Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

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Great result for Charvatova in 6th as well. Vobornikova said that she would be in monster shape, but I didn't really expect it to translate even to the final shooting

 

[Silhouette]

How weird it must be for someone like Iver Anderson: "Cool, I finished 12th in a world cup race I'll be competing for top-10s soon!" then . . . "Darn, I was the 10th Norwegian-- I won't even make the national team for coming races and the Olympics."

After the race on sunday he said something like "I'm not going to the olympics unless half the deam dies", and "time to get a job".

After a 6th place, ahead of every non-Norwegian ...

The competition among the Norwegian men is extremely fierce at the moment. I just wonder how much it will hurt their performance in the olympics..

 

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Korostelev has already traveled to Davos now, as he had a visa anyway. The Russians hope for him to be cleared to start the coming days. Other contenders named to potentially return to the world cup are Sergey Volkov and Dariya Nepryaeva.

According to Vyalbe, they then first of all need to clean the skis, as they still use fluor in Russia.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Korostelev has already traveled to Davos now, as he had a visa anyway. The Russians hope for him to be cleared to start the coming days. Other contenders named to potentially return to the world cup are Sergey Volkov and Dariya Nepryaeva.

According to Vyalbe, they then first of all need to clean the skis, as they still use fluor in Russia.

They had 2 years to stop that, how incompetdnt of a Federation can you be?
Anyway, I guess Toblach will once again be Ruski territory.

 

[Sciatic]

They had 2 years to stop that, how incompetdnt of a Federation can you be?
Anyway, I guess Toblach will once again be Ruski territory.

Incompetent plus don't give a damn about the health of their wax technicians . . .

 

[dobrien]

Incompetent plus don't give a damn about the health of their wax technicians . . .

Come on now; if fluoros were still allowed Norway/Sweden et al would still be slathering them on their skis like butter on toast...

 

[Sciatic]

Come on now; if fluoros were still allowed Norway/Sweden et al would still be slathering them on their skis like butter on toast...

Oh, for sure. I was gobsmacked reading the medical research showing that ski wax technicians had even higher levels of PFAS in their bloodstreams than workers in the chemical factories where they produced. Out of all the professions from which they collected blood samples, only one had higher levels: firefighters, whose fire suppressant foam is loaded with the stuff.

 

[dobrien]

Oh, for sure. I was gobsmacked reading the medical research showing that ski wax technicians had even higher levels of PFAS in their bloodstreams than workers in the chemical factories where they produced. Out of all the professions from which they collected blood samples, only one had higher levels: firefighters, whose fire suppressant foam is loaded with the stuff.

Yeah, that stuff is seriously nasty. And it's one thing when it's at the world class level, but I've done some marathon races on the local circuit at the masters level here in the northern US and the way masters ski racers were pouring it on you'd think they thought they were immortal or something. Crazy.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Yeah, that stuff is seriously nasty. And it's one thing when it's at the world class level, but I've done some marathon races on the local circuit at the masters level here in the northern US and the way masters ski racers were pouring it on you'd think they thought they were immortal or something. Crazy.

There was a recent study showing that after the Engadiner Skimarathon there were elevated levels of it on the snow, so lots of amateurs are still using it.

 

[Mayomaniac]

That said, with Russia's long tradition of having really bad skis in typical fluor conditions they might be better off without fluor wax...

 

[Libertine Seguros]

They had 2 years to stop that, how incompetdnt of a Federation can you be?
Anyway, I guess Toblach will once again be Ruski territory.

Remember they didn't even manage to secure TV coverage for the first year, and Stepanova started training with a rifle on her back, not because she had any intention of actually switching to biathlon, but to make a point about the incompetence of Välbe and her team in comparison to the SBR.

And when the SBR is showing you up for your lack of competence, you really screwed up. And bear in mind that the SBR only nominated their proposed A-team for Pyeongchang on the assumption they could wave off the Sochi controversies and ended up with only four athletes eligible to enter, because they hadn't thought to even try to get some of the fringe team members' paperwork in order.

