Saab Salomon Factory Team SuperTour Results
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Saab Salomon Factory Team athletes win both of America’s Premier Cross-Country Race Series, the USSA SuperTour and FIS NA Marathon Cups, for the second consecutive year. www.EnjoyWinter.com
USSA SuperTour- 2009 - Men
1. Lars Flora 355 pts - Saab Salomon - APU
2. Leif Zimmermann 321 pts - USST-BSF
3. Bryan Cook 287 pts - CXC Elite
USSA SuperTour- 2009- Women
1. Kristina Strandberg 623 pts - Saab Salomon-XC Oregon
2. Lindsey Dehlin 307 pts - USST
3. Liz Stephen 290 pts - USST/Burke
FIS North America Marathon Cup - 2009 - Men
1. Ivan Babikov 55 pts - Canada Ski Team-Saab Salomon
2. Bryan Cook 54 pts - CXC Elite
3. James Southam 42 pts - APUNSC
FIS North America Marathon Cup - 2009 - Women
1. Rebecca Dussault 92 pts - Saab Salomon
2. Kristina Strandberg 85 pts - Saab Salomon-XC Oregon
3. Liz Stephen 60 pts - USST/Burke
This is the second consecutive SuperTour title for Strandberg and the second title in 3 years for Flora. It is also the 15th consecutive season that Saab Salomon Factory Team athletes have won one, if not both titles in America’s premier marathon series.
Saab Salomon Factory Team and Team CXC Athlete’s combined to win 25/48 SuperTour events and 5/8 FIS Marathon Cup events on Salomon’s complete ski boot binding system. 25/48 SuperTour races were won on Salomon skis, 29/48 on Salomon boots and 32/48 on the SNS binding system. Along the way these athletes also won 14 of Americans largest citizen loppets, including a second consecutive Salomon ski boot binding sweep at the American Birkebeiner. Salomon’s victory record is greater than every other brand combined. Salomon, get yours. www.SalomonNordic.com
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By Kristina Strandberg
Saab Salomon Factory Team
I’m sure you’ve heard the Johnny Cash song that goes “I’ve been everywhere, man, I’ve been everywhere…” That is how I feel in April after the ski season has ended. After five months of racing, bouncing around the country by both planes and cars. Starting with the SuperTour premier in West Yellowstone, then going to Silver Star, to Anchorage, to the West, to the East, to the Midwest, to Europe and finally to Fairbanks and the SuperTour conclusion.
Now that it is all over and my vacation has just started I can look back at the season with a bit of perspective. At the lowest point, after the first few races in Canada I wanted to quit the season. It was the feeling I had right after the race and it soon passed, but some questions lingered; did I train enough? did I train right? So, at the end of the week everything came together and I won the 10 km classic race – it is fascinating that the difference between a good and a bad race is sometimes just one night’s sleep. It is not always about fitness, training plans or race preparations, it’s about… I don’t even know! One day you just don’t have it, the next day you’re on. The ups and downs, the peaks and valleys of ski racing can happen fast and for reasons we never really figure out. And this, to me, is fascinating.
This season’s high point came in earning a start spot in the spring World Cup for leading the SuperTour. I got to race in Lahti, Finland, and Trondheim, Norway. As a young skier in Sweden, my big dream was to put on the blue and yellow ski suit and represent my country internationally. It is hard to put into worlds how good it felt to finally have this dream come true. Passing hoards of spectators all cheering “Hejja Sverige!” (go Sweden) was an experience I’ll never forget. It was incredibly inspiring and one thing I knew for certain, I had to do it again. I learned a lot from the two WC races I did. It was a great opportunity to compare myself to the best skiers in the world and it made it easier to identify key areas where I have to improve. My hope is to return to international racing next fall stronger and more competitive.
The race season is long and it is hard to stay on top for the entire five months. Many things can happen as the winter goes by. Staying healthy is one of the most important things for a skier, and it sometimes seems like one of the hardest. Especially when we race hard, travel a lot and meet lots of people. I was really disappointed when I got sick one week before the National Championships in Anchorage in January. I had done everything in my power to stay healthy. I had rested, eaten well, washed my hands excessively… All in vain, it finally happened, I got a cold. I recovered in time to race, but my preparations for these important races were far from good and the results mediocre. Much like after my bad races in Canada early in the season, I felt frustrated and disappointed. One thing was different this time though, before getting sick I had raced well and proven to myself that I was capable of skiing well. I regrouped and threw myself onto the SuperTour with confidence.
