Women's Cross Country | Golden Skate

Women's Cross Country

snowflake

I enjoy what I like
Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
I'll do women's cross country à la CaroLIza_fan. On a much lower level though :laugh: Help me if I got something wrong or forgot someone. Most is from my memory.

Norway Norway, Norway, Poland, some Swedes, Fins, Germans, Slovenians and Americans. I don't know much about the Russian women. They didn't compete last weekend(Feb 2-3) and none has been that successful this season. Japan seems to have only Ishida left as a completive skier, but she is hardly a medal contender.

Marit Bjørgen, at her fourth olympics (medaling in all former 3), will probably be in a class of her own. Queen of cross country in Vancouver(5 medals, three gold). Can do even better in Sochi. She will paticipate in five, maybe all 6 disciplines. Won the 10 km classic and free style sprint last weekend.

Women challenging her at long distance races are her team mate Johaug, Kowalzyk(POL), Kalla(SWE), maybe Saarinen/Niskanen(FIN) and Weng(NOR). Norway will win the 4 x 5 km relay. I think they could provide two teams, and both would be gold medal contenders :clap: Relay predictions: Norway(gold), Finland, US or Germany. No medal for Sweden this time. Russia?

Sprint (Free style), is a different matter. More contenders and unpredictable because of crashes, falls, tactics in a tight field etc. Denise Hermann(GER) is the leader of the sprint cup this season. Number two is my sentimental favorite, Kikkan Randall(US), also in her fourth olympics. If I remember correctly she fell at the semi final in Vancouver and I thought "poor her… four years until next chance". And here it is :) GO Kikkan! Others who can do well: Hanna Eriksson(SWE) Slovenia(Visnar, Fabjan), a Swiss and a Slovakish woman, Bjørgen and a couple more Norwegians, Kyllönen(FIN), Tjekalova (RUS) Probably not Kowalcyk, who is better at classic style.

The team sprint will be between Norway(if Bjørgen competes they will win), US, Finland, Sweden, Slovenia and maybe Russia….
 

CaroLiza_fan

EZETTIE LATUASV IVAKMHA
Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 25, 2012
Country
Northern-Ireland
I'll do women's cross country à la CaroLIza_fan. On a much lower level though :laugh: Help me if I got something wrong or forgot someone. Most is from my memory.

Awww! Thanks for the compliment!

I don't like cross country skiing - I just think it looks so ungainly the way they move!

So, although I watch a bit of biathlon (the TV directors don't show much of the cross country trails - it is mostly the shooting range they show ;) :biggrin: ), I don't bother with the specialist Cross Country, or the cross country portion of the Nordic Combined.

That's why I didn't bother starting threads for either of these! ;) :biggrin:

HOWEVER, I did prepare the TV listings last night just to see if the Women's Cross Country overlapped with anything else I was planning to watch.


Saturday 8th February 2014
10:00 – 10:55 CC Women’s 7.5km + 7.5km Skiathlon

Tuesday 11th February 2014
10:00 – 10:20 CC Women’s Sprint Free Qualification
12:00 – 12:25 CC Women’s Sprint Free Quarter-Finals
12:56 – 13:06 CC Women’s Sprint Free Semi-Finals
13:22 – 13:27 CC Women’s Sprint Free Finals

Thursday 13th February 2014
10:00 – 11:30 CC Women’s 10km Classic

Saturday 15th February 2014
10:00 – 11:15 CC Women’s 4x5km Relay

Wednesday 19th February 2014
09:15 – 09:37 CC Women’s Team Sprint Classic Semi-Final A
09:37 – 09:59 CC Women’s Team Sprint Classic Semi-Final B
11:45 – 12:05 CC Women’s Team Sprint Classic Final


There's just too much on, so I don't think I'll bother watching any of the Cross Country, especially since I am not fussed on it.

Hope this helps

CaroLiza_fan
 

snowflake

I enjoy what I like
Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Come to think of Chandra Crawford(Chucky), who won the free sprint in Torino 2006. Looked her up. She's still on the Canadian team, but hasn't done well this season. Injuries or other problems? Also recognized that the other Canadian olympic women have bad results from championships and world cup. That's sad.
 
Joined
Jan 22, 2004
Kowalczyk has a painful foot injury is barely able to put her boot on and is limping. It's possible her foot is broken but she refuses to get an x-ray done until the Olympics are over. :slink:

So unless she gets a crazy beta-endorphin and adrenaline rush, you can probably count her out of medal contention, sadly.
 

snowflake

I enjoy what I like
Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Kowalczyk has a painful foot injury is barely able to put her boot on and is limping. It's possible her foot is broken but she refuses to get an x-ray done until the Olympics are over. :slink:

So unless she gets a crazy beta-endorphin and adrenaline rush, you can probably count her out of medal contention, sadly.

