Today was the first race at the Canmore World Cups. The format for today was a continuous pursuit, 15km for the women and 30km for the men. Canada had 5 extra spots in the national group and so they could enter 8 women and 9 men. I didn't race today so I went up to the Nordic Center to watch the women's race in the morning. It was really exciting to be there and I got to watch Sarah finish in 25th position and Tasha in 32nd, just outside the elusive top 30. Justyna Kowalczyk from Poland was the eventual winner with a 15s margin over two Russians Medvedeva and Rotcheva.
Because I am racing tomorrow, I decided to watch the men's race from the comfort of the Jaques' house with a bunch of other people in the same situation. It was great seeing Devon up front for most of the race and George hanging in there as well. In the end, Devon finished 16th, George 17th and new Canadian Ivan finished 13th but was racing for Russia. Nikolay Pankratov from Russia won in an amazing sprint finish over Giorgio DiCenta from Italy and Axel Teichmann from Germany.
That's all for now....full results are available on fis-ski.com.
Tomorrow is the classic sprint which I am racing in!
The lead pack at the end of lap #1.
Sara Renner with the lead pack.
Tasha skiing strong.
Dasha having a good classic leg.
Shayla and the pack of young North Americans.
Leaders making the transition.
Sara Renner...heading to the wrong box with her skis!
A chase pack on the skate sizing each other up.
More of a chase pack.
Tasha Betcherman, skiing strong.
Riitta-Liisa Roponen.
Sara Renner in the skate leg.
"Technically Cool Eyewear!"