November 25, 2010 (Kuusamo, Finland) – The scenery in Kuusamo, Finland is vintage Arctic. Replete with pines, hills and bracing winter air. They’ve been on snow here since October 23rd, and in this land of the sauna, the Lappish countryside is a perfect winter wonderland that is indeed both beautiful and impressive.

The numbers are impressive, too. Expected this weekend for the cross-country races, and the start of the Nordic combined and jumping seasons, are some 30 nations, 400 competitors, and more than 60,000 spectators over three days. It’s a rare triple event with action beginning on Friday, Nov. 26.

This is the ninth time that the Nordic season will open up here. The Ruka ski resort near Kuusamo is the largest ski resort in Finland.

Fresh off a big win last weekend in Gallivare Marit Bjoergen told a packed post-race news conference this may have been her best skating race ever – and that my friends is saying something. She said, “I think it was my very best race ever. I knew I was in good shape as I had a very good race the week before in Beitosolen, hopefully I’ll keep the yellow bib until Christmas.”

Give big props to Charlotte Kalla for her second place finish on home snows, while Norwegian women Kristin Stoermer Steira and Marthe Kristoffersen went four and five, and performed very well.

Most certainly the big story now will be the status of Norway’s powerful Peter Northug. He missed the first World Cup round last week, and will not start at Kuusamo either. He has undergone a battery of tests in Norway – including one for mono – and his coaches don’t want to push him hard when he is not well. Everyone is on the edge of the seat on this one. One insider I talked to this week is wondering if he is over-trained, and says the big papers in Oslo have been speculating that as well.

Marcus Hellner, the new Swedish ski king, will also be a good bet for this weekends race in Kuusamo. He feels in good shape and has what he calls  “a very good feeling”. He could win again.

It’s clear that despite a bit of a late start in his summer training due to an injury, Swiss star Dario Cologna is also in the groove. His second place in the 15km event in Gallivare was a great way for him to start the season.

Many considered the performance of 27 year-old Chris Andre Jespersen a touch surprising, as he finished a stunning 4th. He does have sufficient pedigree however. Back in the winter of 2003 he was an FIS world junior champion winning the 30km. Given his proven talent at the opening round – he skis for Team Manpower and was not a member of the Norwegian National Team – his skiing was strong enough for him to be named to the Norwegian squad for this weekend in Kuusamo.

Take note of how impressive the Russian men’s National Team looked last week, with their silver medal in the 4x10km relay. They’re in a rebuilding mode with the women’s team as they finished a disappointing 14th in the relay; only a few women remain from last year’s team. Russia’s Petr Sedov also looked in good form taking a podium spot as well.

The USA squad come into the first cuppie race of the season showing they are holding a strong hand. Kris Freeman’s strong 9th place, young Noah Hoffman just outside of WC points in 31st, and Kikkan Randall’s 19th, prompted US coach Chris Grover to call this “the best the US Team that has started the winter for the ten years I’ve been with them.”

We caught up with Ida Sargent after she transfered to Kuusamo, and she spoke of her first world cup race. The enthusiastic Orleans, VT native said, ”…racing a world cup relay in Scandinavia was awesome. It was really exciting and the atmosphere and energy all over the course was crazy. But before the start I was very nervous, especially because I was scrambling. I learned that these girls are very good and very fast, but they are not untouchable. I was surprised by how badly many skied the downhills, and I think with more training and experience I can hang with them for longer.” The Dartmouth College senior is looking forward to the classic sprint this weekend – perhaps her specialty.

Canadian coach Justin Wadsworth was more circumspect. In an email, he wrote…”Hey, this was a tough weekend for us. We had some tired guys that obviously aren’t in top form, but I know how they trained, and they’ll be there when it really counts this year. On the ladies side of things, we had two winners in two days, so it’s a good place to be heading into the mini-tour this weekend. The team will be together and that should lift everyone.”

With the second round of cross-country and the World Cup tours for Nordic combined and ski jumping opening this weekend, Kuusamo will be packed to the gills and ready to rock. But when your out on the trails do watch the race, but also keep an eye out just behind the trees for Santa and his elves, he’s busy too this time of year.

Men’s 1.4km Classic Sprint Start List  HERE.
Women’s 1.2km Classic Sprint Start List HERE.

The Inside Track:
– Best Dancing Club – Rantasipi Rukahovi
– Number of Accredited Journos – 2,500
– TV Host Broadcast – YLE, with a team of 132 people
– Cameras – 20 for XC, 12 for ski jumping