually. I felt I was skiing fast. But apperantly not. I can't explain what happened. Everyone else was just faster".

Johannes Bø: "I was skiing good today, but everyone else is much faster suddenly..."

Well, this kind of stinks.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Svendsen: "I felt really good today, actually. I felt I was skiing fast. But apperantly not. I can't explain what happened. Everyone else was just faster".

Johannes Bø: "I was skiing good today, but everyone else is much faster suddenly..."

Well, this kind of stinks.

Suggest bad skis, if the athletes feel they delivered well, but just didn't get the power into the skiing? But I feel they need to bring in Lars Berger now. Their shooting is already terrible, so why not let the fastest skier in the "peleton" have a chance? :/

 

[maltiv]

Suggest bad skis, if the athletes feel they delivered well, but just didn't get the power into the skiing? But I feel they need to bring in Lars Berger now. Their shooting is already terrible, so why not let the fastest skier in the "peleton" have a chance? :/

Perhaps.

Unfortunately there aren't any distances left they can let him go. In the mass start, only the 15 best from the world cup are allowed to start, in addition to 15 who have been good in the other distances at the olympics (and aren't otherwise qualified). Very silly rules, to be honest.

Also, Berger doesn't want to do biathlon relays anymore, since he gets so nervous that he doesn't manage to hit anything at all

 

[ToreBear]

On a more interesting note, Lars Berger did a test run today to determine if he should do the XC relay.

He was the fastest of those in contention (Røthe, Gjerdalen, Krogh) so perhaps he'll get the spot!

(note: this is probably only a possibility if Northug isn't selected)

It was a total of 3 seconds between the three, while Krogh was 30s back.

I am a bit shocked about the norwegians. I've never witnessed them so weak in a big competition. What's going on. (Of course i am not talking abot Björndalen, but Svensen, Boes)

Berger gettingthe relay spot would be cool. Why didn't Northug have to compete in that test race? I am sure Berger would have kicked hiss ***.

If Norwigans want to stand a chance against the Swedish they'll surely need to kick Northug.

I'm confused too.
But it's probably a combination of factors.
As for Northug, I think the coaches think he trained too hard going into the Olympics, and some rest stands a good chance of him getting back to normal for Sunday. They trust him enough to tell them if he can do his job or not.

Svendsen: "I felt really good today, actually. I felt I was skiing fast. But apperantly not. I can't explain what happened. Everyone else was just faster".

Johannes Bø: "I was skiing good today, but everyone else is much faster suddenly..."

Well, this kind of stinks.

Gulp, that is disconcerting.

 

[python]

will be interesting how the 15 k interval turns out. the weather is going to be about the same - warm and soft snow. just about all favorites excepting legkov and northug will be at the start.

i have a feeling olsson may bring a big surprise again as he often does after being invisible. of the norge's, if these were normal times, i would certainly expect roenning to excel, but assessing the way he performed in toblach and the skiathlon, sundby has the best chance at the podium.

the podium imo will go to any 3 of the following 5:

cologna,
olsson
poltoranin
japarov
sundby

the top 10 will probably also include hellner, belov, richadsson, bauer, and toenseth

92 skier will start

 

[jens_attacks]

I just hope poltoranin will be at his best

 

[maltiv]

I just hope poltoranin will be at his best

Not really a good course for him, imo.

Legkov would've been the top favourite on this course, but since the russian team has gone full *** by not selecting him, I'm pretty sure Cologna will win another gold.

 

[dirkprovin]

Justyna was brilliant. Marit was a disappointment, she didn't even end up on the podium, but whatever. Kalla has been the most consistent so far in the distance races in these Games.

Kalla medalling in a classical race of this distance somewhat of a surprise but a pleasant one. A skating race of this distance- she would've been a clear medal favourite but on her historical "form line" in classic, a top ten would've a more realistic prediction.

