U.S. Adaptive Ski Team
For the latest news on the USAST, visit their website. The latest news appears here in chronological order. Click on the header of each listing for the complete news story.
TD Bank XC JOs Commence
PRESQUE ISLE, ME (Mar. 8) – The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association 's (USSA) TD Bank Cross Country Junior Olympics opened on Monday, March 8 at Presque Isle, beginning with the men's and women's sprint. The best junior cross country athletes from USSA clubs across the country will ski hard in hopes of winning Junior Olympic gold.
LAHTI, Finland (March 6) - World Championship silver medalist Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) got back into the World Cup season Saturday, leading the U.S. in 24th during the women's 15K and men's 30K pursuits in Finland.
Northug Wraps Up With 50K Gold
WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK, BC (Feb. 28) – Norway's Petter Northug won his second gold medal in Sunday's men's 50K mass start classic. James Southam (Anchorage) finished 28th to lead the U.S. in the final ski event at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
Randall Personal Best at 30K
WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK, BC (Feb. 27) – Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) had her best-ever distance finish in the women's 30K mass start classic on Saturday. Known primarily as a sprinter, Randall finished 24th, while Holly Brooks (Anchorage) also had a strong showing for the U.S. in 36th.
Dussault Skates to Super Tour Win
HAYWARD, WI (Feb. 27) - Rebecca Dussault (Gunnison, CO) skated to victory on Saturday in the U.S. Super Tour 50K F in Hayward. The men's competition was won by Italy's Fabio Santus.
Randall Leads U.S. in Relay
WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK, BC (Feb. 25) – Norway’s Marit Bjoergen pulled well ahead of the Italian team to coast to her third gold of these Games in the women’s 4x5K relay on Thursday. Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) led the U.S. Ski Team into 12th place, with the sprint specialist gritting out a fourth-place first leg.
Sweden Takes Relay Gold
WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK, BC (Feb. 24) – Norway's Petter Northug gained more than 22 seconds on Swedish leader Marcus Hellner to pull his team from sixth to silver on an exciting final leg of Wednesday's 4x10K classic/free relay. Sweden hung on for a comfortable gold, while the U.S. Team led by Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT) finished 13th.
Men Sprint to 9th in Team Final
WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK, BC (Feb. 22) – Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT) and Torin Koos (Leavenworth, WA) wound up ninth in Monday's team sprint competition, a promising result in which the duo was second in the semifinals and ranked as high as third halfway through the final round.
Women Take 6th in Team Sprint
WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK, BC (Feb. 22) – Caitlin Compton (Minneapolis) and Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) joined forces for a strong performance in Monday's team sprint, finishing sixth – up four spots from 10th in Torino.
Cook, Dussault Lead U.S. Again
MADISON, WI (Feb. 21) - For the second day in a row, Bryan Cook (Marquette, MI) and Rebecca Dussault (Gunnison, CO) paved the way for the U.S. in Sunday's Super Tour sprint race. Canada's Phillip Widmer and Dussault won the race.
Cook, Dussault Front U.S.
MADISON, WI (Feb. 20) - Bryan Cook (Marquette, MI) and Rebecca Dussault (Gunnison, CO) led the U.S. charge in Saturday's Super Tour 10/10K MST in Madison. Cook posted a second place finish behind Canada's Phillip Widmer in first. Dussault won the women's race.
Men Push Through Tough Pursuit
WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK, BC (Feb. 20) – Sweden's Marcus Hellner sprinted to gold in the men's 30 kilometer cross country pursuit on Saturday, while James Southam (Anchorage) was 34th to lead the U.S.
U.S. Women Battle Hard in Pursuit
WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK (Feb. 19) – Norway's Marit Bjoergen came from behind to earn her second gold medal of the 2010 Olympics on a sunny day in Whistler, adding her victory in the 15K pursuit to an earlier sprint win. The field of four U.S. women, all first-time Olympians, put down a solid effort in the half-classic, half-free technique race, but came up short in the results. Morgan Arritola (Ketchum, ID) led the U.S. women in 38th.
Randall Sets U.S. Record in 8th
WHISTLER, BC (Feb. 17) – It was a mixed day for the U.S. Olympic Cross Country Team on Wednesday. On the bright side, Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) scored a U.S. Olympic record with eighth place in the women's individual classic sprint, but the team's medal hopes took a hit when expected men's contender Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT) slipped off course and finished 45th.
15K Free Kicks Off XC Men's Slate
WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK, BC (Feb. 15) – Dario Cologna won gold for Switzerland as the Olympic men's cross country schedule opened with the men's 15K free event on Monday at Whistler Olympic Park. James Southam (Anchorage) was the top finisher for the U.S. in 48th.
Compton Leads USA in XC Opener
WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK, BC (Feb. 15) – Charlotte Kalla won gold for Sweden in the first cross country event of these Games, while Caitlin Compton (Minneapolis) was the top finisher for the U.S. in 30th after a long, hard fight to reach her first Olympics at 29.
Elliot, Deyong Lead in Super Tour
ASPEN, CO (Feb. 14) – Tad Elliot (Durango, CO) and Nicole Deyong (Ketchum, ID) topped the men and women's podium in Sunday's 21/21K F MST U.S. Super Tour race in Aspen.
XC Will Get First Start Monday
WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK, BC (Feb. 14) - The Olympic Cross Country Team will get its first starts Monday with the men's 15K and women's 10K freestyle at the Whistler Olympic Park.
Osgood, Trygstad-Saari Win Aspen Super Tour
ASPEN, CO (Feb. 13) – Brayton Osgood (Bend, OR) and Kristina Trygstad-Saari (Bozeman, MT) won the U.S. Super Tour 10/5 K classic on Saturday in Aspen. Both Osgood and Trygstad-Saari were strong beating the field across the finish line.
Kris Freeman (Andover, NH) is a standout in the cross country world for many reasons. The first, of course, is his incredible athletic abilities, and another is his determination. Whether it be finishing 50K of grueling track, or never letting his diabetes hold him back from anything, Freeman is a role model for his sport. Read on to find out what he's doing before the Olympics get going, what he wants to do if he finds success in Vancouver and why he never tries to take the lead when dancing with his girlfriend.
To catch the USAST in action, check out the Alpine and Nordic competition schedules to see if they’ll be visiting a course near you. But before you go read up on our Guide to Classifications. And to get to know the individual athletes better, be sure to read the updated biographies.