Oh no, that sucks. Sorry for her and so much excitement is lost if she isn't fit or can't compete at all.
 

snowflake

I enjoy what I like
Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Two medals and a fourth place for Norway today. All Norwegians skiing with mourning bands honoring their training friend who passed away the other day. He was the brother of Astrid Jacobsen, who was not on the team today(but could have been a medal contender, the competion in Norway is fierce) The tragedy united the four Norwegian women in a long hug, crying after the race. Tears on Björgen's and Weng's cheeks at the flower ceremony podium :cry:

Congrats to Charlotte for winning silver :clap: her first skiathlon medal.

Skiathlon 7,5 km classic + 7,5 km free:
1 Marit Bjørgen(NOR)
2 Charlotte Kalla(SWE)
3 Heidi Weng(NOR)

Kowalczyk was obviously not fit, but had fighting spirit as usual. 6th place for her. I heard she will have an x-ray done after the 10 km classic, which is usually her best chance for gold.
 

CaroLiza_fan

EZETTIE LATUASV IVAKMHA
Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 25, 2012
Country
Northern-Ireland
Now that all the spam has been removed from the General Olympics forum, I think it's safe to post now.

Just a wee reminder that the Qualification for the Women's Sprint is starting NOW.

Official BBC Livestreaming Channel

The BBC 's TV coverage is not joining the Cross Country until 12:30 GMT, so it will just be the Semis and the Final that will be shown on BBCi2.

Digital terrestrial (UK only): Ch. 302 on Freeview
Digital cable (UK only): Ch. 992 on Virgin Media
Digital satellite (Europe): Ch. 978 on SkyDigital
Astra 28.2E, Transponder 76 (12.551V. MBaud 22,000. FEC 5/6).
NOTE: The channel you want for the biathlon is labelled “BBC RB 2

Hope this helps

CaroLiza_fan
 
Joined
Jan 22, 2004
Kowalczyk's foot has been x-rayed and it's broken. She's can barely walk but she is going to compete, having a very precisely timed very strong pain killer injection to last through her events. :slink:
 

CaroLiza_fan

EZETTIE LATUASV IVAKMHA
Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 25, 2012
Country
Northern-Ireland
Just a wee reminder that the Women's Classic will be starting in about 10 minutes

I've just gone through the TV schedules, and it looks like the BBC are not showing it on the TV at all! So, if you want to watch it, it'll have to be the online streaming that is used.

Official BBC Livestreaming Channel

Hope this helps

CaroLiza_fan
 

CaroLiza_fan

EZETTIE LATUASV IVAKMHA
Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 25, 2012
Country
Northern-Ireland
I know Sochi is a warm holiday resort, and so it's not real snow.

But boys, this is weird watching so many of the skiiers going out in short sleeves!

And then out comes Sophie Caldwell with no sleeves at all! She's just in a vest-top! :eek:

Patrick Winterton pointed out in commentary that he went down to the beach yesterday, and it was warmer than the summer is in Oban (the town on the west coast of Scotland where he now lives)!

But, he also gave a warning: yes, it is very warm. But if you fall, the snow crystals will rip the skin off you, just like if you crash a bicycle.

So, you're better off with sleeves! ;)

I hope nobody finds this out the hard way...

CaroLiza_fan
 

snowflake

I enjoy what I like
Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Tough 10 km in sunny warm weather. Some skiing with sleeveless tops :laugh:

Wow, Kowalzyk number one with a broken foot :confused:

2 Kalla(SWE)
3 Johaug(NOR)
 

CaroLiza_fan

EZETTIE LATUASV IVAKMHA
Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 25, 2012
Country
Northern-Ireland
Tough 10 km in sunny warm weather. Some skiing with sleeveless tops :laugh:

Wow, Kowalzyk number one with a broken foot :confused:

2 Kalla(SWE)
3 Johaug(NOR)

I don't know if your commentator(s) pointed this out, but on the BBC coverage, Patrick Winterton made an interesting observation.

What do the Top 2 in today's race (Kowalczyk and Kalla) have in common?

Both of them skipped the Tour de Ski over the New Year period, and both of them skipped Tuesday's Sprint race.

So, he was suggesting that, in an Olympic year, it is not always best to enter as many races as possible in the run-up to the Games.

And, once you get to the Olympics, don't enter all disciplines, and you'll end up doing better in the others.

Interesting...

CaroLiza_fan
 

snowflake

I enjoy what I like
Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Right, none of the medalists today did Tuesday's sprint.

Johaug in 3rd place, though did Tour de Ski(won). Kalla deliberatly skipped TdS. Kowalczyk was going to go, but boycotted it because it held too many sprints(due to the weather conditions lacking snow for longer races) Bjørgen did TdS, but had to back out because of stomach problems. She looked really tired today. In Vancouver she did 5 races and medaled in all. Saarinen in 4th place today did TdS but not Tuesday's sprint. Hard for me to see a pattern. I suppose it's individual. Depends on which form you are in, your skis, how you plan your training and things you can't control. Also age. Cross country skiers build stamina each year and usually peak after 25.

