Team Ready for Ruka Opener
By U.S. Ski & Snowboard
November, 28 2014
RUKA, Finland - Once again in 2014, Ruka will play host to the opening World Cup cross country event and the first test internationally for U.S. athletes. Unlike four previous editions, competitions in Ruka will not have the format of a stage-event but of two regular World Cup races. Cold conditions and ample snow promise strong conditions for the two events, a classic sprint and men’s 15k and women’s 10k classic event.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The competitions will be held in the Ruka Ski Resort, which is located on the southern edge of Lapland near the Arctic Circle. Ruka is Finland's most popular ski resort and can boast having the longest ski season in Northern Europe, usually over 200 days between October and May.
- The weekend is a classic-only format.
- 10 US Team athletes are scheduled to compete in Finland: Noah Hoffman, (Aspen, CO), Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA), Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT), Erik Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA), Simi Hamilton (Aspen, CO), Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, AK), Liz Stephen (East Montpelier, VT) and Ida Sargent (Orleans, VT)
World Cup Event Schedule
(Local Finnish time seven hours ahead of EST)
Saturday, November 29
10:45 a.m. Qualification Sprint Classic
1:00 p.m. Finals Sprint Classic
Sunday, November 30
11:15 a.m. Women10 k Classic
1:00 p.m. Men 15k Classic
QUOTES
Kikkan Randall
It's great to be on the eve of a brand new season! We had a great pre camp in Munio getting adjusted to the time change and sharpening our form. I've had a solid year of training thus far and I am anxious and excited to see how it all adds up.
Andy Newell
The courses here are definitely world cup style racing with steep claims and ripping fast downhills. The sprint specifically is short, fast, but also has one of the steepest hills we'll race all year, so much for easing into the season. Times are always super tight and it's a lot like a classic skiing drag rave up the climb into the stadium so you need to be fired up and on your game. It's always my goal to be on the podium here, my best ever finish in Kuusamo is fourth and it's about time I improved on that.
Chris Grover, Head Coach
Ruka has historically been an exciting venue for the U.S. team. Kikkan had a breakthrough there last season with her first classic sprint podium. Andy Newell has been as high as fourth in the sprint there. Last year, Sadie Bjornsen was seventh in the classic race and Noah Hoffman laid down the fastest time of the day on Sunday. So these are courses that the U.S. athletes know well and know how to ski. Ruka will be interesting for us this season. Typically we’ve raced a full FIS weekend in Scandinavia prior to the Ruka opener. This year we decided to have a softer start to the season, so we have not raced yet. Our intention is to be in better form in February, so I would expect the Team to not be as sharp in Ruka. I am looking for some solid results from the Team, and any podium performances will actually come as a bit of a surprise.
Simi Hamilton
A three-time NCAA All-American from Middlebury College, and a three-time Olympian, Hamilton is among the top sprinters in the world with four World Cup podiums on his resume.
Sadie Maubet Bjornsen
A World Championship bronze medalist, five-time U.S. Champion, and two-time Olympian Sadie became the first American to wear the FIS World Cup Yellow Leader's bib following two top-5 finishes to kick off the 2019-20 season.