January 23, 2008 (Canmore, Alta.) – The temperature didn’t warm up for the men’s race, but the track was red hot as seven out of seven Norwegians skied qualifying times. The Nordic country’s red racing suits dominated the tracks as the majority of that team chose not to use classic skis, and instead double poled the course on skate skis with no grip wax and classic poles.

Despite significant climbs on slow snow, it was a gamble that paid off as Boerre Naess qualified first in 2:43:42. Russian Nikita Kriukov broke through the Nordic fence at 1.56 seconds back, with Norway’s Ola Vigen Hattestad 1.59 seconds back in third, and countrymen Eldar Roenning (2.76 seconds back), Tor Arne Hetland (3.43 seconds back), and Oystein Pettersen (3.52 seconds back).

American Torin Koos had a very fast qualifying time at 3.75 seconds behind Naess placing 7th place. His teammate Andrew Newell qualified 16th at 6.56 seconds back. Canadian Sean Crooks had the 18th fastest qualifying time, 7.22 seconds back, followed by Phil Widmer in 24th place, 7.87 seconds back.

The quarter finals saw the Norwegian train dominate as Naess and Gloersen took the two qualifying places, edging out Swede Mats Larsson in the first heat. Larsson had a fast enough time over all heats to qualify for the semi-final. Norway’s Eoenning took the second heat followed by Swede Emil Joensson.

“Today was a pretty disappointing day for me. I can usually rip off a fairly fast qualifier but today I was several seconds back from the leaders,” said the USA’s Newell who was the top North American in 17th. “I thought the ‘flat’ feeling would get better as the heats progressed but I just didn’t have it today. Looking back I probably would have gone with skate skis and tried to double pole, but in order for that to really work you need to be on top of your game, so I’m not sure it would have made a difference. Right now I’m looking toward Saturday to try and improve.”

Canada’s Widmer had a powerful ski until the last corner before the final downhill and straightaway. He was passed at this point and finished 5th. Overall he finished 24th. “I think I just got a little too aggressive, but that is racing,” Widmer said after the race. “The level of speed is quicker at the World Cup level and I just have to learn to be a little more patient.” Torin Koos broke a pole in his heat and finished over 8 seconds behind the winners ending up in 26th place overall.

Norway dominated the third heat as Hetland won followed by teammate Pettersen. Russian skier Michali Kevjatiarov placed third and, like Larsson, had a fast enough time to move up to the semis. Nikita Kriukov of Russia took the fourth heat with Finn Kalle Lassila also qualifying.

In the last of the heats, Norwegian Hattestad won with Swede Bjoern Lind also advancing. Canada’s Crooks placed fifth and failed to move on. In the final results he placed 21st. “It was a pretty good day, but the two gutsy in front just double poled the whole way and I couldn’t keep up with them on the downhills.” Crooks looks forward to the skate sprint because of new preparations. “I have been working on a new warm up which is a little more intense and I feel more ready at the start. It seems to be working so I am building confidence each race.”

The first semi final saw a red sweep again as Naess, Roenning, Gloersen, and Pettersen, all of Norway took the four top spots. The second semi final had two Norwegians, Hattestad in first place and Hetland in third place, sandwiching the lone Russian in the heat, who placed second. This set up the A Final with Naess taking gold, Hattestad silver, Roenning bronze, Gloersen fourth and Hetland fifth – a complete Norwegian sweep. Russia’s Kriukov took the sixth spot.

It was Naess’s birthday and what a present it was. “It was awesome,” said Naess of the qualifying ski, heats and finals. “I felt stronger and stronger with each heat—a really good day for me. I decided to do no wax—just skating skis—only double pole.

“It was hard, especially on the highest point. I had to save a little more—if you lost all your power before that—you’re gone,” he said, referring to the altitude and the climbs. Naess said he looked forward to the skate sprints on Saturday when he hopes the same three Norwegians will be back on the podium.”

Tomorrow’s a rest day with the action picking up again on Friday with Women’s Interval Start (Freestyle) 10km race, followed by the Men’s Interval Start (Freestyle) 15km race.

Results

1. Boerre Naess (Nor)
2. Ola Vigen Hattestad (Nor)
3. Eldar Roenning (Nor)
4. Anders Gloersen (Nor)
5. Tor Arne Hetland (Nor)
6. Nikita Kriukov (Rus)
7. Emil Joensson (Swe)
8. Mats Larsson (Swe)
9. Mickail Jun. Devjatiarov (Rus)
10. Oeystein Pettersen (Nor)
11. Bjoern Lind (Swe)
12. Kalle Lassila (Fin)
13. Vassili Rotchev (Rus)
14. Thobias Fredriksson (Swe)
15. Janusz Krezelok (Pol)
16. Cyril Miranda (Fra)
17. Andrew Newell (USA)
18. Axel Teichmann (Ger)
19. Vahur Teppan (Est)
20. Chris Cook (USA)
21. Sean Crooks (Can)
22. Christoph Eigenmann (Sui)
23. Matias Strandvall (Fin)
24. Philip Widmer (Can)
25. Robin Bryntesson (Swe)
26. Torin Koos (USA)
27. Johan Kjoelstad (Nor)
28. Ivan Ivanov (Rus)
29. Josef Wenzl (Ger)
30. Allmen Peter Von (Sui)
31. Stefan Kuhn (Can)
32. Yuichi Onda (Jpn)
33. Martti Jylhae (Fin)
34. Peeter Kummel (Est)
35. Reid Pletcher (USA)
36. Devon Kershaw (Can)
37. Damien Ambrosetti (Fra)
38. Maciej Kreczmer (Pol)
39. Nikolay Pankratov (Rus)
40. Dusan Kozisek (Cze)
41. Roddy Darragon (Fra)
42. Martin Stockinger (Aut)
43. Cristian Zorzi (Ita)
44. Anti Saarepuu (Est)
45. Drew Goldsack (Can)
46. Colin Rodgers (USA)
47. Graham Nishikawa (Can)
48. Christopher Werrell (Can)
49. Ian Murray (Can)
50. Anders Eirik Haugen (USA)
51. Paul Murray (Aus)
52. Brent Mcmurtry (Can)
53. Lars Flora (USA)
54. Mike Argue (Can)
55. Harald Wurm (Aut)
56. Maxim Vylegzhanin (Rus)
57. Marshall Greene (USA)
58. Andreas Waldmeier (Sui)
59. Skeets Morel (Can)
60. Brian Gregg (USA)
61. Jesse Winter (Can)
62. Pate Neumann (Can)