 

[python]

doubts about norges ski prep

like many, i was a little surprised by the norwegian girls performance in yeterday's 10k. no, i did not think bjoergen was guaranteed another gold, but i would never predict her 5th or weng's 9th...

trying to explain the surprise, i reviewed the video. unfortunately, it does not allow good analysis as the coverage was spotty (only some coverage around the camera placement as athletes) approached...then, i read through many post-race interviews, blogs and comments in the swedish, norwegian, polish and russian sources...some clarity emerged.

basically, jusyna finished were she was supposed to - on the top. if anything, the surprise was not her winning per se, but her small winning margin and the unusual closeness of the top 10 results. she was losing seconds to kalla as the finish loomed. after the finish, she said she was empty walking up the last hill despite the skis holding well. kalla's 2nd is also hardly a surprise, given her demonstrated strength in skiathlon. when we look at johaug's bronze, it also looks like it is b/c that's where she fits well given the conditions...curiously, her natural high cadence and lightness should favour her over a heavier girl with longer glide and stronger compression in soft conditions. this fits the observation of one commentator noted that justyna's stride was much shorter than he usually observed.

all in all, if marit and weng had less than perfect skis, it is more likely they were out skied on a very tough course by the girls also with less then perfect skis but slightly stronger.

this leads me to consider hat waxing was less of an issue than the norwegian coaches want us to believe.

 

[jsem94]

I'm not sure about that. They usually don't want to put the blame on waxers. They are very keen to keeping a good relationship with the waxers and not putting them in the limelight when something is at fault.

Let's just hope for fairer conditions in the 15K. It's crazy that most winners of this season in that event aren't even present. Absolutely mind boggling.

 

[python]

then, how do you explain kristiansen's statements supported by their head of ski prep nystad...?
http://www.nrk.no/sport/de-norske-slet-med-bakglatte-ski-1.11541071

i was not saying it was an impolite blaming - this is never done - but hints to me were misplaced b/c johaug despite having problems with skis (per kristiansen) did better than bjoergen who did not complain about skis. thus my analysis lean to conclude that marit had other small problems, thankfully it was not a catastrophe.

 

[MustIski]

Yesterday it was about schoosing between glide and grip. Skiers had to make compromises. There was no possibility to choose "perfect skis". Three of to four finns favoured glide over grip. Saarinen was the only one that chose grip over glide. Maybe some of the norwegians made the same decision as the majority of the finns.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

15K, Men classic style on now.
Musgrave in t-shirt. Its just wrong.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Solid by Niskanen. Probably metal.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Cologne too good for my money, but an exciting race for secondary placements.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Cologna, what a beast

Heartbreaking result for Nyskanen, but his time well come.
Yet another great showing buy Sweden.

Norwegian fail Sundby is done, you simply can't stay on the highest level from late November to February.

 

[python]

exciting race, a deserving winner, the swedes wiping the floor with norges...

i am ecstatic with danny richardsson's performance.

what else is new ? not much except i was a little surprised with sundby's below par showing and that of jespersen's above what i expected. the russians signaled BEFORE the race they wont interfere, so no surprise there, except bessmertnych besting japarov and belov.

i will take a look at the splits a bit later, just for fun, seems fis servers went to sleep atm.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Wonder whats going on the Norwegian media. Who are they blaming? Coaches, waxers, what went wrong?

 

[kanari]

Wonder whats going on the Norwegian media. Who are they blaming? Coaches, waxers, what went wrong?

Who cares? As long as Sweden have 0 gold medals everything is fine here...

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The Swedes are coming back. The grey cells working a bit still. From the past:

A proper hardman of the sport.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9mYj4FKDtg

Correct temps too.

 

[jsem94]

Who cares? As long as Sweden have 0 gold medals everything is fine here...

LOL not all of this again. We might have to wait til the final 50km for a gold again. I will have to put Dario as the favorite though. But the Norwegians could be in for a surprise come the relay if they don't get their act together, and the Swedes have a fair chance there.

 

[Kokoso]

What a shame. Most likeable and most most beautiful biathlete again 4th

Darya deserved this win, she's really nice person too.

 

[jsem94]

I'm ecstatic for Dasha. Two Olympic gold medals, that is brilliant.