I think we'll see most of the top skiers do 5 competitions.

Anyway real tough race today in hard tracks under the dazzling sun at 1500 meters. Kudos to all fighters :clap:

I know Sochi is a warm holiday resort, and so it's not real snow.

It's not plastic (kidding) The competitions are at 1 500 m so there is lots of real snow. Maybe they used artifical snow as a supplement. But to make snow the temperature must be below zero.

ETA I didn't watch the whole competition so didn't hear all the comments. But probably they talked about how many races it's smart to do for certain skiers. And I'm sure they will talk abput it again.
 

CaroLiza_fan

EZETTIE LATUASV IVAKMHA
Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 25, 2012
Country
Northern-Ireland
Is it really time for another Cross Country race already?!

The 4x5km Relay will be starting in about 45 minutes.

Unfortunately, the BBC is NOT showing it on the TV. So, if you want to watch it, you're going to have to use the website.

Here is the livestreaming link:

Official BBC Livestreaming Channel

This is NOT the same livestream page that was used for the previous competitions.

Hope this helps

CaroLiza_fan
 
Last edited:

snowflake

I enjoy what I like
Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
BIG upset in the relay!!!!

Charlotte Kalla todays hero :bow: :clap: :hb: Incredibly exciting... Kalla 25 seconds behind at the last change and first at the finish, I can't believe it, I'm so happy for her and the whole team.

Sweden's first olympic relay gold since the sixties.

Norway crumbled. Congrats to Finland and Germany, silver and bronze.
 

CaroLiza_fan

EZETTIE LATUASV IVAKMHA
Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 25, 2012
Country
Northern-Ireland
I was out when the Relay was on, but I had paused it on the computer. And boys but I was glad I did pause it! It was definitely worth the wait! :biggrin:

What a race!!! :jaw:

Norway no-where for the whole race, having been unbeaten in the Relay since March 2009 (before the LAST Olympics!!!)

Finland out in front for the whole race, having not won the Relay since 1956.

Germany in second the whole race, waiting to pounce for the win.

Sweden in 3rd the whole race, having not been on the podium in the Relay since 1968, and not winning since 1960.

Then we had the last lap. Drama button overload time.

Charlotte Kalle started the lap 15 seconds behind the top 2. Denise Hermann then took the lead for Germany half-way round the lap, but then Krista Lahteenmaki took it back a few corners later. Meanwhile Kalla was catching them hand-over-fist.

All three entered the last corner side by side, but Kalla had the inside line, took the lead and was able to pull away. The other two diced it out for the whole of the straight, and Lahteenmaki just managed to claim the silver.

I was near wetting myself the whole lap!!! :laugh:

I was gutted for Finland. I really wanted them to win, as it had been so long since they last won. But at the same time, I was delighted that Sweden finally got another podium. I just would have preferred it if it had finished the other way around.

But, on the whole, I'm very happy with the result!

And those Finnish girls are not wise! They were just so excitable when they were on the podium!!! You would not have thought they had just lost out on the Gold! :laugh:

You can't help but like them after seeing that reaction! :biggrin:

CaroLiza_fan
 

snowflake

I enjoy what I like
Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
This race made my day after the frustrating men's figure skating yesterday. Wohoo….

Sweden needed this gold after living in Silverland for a week.

The commentators discussed whether doing Tour de Ski or not was a good idea. Norwegian women did and don't look in best forms(or is it because of bad skis?). On the other hand all four Finnish women did TdS and seem in great form. Obviously Charlotte's training and plan(skipping TdS and the sprint) play out well so far: One gold + two silver medals. The new queen ?

Kudos to Kowalczyk for doing second leg for Poland with no medal chances. Well done Poland in 7th place.

Sad again for Kikkan who fell apart skiing first leg :( Hope she comes back in the team sprint if she is chosen.

1 Sweden
2 Finland
3 Germany
4 France
5 Norway
6 Russia
7 Poaland
8 Italy
9 USA
10 Czech Republic

Great athletes all of them in a 'blood- sweat- and tears' sport

I was gutted for Finland. I really wanted them to win, as it had been so long since they last won. But at the same time, I was delighted that Sweden finally got another podium. I just would have preferred it if it had finished the other way around.
CaroLiza_fan

Why, do you have relatives in Finland? Or do you just like their looks :laugh: When did Finnish women win the relay at the olympics? Sweden won 1960 in Squaw Valley California. Actually on 2 000 m above sea level :confused:
 

pangtongfan

Match Penalty
Joined
Jun 16, 2010
Glad to see Bjoergen the cheater with only one medal so far these Games. Hope it stays that way. Great relay today. Glad to see Kalla get a gold after being robbed of one by the man with a wig on the first race.
 
Top