Before the season started I sat down and wrote down my goals for the winter. This is something I’ve done for the last few seasons and my success rate has varied. This year I have all the reasons to be happy with myself since I met all three of my big goals: winning the overall SuperTour, winning a National Championship and getting out on the WC. I worked very hard and seeing the progress I was hoping for is a sweet reward. My goals for next season are already forming in my head and I know that I have a lot of hard work in front of me I want to achieve them. It’s only April and I’m already looking forward to getting the training season started!
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The First 10km
My main goal for the 10km classic in Fairbanks was to ski smooth and not blow up. I’d had trouble this season with fast starts and eventual capitulation to the evils of lactic acid. This problem is compounded in shorter distance races where I become frantic to start well. In that regard, it was a success. My first lap was okay, but I moved up through the field in the second lap. It helped that Chris Cook caught me and pulled me around the second lap. I didn’t have his speed to match on some shorter climbs, but I was pretty pleased to hang just in sight, maybe 15 meters back, through the longer stuff. Aside, from the climbs, there was a pronounced downhill about 3.5 km into the lap that allowed for plenty of recovery. For me, I’d have preferred a course that offered more chances to exploit the double pole, but you take what the throw at you. It was, all in all, a fun and fast race. I paced it well, and had a strong finishing kick.
CLICK HERE FOR PDF FILE OF MICHAEL'S SUUNTO RACE GRAPHS
30 of 96
The 30km started off simple enough, and I lapped through just off the leaders. Things went downhill from there. I had chosen to add emergency wax to my skis just before the start. The course in Fairbanks is challenging, and un-compromising to a slick ski. Unfortunately, the extra layers were too much. My kick was great, but I struggled on the downhills and gradual flats, watching the others cruise by me. A tactical error that can be blamed solely upon myself, I decided not to let my race end there. After a little catching of the breath, I began to ski back into the race. Sometimes it pays off in these long distance ones to take it down a notch early, to have enough at the end. By the end of the first fifteen km I was moving back towards the front of the group. I gave a little push to make my way to the front of our pack leading into the exchange- to avoid the melee.
The exchange went well and I dropped everyone leading onto the skate portion. My skis felt fast right away, and I was ready to really throwing it down. Unfortunately, so were several people behind me. One by one I was picked off by Noah Hoffman, Brian Gregg, and Torin Koos. We stayed together with Noah pushing the pace on uphills, and me taking over when he fatigued. We moved up through the field, with several more guys latching on. With about 5km to go it became apparent that we were catching the leaders. I took no chance and threw down an attack on the first major hill of our last lap, jump skating back to the top of the “ramp.” I had broken my little group, but could still see some racers just ahead, falling from the lead pack. My motivation in sight, I did the best I could to reel them in, coming within 10 seconds of picking them off. Alas, it was not to be. I struggled through the stadium as Torin regained the time he had lost and charged by me. Race over. Mass starts are fun like that because you know exactly where you stand in the race, at any given moment. What takes the cake in the duathlon is that there is a distinct second half to the race. Our group was skating faster than the leaders (minus Babikov); but they had too much a lead for us to overcome. Another fun note is how important the exchange can be. I beat Brian Gregg overall by 2.8 seconds. I beat him in the exchange by 2.6.
CLICK HERE FOR PDF FILE OF MICHAEL'S SUUNTO RACE GRAPHS
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| Swix Wax Report 3/27-3/29 |
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Get a look inside the 2009 American Birkebeiner with these professional videos brought to you by the American Birkebeiner and Central Cross Country (CXC)!
www.birkievideo.com
DVD 1
Travel the hills of the Birkie trail with men competing to win the 36th
American Birkenbeiner. This exciting video puts you with the lead pack as
they seek to drop their competition and strategize with teammates to secure
victory on the Main Street in Hayward.
DVD 2
View all the highlights of the 36th American Birkebeiner. Enjoy the Main
Street events of children finishing the Banebirkie and the action of elite
skiers in the CXC Sprints. Follow all the Birkie and Kortie wave starts and
find yourself with the continuous footage of skiers on the Powerline.
Yuriy Gusev
Executive Director & Athletic Director
Central Cross Country Ski Association
Office: 608.277.0220
Fax: 608.277.0255
Mobile: 608.385.8864
Mailing Address:
P.O.Box 930442
Verona, WI 53593
Shipping Address:
200 E. Verona Ave., PMB 133
Verona, WI 53593
Dream. Plan. Execute.
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