December 15, 2005 – Under sunny but frigid skies on the newly revamped Canmore Nordic Centre, Canada’s Beckie Scott flew to a silver finish in the 10K freestyle event, twelve seconds behind Russia’s Julija Tchepalova, with Germany’s Evi Sachenbacher Stehle taking the bronze. Sarah Renner took twelfth place with a solid performance. It was yet another incredible performance for the two Canadians, on the heels of their three medal haul at the Sovereign Lake World Cup the week before.

“I’ve been feeling great all week. I’ve got excellent skis, we’ve had excellent training, so I was expecting a good result again this week,” said Scott, who finished in 25:53:1, twelve seconds behind Tchepalova’s 25:39:0. Germany’s Evi Sachenbacher Stehle took the bronze in 26:39:5. Renner finished in 27:08:7, giving her valuable FIS points so she can move into the coveted “Red Group” of top 30 skiers.

Scott, like her competitors, mentioned the tough climbs as a determining factor, but what she really loved was skiing on home snow with family and friends—she says she knew nearly every volunteer stationed around the 5K circuit. There was never a challenge to the two leaders, despite the steep ascents. By the first 1.6K mark, Tchepalova had taken the lead with Scott having the second fastest time and they continued to hold these positions at the 5K and 7.8K markers as well.

The course was designed for spectators – visible from the finish line were three climbs and three descents, plus a jumbotron that flashed key shots from the course. Even the –11 degree temperatures, that fell quickly once the sun dropped behind the Rockies shortly after noon, could not deter thousands of fans and school children.

Scott’s best 10K skate result from last season was her 5th place finish at the World Cup in Lahti, Finland so all things considered, the past week’s results were what she felt she could expect. Tchepalova and Sachenbacher Stehle commented that everyone has watched as Scott and Renner became faster and faster over the past six years.

The Canadians made a commitment to improve after finishing near the back of the pack at the 1998 Nagano Olympics – a commitment to attain not just top ten finishes, but podiums. At one point Scott wrestled with the question of retiring in 2004, and decided to return to her passion with “a deeper appreciation of the lifestyle…of the joy in the pursuit of it again,” and with that decision felt she had moved to a new level of understanding, which her results have reflected.

“I feel like I’ve had the right timing and preparation to ski better. There’s more endurance—I’m faster for longer. I have enough for a full 10K at the same speed.”

USA’s Sarah Konrad had a breakthrough top-25 result placing 23rd in 28:10:3 followed by team mate Abagail Larson in at 28:53:1 for 30th, while Canada’s Daria Gaiazova slid in right behind her in 31st spot in 28:56:7.

Canada’s Amanda Ammar, Tara Whitten and Medeleiene took 37th to 39th spots while Canadian and American skiers took up the rear, all finishing from 45th to 52nd place.

Results

1 TCHEPALOVA Julija RUS 25:39.0
2 SCOTT Beckie CAN 25:53.1
3 SACHENBACHER STEHLE Evi GER 26:39.5
4 ROTCHEVA Olga RUS 26:49.8
5 MALAHOVA-SHISHKINA Svetlana KAZ 26:49.9
6 MUERER STEMLAND Kristin NOR 26:53.0
7 BURUKHINA Elena RUS 26:59.2
8 SAVIALOVA Olga RUS 27:00.9
9 VALBUSA Sabina ITA 27:01.2
10 PARUZZI Gabriella ITA 27:01.3
11 PHILIPPOT Karine FRA 27:03.3
12 RENNER Sara CAN 27:08.7
13 MAJDIC Petra SLO 27:09.7
14 STEIRA STOERMER Kristin NOR 27:15.5
15 JATSKAJA Oxana KAZ 27:18.0
16 STORTI Cecile FRA 27:26.2
17 ROCHEVA Olga RUS 27:41.5
18 EK Elin SWE 27:51.7
19 FOLLIS Arianna ITA 27:53.7
20 KOLOMINA Elena KAZ 28:00.0
21 NORGREN Britta SWE 28:03.4
22 KUENZEL Claudia GER 28:06.4
23 KONRAD Sarah USA 28:10.3
24 CONFORTOLA Antonella ITA 28:12.0
25 ROCHAT Laurence SUI 28:18.6
26 PERRILLAT Aurelie FRA 28:20.8
27 SKOFTERUD Vibeke W NOR 28:23.0
28 ANDERSSON Lina SWE 28:49.0
29 YOKOYAMA Sumiko JPN 28:52.4
30 LARSON Abigail USA 28:53.1
31 BOEHLER Stefanie GER 28:55.7
31 GAIAZOVA Daria CAN 28:55.7
33 BOURGEOIS PIN Elodie FRA 28:59.5
34 NAGEJKINA Svetlana RUS 29:03.8
35 SONETA Chizuru JPN 29:15.5
36 LEONARDI CORTESI Natascia SUI 29:24.7
37 AMMAR Amanda CAN 29:35.6
38 WHITTEN Tara CAN 29:39.8
39 WILLIAMS Madeleine CAN 29:45.9
40 BENEDICIC Maja SLO 29:46.4
41 HOVEY Brooke USA 30:10.7
42 DUSSAULT Rebecca USA 30:13.4
43 SOKLIC Mirjam SLO 30:15.7
44 REHEMAA Jana EST 30:22.8
45 CRAWFORD Chandra CAN 30:31.3
46 CROCKER Alison USA 30:37.3
47 WILLIAMS Lindsey USA 30:38.2
48 WHITCOMB Kate USA 30:42.6
49 BETCHERMAN Tasha CAN 30:45.9
50 SCALLION Margret CAN 31:24.6
51 SWANSON Shayla CAN 31:39.0
52 BISSON Christine CAN 32:30.7

DNS JONES Perianne (CAN)