Leaders

08Feb 2021 by DS News Team

Junior World Ski Championships – Why Is It Needed This Year?

Why is the FIS Junior/ U23 World Championships even needed in these times of Covid, when travel restrictions are abound while spectators are not present and the general mood, at least in Europe, is rather "locked-down" to sour ? We asked top coaches who brought their teams to Vuokatti: [caption id="attachment_17814" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Justyna Kowalczyk-Tekieli, Poland:- We feel confident with all those disease-spread preventing measures taken by the organizers,feel safe. On the other hand, the guys & the girls were working hard all year to compete at the JWSC. We can't just stop living - the competitions should go on[/caption]. [caption id="attachment_17812" align="alignnone" width="1002"] Monika Korra, Norway- It’s important for our sport - the future of skiing. JWSC is the goal for hundreds of junior skiers around the world, it…

01Feb 2021 by DS News Team

Finnish Wonderland Gears Up For World Juniors/ U23

Leaders, Newsfeed

The FIS Nordic Junior and U23 World Ski Championships was a bit of an orphant this tough year - but, as in any good fairytale, it looks like it found a perfect home at last. " Vuokatti is the place where the JWC will hit the road running" smiles Vuokatti Sport spokesman Topi Kuorelahti, himself a national-level skier. And indeed it impresses pretty much on the first sight, whichever is your personal preference. [caption id="attachment_17687" align="alignnone" width="1689"] Vuokatti ski trails should more properly be called " ski highways"[/caption] 150 kilometers of wide perfectly groomed, carefully maintained ski trails you could access from your hotel or rental house? Check. Including those modern crazy-tough and thus FIS homologated where the actual races of the Championships shall be held. Speaking of hotels: 650…

22Jan 2021 by DS News Team

Lahti, Skiing, COVID

Leaders, Newsfeed

The Lahti Ski Games, one of the most storied stages of the FIS World Cup, feels massively different this year. COVID re-writes the rules in this year of 2021. The organizers do what they can - all arriving athletes, officials and media are subjected to compulsory antigen throat swab with test facility open through the night. [caption id="attachment_17637" align="alignnone" width="1731"] ...the precautions are justified: at least one ahthlete tested positive on arrival to Lahti: first with antigen test, than more precise PCR one. Absolutely asymptomatic, apparently...[/caption] [caption id="attachment_17643" align="alignnone" width="1920"] ...Eirik Nossum, Norwegian head coach has a different story to tell. Or several. For reasons not entirely clear, he keeps on getting false-positive antigen test results. First time it happened the whole team was isolated - but by now the…

14Jan 2021 by DS News Team

Sergey Ustiugov & Last Chance Saloon For Oberstdorf

Leaders, Newsfeed

It was Sergey Ustiugov 's last chance to jump on a wagon, departing for Oberstdorf 2021 - and he used it with his customary flair. The world's best skier of 2016/17 had an exceptionally rough season thus far: bad case of Covid hit him in October in altitude camp in Italy and, unlike many other skiers, the Russian Bear wasn't lucky enough to recover quickly. As the result, zero international races this season while the competition within Team Russia grew tremendously. Ustiugov left the Sbornya and was preparing at home, participating in local races where stunned viewers (yes, limited amount of fans is still allowed at most ski in Russia as it is an outdoor activity) had a chance to see Ustiugov run. On Thursday the 28 year old convincingly…

10Jan 2021 by DS News Team

Gus Schumacher On Tour De Ski, Swiss Prices And Long Distance Relationships

Leaders, Newsfeed

Gus Schumacher has convincingly proven his status of the hottest up-and-coming star of the men's cross-country skiing by finishing 18th overall in his first Tour de Ski - ahead of many an experienced skier and , more importantly, ahead of equally young, talented and highly marketable William Poromaa of Sweden and Alexander Terentiev of Russia. A 20 year old Alaskan scored his first Top 10 finish at 15k C earlier in the week and was 19th at the finish line of the grueling Alpe Cermis climb. We chatted to the young American immediately after his last TdS race: Hardest race you ever had? - The uphill climb was mentally hard but I’ve definitely had harder races on regular courses. Honestly, the worst part was like the first 1/3rd when the…

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