Thank goodness the summer is over, and the fall is halfway done. I can get this blog back to its real topic - World Cup cross-country skiing. The first races take place on Saturday and Sunday in Düsseldorf, Germany - not a snowy place in February, much less late October, but nonetheless the now-traditional site of the each World Cup's first events, individual and team sprints. (Where do they get the snow?, you ask? The organizers use artificial snow made in an indoor "ski hall" outside Düsseldorf, saved for the event, and trucked to the edge of the Rhine for the race.)
(Photo from the Düsseldorf race website.)
Last year's races were dominated by the Norwegians, who took five of the six podium spots in the individual races and placed first in the women's team event and second in the mens'. This year, I think the results will be different:
men's individual
1. Bjorn Lind (SWE)
2. Andy Newell (USA)
3. Tor Arne Hetland (NOR)
(The young but erratic Norwegian star Petter Northug will crash out in the final. Maybe a Swede will punch him.)
women's individual
1. Virpi Kuitunen (FIN)
2. Justyna Kowalcyzk (POL)
3. Marit Björgen (NOR)
men's team
1. Norway 1 (Northug's team)
2. USA (Newell and Torin Koos)
3. Norway 2 (Tor Arne Hetland? Øystein "the Sausage" Pettersen, who celebrated his podium spot last year by streaking the course?)
women's team
1. Norway 1 (Björgen's team)
2. Finland 1 (Kuitunen's team)
3. Russia 1 (Natalia Matveeva's team)
I think the American sprinters Newell and Koos are going to have a breakout season this year, with multiple podiums and even, possibly, a couple wins. Both men did well last season, and both raced well in the "Oktobersprint" - on snow from last winter that was saved all summer! - in Sweden earlier this week.