GRP Skiers Kick off the Race Season in Finland

Adam Martin in the 15k classic in Rovaniemi, Finland (Photo from DailySkier Instagram)

Last Updated: 18.Nov.2018

Four GRP skiers started off the 2018-2019 season with FIS races in Rovaniemi, Finland this weekend. Adam Martin, Ida Sargent, Caitlin Patterson, and Kaitlynn Miller are currently training in Rovaniemi prior to the World Cup Opener in Kuusamo, Finland this coming weekend. The races were an opportunity for them to tune up and get the first races of the season over with before the ones that really count. The Russian National Team was using the Rovaniemi races as trials to choose their World Cup teams, so the field was stacked with Russians along with a few Finnish and French skiers.

The first race on Thursday, November 15 was a 10/15k classic interval start. Adam Martin was the sole GRP skier to race, placing 25th in the men's 15k. This result put him solidly in the mix in the field of 54 racers, most of whom are World Cup regulars.

Two days later, on November 17, the GRP women raced a classic sprint. In the qualifier, Ida Sargent placed 7th, Caitlin Patterson 13th, and Kaitlynn MIller 14th. As of press time, no results were available online for the heats, but we do know that Ida Sargent advanced to the semifinals but did not make the final, and Patterson and Miller were eliminated in their quarterfinals.

The GRP World Cup contingent travels next to Ruka, Finland where they will start the season with a classic sprint and 10/15k classic race. Stay tuned for results from there!

Results from Rovaniemi are available here for the classic distance, and on the GRP Instagram for the classic sprint.