GRP Skiers Compete in Konnerud World Cup and Holmenkollen
The Green Racing Project had four athletes compete last week at the typical late season World Cup stop in Norway. However, a few wrenches in the plan meant the Norwegian races were anything but typical. The first hurdle came in Drammen, where organizers didn’t have enough snow to hold classic city sprints and had to relocate to nearby Konnerud, switching the technique to freestyle. Secondly, a high number of coronavirus cases in Oslo led organizers to ban spectators from the stadium at Holmenkollen, which is one of the venues best known for its ebullient fans. Racing proceeded in spite of the obstacles, as the venues and athletes adapted and overcame.
Ben Lustgarten striding through the fog in Holmenkollen in the men’s 50k classic (Photo Mathias Bergeld)
Last Wednesday, March 4th, Kailtynn Miller was the sole GRP athlete to race the freestyle sprint in Konnerud (still listed as Drammen on the FIS calendar and results). Miller finished 50th in qualification, coming off a cold that had her sit out the races in Lahti the previous weekend.
Three days later, both Miller and Caitlin Patterson competed in the 30k classic race at Holmenkollen in Oslo, Norway. They skied together for much of the race, and ultimately finished in 47th (Patterson) and 48th (Miller). The following day, the men raced 50k, and Ben Lustgarten finished 47th, while Adam Martin was 50th.
Racing continues this weekend with the World Cup Sprint Tour which starts in Quebec City, and then moves on Tuesday to Minneapolis. Stay tuned!