January 2, 2010 (Anchorage, AK) – With temperatures hovering in single digits, today’s forecast for the start of 2010 U.S. National Cross-country Ski Championships means athletes and organizers are grateful for every degree of warmth above the FIS limit. This next week of racing in Anchorage will be critical for many athletes ‘on the bubble’ of making the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team. Of major importance will be to get ‘low FIS point races’, to show their mettle against seasoned-World Cup athletes, like Kris Freeman and Kikkan Randall who’ll be on the start line as well.

The racing kicks off today with the Freestyle Sprints. Look for Garrott Kuzzy (USST/CXC) to give Freeman, who won the lone sprint race here last year, a challenge. They both come into the event with the best sprint points. Not competing this year are top sprinters Andy Newell and Torin Koos – Newell is debuting at the Tour de Ski while Koos is spending time at home training before returning to Europe to race. Other skiers to watch are Colin Rodgers (SVSEF/Fischer), Simi Hamilton (SVSEF), and Mike Hinckley (APU), an Anchorage native who placed second to Freeman in the sprint here last year.

On the women’s side, Randall’s APUNSC teammate, Holly Brooks, is best placed to give the 2009 Nordic Worlds silver medalist a run for her money. Laura Valaas, Rebecca Dussault (CXC), Katie Ronsse (APU), and Becca Rorabaugh (APU) are sure to be in the mix. Not to be left out is Morgan Smyth (USST) and Adele Espy (SVSEF), both of whom went through surgery earlier this season for compartment syndrome and are eager to perform well.

For current USSA point lists showing each skier’s placement coming into 2010 U.S. National XC Ski Championships click here.