February 15, 2010 (Whistler, BC) – A giant monkey is off the back’ of the US Nordic combined community… on Sunday they finally
With superb jumping America’s Todd Lodwick started second in the xc race some 34 seconds behind Janne Ryannen. Lodwick quickly made up time and passed the Finn to take the lead. The lead traded back and forth, but for much of the race Lodwick – who won this event at last year’s Nordic World Championships – stayed out front. Among the pack of seven chasing was Spillane and French skier, Jason Lamy-Chappuis.
Then on lap three of four on a 2.5km course, Spillane burst into the lead, while Lodwick managed to stay with the leaders, Meanwhile America’s Bill Demong who started 1:20 back displayed a super human effort to bridge to the leaders and joined the end of the lead pack.
In the final straight to the finish Chappuis managed to put it down and pass Spillane in a near photo finish for the gold. Now the USA has it’s first Olympic Nordic combined medal, a silver. Italy grabbed silver with the fine skiing of rookie Alessandro Pittin, while
Lodwick was just outside of a medals in fourth place.
After the race I was able to speak to Billy Demong just outside Team USA’s wax cabin. He started 1:20 behind the leader, but finished a fine 6th place. “Before the race, I said I’m just going to go for it and see what happens and give it my all, because we have another week to rest, and I’m going back to Park City for five days on Monday. I went out head down and just want for it…you know – game on. I gave myself a chance and after five k’s I was closing in on those guys and then on the last lap pulled up to that lead group,” explained Demong. Then, I asked him if that incredible effort took it’s toll he
answered with…”I was hurtin’ and you know, I probably could have fought for fifth, but I was so focused on what Todd, and Johnny were doing at the front that I kind of coasted ‘er in.”
Regarding the upcoming team comp Demong went on to say, “We have the experience of 15 Olympics between the four of us, so you start to feel confident. The work was done mostly this summer, we’re in the mode now and having a good time doing what we do and trusting that, so it’s a good place to be.” I expect the team event to be one of the most exciting races in years.
I also spoke to Pete Vordenberg about the US XC Ski Team’s vibe right now and he said, I think everything is under really good control, we’ve been testing a lot, everyday, and working with the athletes every day. Everyone is healthy and the athletes feel good. Everyday we have found good wax and everyone’s happy, so things are put together as well as they can be.”
On Monday the cross-country ski races begins, and the conditions at WOP are really holding up fine. They say it may get colder come Tuesday night.
Here’s a few flash quotes from the press room:
Liz Stephen (USA) on her first Olympic Games….”To be honest, I’m not sure if my feet have touched the ground the last few days, My heart is just racing…..”
Kikkan Randall (USA) on representing the USA….” It’s a pretty fun sport to be in right now, in that the record books are wide open….”
Torin Koos (USA) on skiing at WOP……”Instead of calling it Whistler Olympic Park, I like to call it home…” and on his team’s goals for the Games…”Hopefully we will look back at this and say ‘man, that’s when US skiing really took off.
Sara Renner (CAN) on the evolution of the Canadian team…”We’ve changed from a team that participates in the Games to a team that has expectations. We’re a team that dreams of medals, whereas at my first Olympics we dreamed of finishing races. I’m really proud that I got to see cross-country skiing in Canada grow to what it is now.”
Big thrill for me….interviewing Normal Hill jumping winner Simon Ammann (SUI) after his gold medal winning leaps.
Onward.