Tag Archives: Falun2015

The Nordic World Ski Championships 2015 is over. The next Championships are hosted in Lahti, Finland 2017.

Most gold medals to Norway

The sovereign Norwegians won by far the most gold medals with 11 victories.Second was Germany with 5 gold medal in ski jumping. Sweden came in third place with 2 pieces of gold medals. The king of the championships was Petter Northug Jr. with four gold medals. After him, the new ski Queen Therese Johaug won 3 gold. The former queen, Marit Björgen ended up in fifth place with 2 gold medals. However Björgen had invested a lot of effort into this year’s Tour de Ski Maybe she takes back the throne shortly, it remains to be seen.

Wind and weather

During the competition there was much discussion about weather, salting the tracks and so on. In the freestyle the Swede’s managed to fix the best skis where they won two gold medals. In the 50 kilometer it was a great advantage for Petter Northug since the other skiers were unable to pull away in the soft tracks. Is it possible to draw any other conclusions other than that skiing is an outdoor sport, and from certain perspectives a team sport where many factors contribute to a victory? Whoever manages to pinpoint these factors right win. It’s that simple. The uncertainty created also makes the sport more fun from the audience point of view: Uncertainty creates excitement.

Life without Norway?

Norway is by far the leading ski-nation. When we complain that they win everything we must at the same time not forget their importance: Sweden won 9 medals in these Championships, a national record. What would the Swedish success be worth if they did not have Norway to measure themselves against? Sure, sometimes  Russian skater win a medal and sometimes names like Cologna and Kowalczyk rises. This championship they did not it. In this way, sporting successes are sometimes relative to the competition. Therefore, it is important that there is international competition so you get proper receipts for what training and technology has given. Today, we get it, largely because the world’s best ski nation is participating. And the times we get frustrated by getting beaten by them in the tracks, we can always cheer when we beat them in hockey!

Now, we look forward Vasaloppet 2015 and continued World Cup competitions!

Today the last race of the Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden were to be decided on snowy, soft tracks. Two years ago the Swedes remember Johan Olsson winning the gold medal during the championships in Val Di Fiemme, Italia. Today he had the chance to win his second gold medal of the games, after winning the men’s 15 km freestyle earlier.

An open race

The race was pretty much an open history from start to finish. The snow made the tracks more and more soft. This caused trouble for the skiers who wanted to decide the race early, avoiding a sprint for the finish. Sweden’s Olsson and Södergren tried, but no one could get an advantage on the tracks today.

Great finish by Northug

Close to the finish, three skiers break loose: Lukas Bauer from Czech Republic, Maxim Vylegzjanin from Russia and Johan Olsson. However, in the last hill, as lighting from a clear sky, came Petter Northug. He flew over the last hill with great ferocity, passing Olsson. Before the finish line he passed between Bauer and Vylegzjanin, winning the gold medal for Norway. 38-year-old Bauer won an unexpected silver and Sweden’s Johan Olsson managed to pass Vylegzjanin who stumbled with a few meters left. After having some personal troubles for a year, Northug showed the world who is still the best finisher.

Results

1) Petter Northug, Norway, 2.26.02,1
2) Lukas Bauer, Czech Republic, +1,7
3) Johan Olsson, Sverige, +2,0
4) Maxim Vylegzjanin, Russia, +2,8
5) Alex Harvey, Canada, +6,0
6)Dario Cologna, Switzerland, +9,5
7) Alexej Poltoranin, Kazakstan, +10,1
8) Didrik Tønseth, Norway, +10,1
9) Daniel Richardsson, Sweden, +14,6
10) Alexander Bessmertnych, Russia, +17,5

In a later post, Chicken Swedes will summarize the Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden 2015.

Today was the last event for the women in the Nordic Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden 2015: 30 km classic. Many names we’ve learnt to know a bit better during the championships were there to fight for three more medals: Kalla, Björgen, Johaug, Bleckur, Kowalczyk, Niskanen, Saarinen, Weng and more.

The queen is dead, all hail the queen

Early in the race, Norway’s Therese Johaug put a great distance between her and the rest of the skiers. Noone matched her and the distance just kept growing during the race. The finnish ladies tried to win some seconds by ignoring changing skis but that only worked so far. Marit Björgen soon passed them and started the hunt for Johaug. Today she never came close though, Johaug won the gold and Björgen got the silver.