 

[dobrien]

Korostelev has already traveled to Davos now, as he had a visa anyway. The Russians hope for him to be cleared to start the coming days. Other contenders named to potentially return to the world cup are Sergey Volkov and Dariya Nepryaeva.

I for one would not be the least bit sad to see Korostelev take down a certain you-know-who this coming weekend...

Also very interested to see how Nepryaeva stacks up; in any event, I am frankly excited to see some new faces in the mix and
hope they can compete AND hope they are at least accorded polite treatment by fans and competitors.

 

[dobrien]

There was a recent study showing that after the Engadiner Skimarathon there were elevated levels of it on the snow, so lots of amateurs are still using it.

I am sure if a similar study were conducted after the American Birkebeiner similar results might be found; fluoros are banned here but there are still people in the US 'using up their remaining supply', wink wink nod nod.

I mean, why let it go to waste, right?

 

[Mayomaniac]

Remember they didn't even manage to secure TV coverage for the first year, and Stepanova started training with a rifle on her back, not because she had any intention of actually switching to biathlon, but to make a point about the incompetence of Välbe and her team in comparison to the SBR.

And when the SBR is showing you up for your lack of competence, you really screwed up. And bear in mind that the SBR only nominated their proposed A-team for Pyeongchang on the assumption they could wave off the Sochi controversies and ended up with only four athletes eligible to enter, because they hadn't thought to even try to get some of the fringe team members' paperwork in order.

Tbf, I'm convinced the lack of TV deal also had to do with Välbe's more neutral statements at that time, who were seen as not patriotic by the higher ups...

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Anne Bünemann de Besche tried for years to make it into the Norwegian team before she switched allegiance to Denmark this year (her parents are Danish). Then she became Norwegian champion in the mass start on roller skis before finishing fourth in the mass start in Geilo and today she beat all the Norwegians to finish 6th in the IBU Cup individual in Riednaun.

 

[BigCoward]

While I miss his talent, Boe not being around is already making for a much more interesting season.

 

[BigCoward]

Anne Bünemann de Besche tried for years to make it into the Norwegian team before she switched allegiance to Denmark this year (her parents are Danish). Then she became Norwegian champion in the mass start on roller skis before finishing fourth in the mass start in Geilo and today she beat all the Norwegians to finish 6th in the IBU Cup individual in Riednaun.

I do wonder why more Norwegians don't pick a country of convenience to allow them to compete at the highest levels where possible. If you are top 15 in the world, it's absurd that being number 5 in your country holds you back.

 

[OJRvE]

I do wonder why more Norwegians don't pick a country of convenience to allow them to compete at the highest levels where possible. If you are top 15 in the world, it's absurd that being number 5 in your country holds you back

Its not super easy to get a citizienship of another nation without any connection to it

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Its not super easy to get a citizienship of another nation without any connection to it

It depends on the country. It doesn't appear to be too hard to become South Korean or Belgian, for instance. But you may also find that you have to take on a lot more responsibility when you're not part of a bigger team.

 

[KZD]

Jeanmonnot's first win of the season, she looked much better than in Östersund and is the favourite for the overall. Having said that, Kirkeeide looked superb today, maybe she can give her a fight.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

First career individual podium for Philipp Horn, at the young, young age of 31.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Jeanmonnot's first win of the season, she looked much better than in Östersund and is the favourite for the overall. Having said that, Kirkeeide looked superb today, maybe she can give her a fight.

Third time's the charm and all that, but you almost expect that someone will pip Jeanmonnot once again. However I don't really see anyone having the consistency to do so at the moment.

 

[dobrien]

Nepryaeva and Korostelev both on the start list for the sprint today; let the games begin!

 

[KZD]

The Frenchmen keeping their tradition of bossing the pursuits, Perrot has to be the favourite for the overall too, but I am very impressed with Botn early season consistency and Giacomel is looking like a possible home hero for Italy in the Olympics.

Dale with a great race today, should have guaranteed his presence in the Norwegian team for the next rounds.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Well held on by Horn. If Jacquelin and Fillon Maillet were allowed to compete as a duo and do one half of the race each they would probably win every time.