Last Updated: 20.Jan.2015

The World Cup circuit ventured to Eastern Europe for the first time this 2014-2105 season for a double sprint weekend in Otepää, Estonia. As a standout sprinter, GRP skier Ida Sargent was slated to race both the individual classic sprint on Saturday and the freestyle team sprint, an event where two skiers alternate skiing 3 laps of the sprint course, on Sunday.

Saturday’s classic sprint was only the second classic sprint of season. In the first sprint in Kuusamo, Ida had her best ever World Cup finish, taking 5th, so hopes were high for another top finish. Unfortunately, an unlucky fall in the qualifier took Ida out of contention and she missed qualifying for the top 30 by 6 seconds. Sadie Bjornsen was the lone US qualifier on the women’s side, and ended up 15th after losing a lunge for second in her quarterfinal.

Sunday brought a new day, and a new chance for the US skiers in the freestyle team sprint. Ida paired with former Dartmouth teammate and current SuperTour leader Rosie Brennan. Both Ida’s team (USA II) and the USA I team of Sadie Bjornsen and Sophie Caldwell were placed in the second semifinal, which faced slower conditions than the first heat. In team sprints, the top two teams from each semi advance automatically, and then the next 6 fastest times, so in this case it was beneficial to race in the first semifinal. Luckily, Ida and Rosie were able to take third in their semifinal and grab one of the 6 lucky loser positions, but the USA I team of Bjornsen and Caldwell finished 4th in their heat and did not advance. In the final both Ida and Rosie put together solid legs and finished 6th. This impressive placing earned them World Cup prize money!

The World Cup will travel even farther east next weekend to Rybinsk, Russia where the women will race a 10k freestyle, a freestyle sprint, and the first skiathlon of the season. Stay tuned for updates, and check out the video of Ida in the team sprint on Crosscountryski.us!

Results from Otepää:

Saturday- Classic Sprint Qualifier
Sunday- Freestyle Team Sprint