Amazing recovery by Charlotte Kalla

Behind the Norwegians, Charlotte Kalla had a tough day. She fell twice (!) and looked beat after 16 km. However, at the end of the race she got new power and managed to put in a last effort to win the bronze medal. It’s not often you see someone go from looking so tired to suddenly get an energy-boost in a long-distance ski-race.

All in all this was a fun race to watch. The paradigm-shift at the top, the recovery and the tactical move by the Finnish made the last event by the ladies very entertaining and exciting.

Tomorrow we are looking forward to the men’s 50 km.

Results

1) Therese Johaug, Norway1.24,47
2) Marit Björgen, Norway+52,3
3) Charlotte Kalla, Sweden +1.31,6

4) Kertu Niskanen, Sweden +1.55,2
5) Sofia Bleckur, Sweden +2.09,2
6 Stephanie Boehler, Germany +2.36,9
7) Aino-Kaisa Saarinen, Germany +2.45,2
8) Hedi Weng, Norway + 2.45,7
9) Eva Vrabcove-Nyvltova, Czech Republic +2.52,4
10) Ingvild Flugstad Östberg, Norway +3.01,1

After the women’s 4×5 km relay yesterday, today it was time for the men’s 4×10 km relay. It become an interesting race all the way to the finish line. In the first classic round a group of six skiers managed to break away. At the first exchange Sweden’s Johan Olsson, who won the gold at 15 km freestyle the other day, were 20 seconds behind. However, he showed great shape once again and managed to take the lead with plenty of seconds before the first skate round. Now the battle for the medals was between three nations: Sweden, Norway and France. Sweden’s Marcus Hellner lost the advantage Olsson had given him and were passed by Norway and France.

Sweden, Norway and France

At the last exchange Norway’s Petter Northug was put against Sweden’s Calle Halfvardsson and France’s Adrien Backscheider. Backscheider quickly advanced, taking the lead while Northug lured behind Halfvardsson. After a while Northug passed Halfvardsson who kept up. Soon the three skiers were side by side. In one of the last hills, Northug made an attack but Halfvardsson answered. However, at the finish no one could beat Northug who did a furious last effort, winning the gold medal for Norway, 0,6 seconds before Halfvardsson. France got the bronze.

Looking at the whole race, the three nations are probably happy with the medals. Only gold counts for Norway while Sweden made a great comeback for the silver. France could give the big boys a fight today. Overall an entertaining race all the way!

Saturday we’re looking forward to the ladies 30 km and Sunday the men’s 50 km that will finish the Nordic World Ski Championships 2015.

Today the women’s 4×5 km relay was on the schedule in the Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden. After two days of gold the expectations were high on the home team while the Norwegian women were favourites, despite having struggled in the 10 km freestyle the other day.

First round – classic

The first 5 km classic round started in a furious phase with Norway in the front. Finland and Sweden answered and were around 10 seconds behind at the first exchange.

Second round – classic

In the second round of classic skiing Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla were put up against Norway’s Therese Johaug. Kalla managed to take in most of the Norwegian advantage and was just behind Johaug at the second exchange. Finland were third.

Third round – freestyle

In the third round Sweden’s Maria Rydqvist fell in a curve which probably settled the fight over the gold medal. Norway’s Jacobsen did a solid performance and were around 20 seconds before Finland and Sweden at the exchange.

Fourth round – freestyle

Jacobsen switched over to Marit Björgen in the last round and she made no mistake: Leaving all competition behind she could cross the finish line and make sure Norway won the gold medal. The fight for the silver medal became a tactical battle where Sweden’s Stina Nilsson (with two silver medals before this race already) lured behind Finland’s Krista Parmakoski most part of the round. Before the last hill Nilsson pressed herself past Parmakoski and Team Sweden could win the silver after a strong finish.

Results:

1. Norway 49:07.7
2. Sweden +29,2
3. Finland +30,9
4. USA +1:49,9
5. Poland 1:52,3

Tomorrow the men are running the 4 x 10 km relay.

Yesterday Sweden got their first gold medal in the 2015 Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden when Charlotte Kalla won the women’s 10 km freestyle. Today it was the men’s turn to fight for the medals in the 15 km freestyle competition. Once again, the weather was so-so and the tracks became damper and heavier as the event went on.

