November 27, 2005 – Carl Swenson (Park City, UT) completed the best World Cup weekend of his career Sunday, finishing 12th in a 15K freestyle race won by Norway’s Tore Ruud Hofstad.

Hofstad led all the way for the first World Cup win of his career in 34:16.7 with Vincent Vittoz of France a stride back in 34:17.5.

Swenson, the two-time Olympian and former Dartmouth ski captain who was 11th Saturday in a 15K classic race, finished with a time of 34:52.7.

Swenson, who was sidelined most of the 2005 season with recurring bouts of the flu, trained with Ski Team approval on his own in Norway much of the preseason. He rejoins the U.S. squad this week in Canada for World Cup races Dec. 10-11 at Sovereign Lake in Vernon, B.C., and Dec. 15-18 at Canmore, cross country venue for the 198 Olympics.

In the women’s 10K, Katerina Neumannova of the Czech Republic won, ending the unbeaten streak of defending World Cup champion Marit Bjoergen, who was fourth. No U.S. women competed.

VIESSMANN CROSS COUNTRY WORLD CUP
Nordic Opening
Kuusamo, FIN – Nov. 27, 2005

Men’s 15K FR
1. Tore Ruud Hofstad, Norway, 34:16.7
2. Vincent Vittoz, France, 34:17.5
3. Tobias Angerer, Germany, 34:28.1
4. Pietro Piller Cottrer, Italy, 34:29.0
5. Jiri Magal, Czech Republic, 34:34.2
–
12. Carl Swenson, Park City, Utah, 34:52.7
—
Women’s 10K FR
1. Katerina Neumannova, Czech Republic, 24:49.4
2. Julia tchepalova, Russia, 25:10.7
3. Kristina Smigun, Estonia, 25:15.7
4. Marit Bjoergen, Norway, 25:20.2
5. Claudia Kuenzel, Germany, 25:36.2