Last Updated: 26.Nov.2018

Over the weekend, Green Racing Project skiers had a strong start to their season both on the World Cup and domestically. In Kuusamo, Finland, 4 GRP skiers raced the opening Ruka World Cup weekend, which can have some of the strongest fields of the season. Back at home, the rest of the skiers tuned up with a FIS race in West Yellowstone, Montana.

Ruka World Cup

On Saturday, November 24, the World Cup opened with a classic sprint. Ida Sargent led the way for the GRP with a very solid 24th place in the qualifier. Kaitlynn Miller finished 58th in the qualifier. Sargent went on to race in the third quarterfinal, where she placed 6th, ending up 27th on the day. By qualifying for the sprint, she scored her first World Cup points of the season.

The following day, women raced a 10k classic individual start while men raced a 15k. Caitlin Patterson notched a solid 46th place in the 10k, followed by Ida Sargent in 56th, and Kaitlynn Miller in 61st. On the men's side, Adam Martin had a great World Cup debut, placing 53rd in a strong field of almost 90 men. He was also 2nd American on the day, behind Erik Bjornsen, who took 31st. Results from the Ruka World Cup are available on FIS-SKI.com. The World Cup continues next weekend in Lillehammer, Norway, with a three race mini-tour beginning on November 30.

West Yellowstone FIS Race

Meanwhile, the domestic skiers took on their very first races of the season at a FIS race in West Yellowstone. The field consisted mostly of RMISA Western college skiers and juniors, with a handful of elite skiers. In the men's 10k freestyle, Ben Lustgarten had a great start to his season, winning by over 30 seconds. Akeo Maifeld-Carucci also raced well, finishing 9th. In the women's 5k freestyle, Corey Stock finished 19th, followed by Liz Guiney in 20th. Results from the Yellowstone race are also on FIS-SKI.com (different link than above). The stateside skiers race again next weekend, also in West Yellowstone, in the opening SuperTour weekend, which will include a freestyle sprint and 10/15k freestyle individual start.