You’ve Asked: Who Is That Bolshunov’s Sponsor?

You’ve Asked: Who Is That Bolshunov’s Sponsor?

Leaders, Newsfeed
Lately Alex Bolshunov have started to wear a sponsor logo that is not altogether familiar to the world of skiing. Let us try to fill that gap in your knowledge ULK Group is one of Russia's biggest wood processing companies. Their website announces that " The holding unites enterprises harvesting, shipping and processing of lumber as well as wood residuals processing" ULK is known for its support of youth sport in the region where the company is based - Archangel (a.k.a. Archangelsk) in Northern Russia. Last year the founder & CEO of ULK, Vladimir Butorin made an offer to Alex Alex Bolshunov and Natalia Nepryeva to switch residency to Archangel that they both accepted. " Residency" in that sense does not mean physical presence - in Russia competition in skiing…
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Ski Tour 2020 – Round Up

Ski Tour 2020 – Round Up

Leaders, Newsfeed
This is an effort to summarize impressions from the inaugural Ski Tour 2020. At least we hope it's inaugural and not a one-off event in the "gap year " when there are no Olympics or the world championships. We deliberately post this before the Tour's end as there is enough info to convey and the most novel races have happened already. Good: [caption id="attachment_14841" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Tour is happening in the geographic area that could be described as "heartland of cross country skiing", at least one of them. That's what sets it apart from a better known cousin, Tour de Ski. It translates into spectators' stands packed and general atmosphere of the big event[/caption] [caption id="attachment_14832" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ecology/ sustainability trend is not a fad - it's a fashion…
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SkiTour2020 Kicks Off Very Promisingly

SkiTour2020 Kicks Off Very Promisingly

Leaders, Newsfeed
The inaugural SkiTour 2020 kicked off in Östersund today. Here's what we saw and what we came to think: [caption id="attachment_14724" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Östersund has taken over Falun as Sweden's premier cross country ski place. Ski stadium, fully rebuilt for the recent Biathlon World Championships looks fancy and functions the way it's meant to be in 21 century[/caption] [caption id="attachment_14723" align="alignnone" width="1920"] There is a proper snow on the ground. Unlike in said Falun as well as in Oslo, Lahti etc. etc. Yeah, one could compete on man- made snow tracks - but snowy forests & frozen lakes look better.Perhaps, just a matter of habit[/caption] [caption id="attachment_14726" align="alignnone" width="1920"] There were spectators. Wouldn't lie: not as many as come to watch biathlon, but compared to xcski stages in the Alps…
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New Rossignol X-IUM S Are Smashing Podiums This Year  (But You Probably Did Not Know)

New Rossignol X-IUM S Are Smashing Podiums This Year (But You Probably Did Not Know)

Gear News, Newsfeed
[caption id="attachment_14617" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Early December 2019. Lillehammer. Athletes are long gone from the tracks to rest before their races, but there is no respite for Simon Caprini and Roddy Darragon, Rossignol racing managers...[/caption] [caption id="attachment_14615" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Caprini is cheerfully smiling into the camera but he has an important hurdle to pass tomorrow and is - probably - a little nervous [/caption] [caption id="attachment_14616" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Laying down on the snow are all-new S line skate racing skis, product of months of hard labor by Rossignol designers and testers. They are camouflaged to look as the current version but contain several important innovations[/caption] [caption id="attachment_14609" align="alignnone" width="1920"] ..24 hours later it's time to crack open a bottle of champagne : Rossignol's biggest star of the last seasons, Alex Bolshunov…
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Closer Look: Newest Rossignol X-Ium Premium SK Course

Closer Look: Newest Rossignol X-Ium Premium SK Course

Gear News, Newsfeed
..this year we want do a coverage of novelties & other things for mentioning at ISPO , concentrating in depth on specific products. In case the word ISPO does not sound familiar: it's humongously sized winter sports & outdoor expo happening in Munich every year. Cross country skiing equipment manufacturers are all there with their wares & services - with a notable exception of Salomon and Atomic that customarily ignore it. We start with long-anticipated premiere of new top-of-the-line Rossignol boots. Why with them? Well,for one thing Alex Bolshunov keeps on winning in them recently (camouflaged to look as previous model) - it should say something. If you need a second reason here is one : Rossignol always tried to keep their prices on top-level boots lower than most in…
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