April 05, 2013  (Truckee, CA) – The nasty weather that soaked racers and spectators at the SuperTour Prologue on Day 1 of the  USSA SuperTour Finals was just a bad memory as skiers warmed up under sunny skies for Friday’s 10-kilometer and 15-kilometer Classic races at Auburn Ski Club Training Center.

Freeman in charge... © Mark Nadell

Veteran Kris Freeman, a three-time Olympian and U.S. Ski Team member was an easy favorite, given his strength in the 15km classic event. The Andover, NH skier made his intentions clear that he would go out hard and fast, and he did not disappoint riding his speed to lead all the way to the finish line for the win.

In the women’s 10km race, Sprint Cup winner, Kikkan Randall surprised herself with an early lead that carried throughout the race taking her to victory as well.

The solidly built Freeman bounded off the start line with powerful double pole that propelled him out in front of the 100 competitors on the start line.

Bjornsen (l) battles Newell © Mark Nadell

Sylvan Ellefson, of Ski and Snowboard Club Vail Team HomeGrown, said he was behind Freeman as the lead group began climbing the first big hill on the first lap of three. He recalled that Freeman took off and no one could match his pace.

Ellefson said he watched as U.S. Ski Team member Tad Elliott tried to stay with Freeman, gaining some time on a chase group that included himself, Andy Newell and Thursday’s Prologue winner Erik Bjornsen. “Elliott blew up in his effort,” Ellefson told Trax…and the chase group quickly caught and then dropped him.

Meanwhile Freeman and Co. skied on, with the tracks all to himself.

Newell said he assumed Freeman was just going for the cash preems offered for the winner of each lap and he expected the chase group would slowly catch the distance specialist. But Freeman was in a zone of his own.

Men's 15kmCL podium (l-r) Bjornsen 2nd, Freeman 1st, Newell 3rd © Mark Nadell

“Bjornsen broke away from me as we crested the last climb, and I didn’t have it me to stay close enough for a final sprint,” Newell shared post-race.

Freeman crossed the finish line with a time of 38 minutes and 31 seconds, now with a 15-second lead in the SuperTour mini-tour. Bjornsen came in second with a time of 39 minutes, 19 seconds followed by Newell in third at three seconds behind Bjornsen.

By the time the women lined up for their race at 10:30 a.m., the sun was high in the sky and many racers stripped down to short sleeves. Waxing crews said they were grateful for the change in the weather, although the granular snow broke down as skiers raced over the course. Few complained of slow skis but some took some nasty spills along the way.

Randall (l) duking it out with Stephen © Mark Nadell

Randall continued her dominance in the SuperTour Finals moving to the front of the 60 racers in the pack on the first big climb. The Alaska skier had the second-fastest time of the day in Thursday’s Prologue and was taking no prisoners.

Liz Stephen, Randall’s teammate on the U.S. Ski Team, said she and Lisa Larsen of Sweden, tripped each other up toward the top as they tried to catch Randall and could not recover fast enough to put on a strong chase.

“She broke away from us there and she was just stronger all-around today,” added Stephen.

Teammate Sadie Bjornsen, who was third in Thursday’s Prologue, said the chase group sought to keep their momentum up on the hills without blowing up.

Sadie Bjornsen © Mark Nadell

“I just kept telling myself ‘go hard but don’t kill yourself’ because there’s a big downhill on the other side and you can lose a lot of time if your legs are too shot,” she told Trax.

Bjornsen managed to pull away from the chase group before the final twisty descent into the stadium and finished a comfortable second. Stephen came in close behind her for third, and collapsed after crossing the line.

“It’s so high and hard here,” she said after the race, referring to Auburn Ski Club’s 7,000-foot elevation that can zap the strength and air out of the strongest of athletes. She added that the tracks and snow were beautiful on Friday, “and yesterday’s rain made it even better.”

Stephen describe this year’s race season a “dream come true” as the U.S. Ski Team turned heads and made history more than a few times in Europe, where Randall and Jessie Diggins won Team Sprint gold at the Nordic Worlds – a US first.

Liz Stephen © Mark Nadell

“Each race was somebody’s best result,” she said. “The whole season has been a high every day.”

Speaking after the race of his hopes for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Freeman the U.S. Ski Team has made incredible strides in the last 10 years and he hopes to have one of his personal-best performances at the Games.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been able to do that at the Olympic Games,” he said. “I’ve raced at a couple of World Champs but the Olympics is what really matters.”

Women's 10kmCL podium (l-r) Bjornsen 2nd, Randall 1st, Stephen 3rd © Mark Nadell

The SuperTour Finals continue on Saturday with CL sprint races at Auburn Ski Club and then on Monday with a hill climb at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort.

Women’s results HERE.
Men’s results HERE.
More Photos HERE.

Martha Bellisle is an investigative reporter for the Reno Gazette-Journal. She has been cross country ski racing Truckee-based Far West Nordic events for almost 10 years. She won two silver medals and one bronze in three U.S. Masters Nationals Championships and has raced in two World Cup Championships.