Another Swedish gold medal

34-year old Swedish skier Johan Olsson made a solid performance and once again Sweden could outmaneuver the other nations against the weather-Gods. The second best today were Manificat from France who won the silver. Norway’s Gloeersen got the bronze medal.

1) Johan Olsson, Sweden 35.01,6
2) Maurice Manificat, France +17,8
3) Anders Gloeersen, Norway +19,2
4) Marcus Hellner, Sweden +39,8
5) Finn Haagen Krogh, Norway +47,6
6) Bernhard Tritscher, Austria +53,4
7) Lukas Bauer, Czech Republic +54,7
8) Chris Andre Jespersen, Norway +57,2
9) Sjur Roethe, Norway +1.01,2

Tomorrow we are looking forward to the women’s 4×5 km relay. It can be another Swedish success with sovereign Charlotte Kalla. In the 2014 Sochi Olympics she was 30 seconds behind the leaders but managed to win the gold medal after a sensational recovery.

The Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden continued today with the sprint relay. Two skiers from every team share 6 rounds of 1,4 km each.

Women’s sprint relay

Sovereign Margit Björgen from Norway passed the competition after failing to get a medal in yesterdays skiathlon. However, this time it was two other Norwegian skiers who won the gold medal: Ingvild Flugstad Östberg and Maiken Caspersen Falla. The home nation Sweden got a silver medal after a strong finish by Stina Nilsson (who also won the silver in the classic sprint earlier). Swedish Ida Ingemarsdotter also made a strong fifth round. The bronze medal went to Polands Justyna Kowalczyk and Sylwia Jaszkowiec.

Men’s sprint relay

In the men’s competition Petter Northug won his second gold medal of the championships, this time together with Finn Hågen Krogh. Russia finished second and Italy won the bronze. Overall Norway was once again miles before the other nations. The Swedish men gave them a match but at the last exchange one of the Russian skiers bumped into Sweden’s Peterson who dropped his pole which made him lagging to far behind the top.

Results

1) Finn Hågen Krogh/Petter Northug, Norway, 15.32,89, 2) Alexej Petuchov/Nikita Krjukov, Russia, +5,64, 3) Dietmar Nöckler/Federico Pellegrino, Italy, +5,73, 4)Thomas Bing/Tim Tscharnke, Germany, +6,11, 5) Ville Nousiainen/Martti Jylhä, Finland, +13,66, 6) Ales Razym/Dusan Kozisek, Czech Republic, +16,73, 7) Andrew Newell/Simeon Hamilton, USA, +17,48, 8) Maciej Kreczmer/Maciej Starega, Poland, +26,46, 9) Calle Halfvarsson/Teodor Peterson, Sweden, +47,43, 10) Robin Duvillard/Baptiste Gros, France, +1.01,04.

Now we are looking forward to the 10 km freestyle, Tuesday February 24.

Today’s event in the Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden 2015 was Skiathlon and here are the results:

Women’s Skiathlon 15km:

The big hope for the home nation Sweden here was Charlotte Kalla who’s signum is her excellent strong freestyle skiing. However, before that, 7,5 km of classic skiing had to be done. In the classic part, the big Norwegian star Marit Björgen were left behind and Kalla was first out to the ski exchange. However, the Norwegian ski-ladies are like Legion: They are not one, they are many. This time it was Therese Johaug and Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen who were too strong.

Results:

1) Therese Johaug, Norway, 40.57,6, 2) Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen, Norway, +5,7, 3) Charlotte Kalla, Sweden, +6,0

Men’s Skiathlon 30km:

In the men’s race there was a good mix of different skiers: Names like Petter Northug (won won the sprint the other day), Dario Cologna and Marcus Hellner promised us a tight competition, and so it was. A group of 15 skiers held together and it wasn’t until the end that Dario Cologna managed to break away. At the finish he got beaten by Russia’s Vylegzjanin. Alex Harvey from Canada won his second medal of the championships, finishing third.

Results:

1) Maxim Vylegzjanin, Russia, 1.16,25, 2) Dario Cologna, Switzerland, +0,4, 3) Alex Harvey, Canada, +1,6

At Chicken-Swedes we are looking forward to the sprint-relay tomorrow!