Nordic Roundup: Ahonen vs. History, Spillane, Steira, Soldier Hollow

By Published On: December 29th, 2004Comments Off on Nordic Roundup: Ahonen vs. History, Spillane, Steira, Soldier Hollow

Nordic Roundup: Ahonen vs. History, Spillane, Steira, Soldier HollowFinn Janne Ahonen, the World Cup ski jumping leader, already has made one slice of history this season, winning seven of the first eight events as the defending Cup king threatens to make the season a rout. He hasn’t won every meet by 20 points, but he’s been tougher than tough when he needed to be. Next up: the history-drenched Four Hill Tournee, which began today in Oberstdorf, Germany. The winner? Ahonen.

The Springertournee, as it’s also known, is arguably the sport’s centerpiece – two large hill jump meets in Germany (Oberstdorf and the annual New Year’s Day comp in Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the historic 1936 Olympic jumping arena) and two more in Austria (urban Innsbruck and rural Bischofshofen). Only one skier has won all four events in a season – Germany’s Sven Hannawald in 2002.

Ahonen, according to a story onEurosport.com, thinks he’s got a shot at becoming the second skier to sweep the tournee. ‘For me, it’s important to the win the Four Hills’ he said. ‘Four victories are possible.’

Those last four words are almost epic for Ahonen, who is like a robo-jumper, never given to boasting, usually not even admitting he’s pleased with a victory. If he thinks he’s got a shot at four wins – and how could he think otherwise? – in nine days, that could be bad news for the rest of the field, which has dropped away from any consistent challenge.

Spillane healthy, looking for more success

Two years ago, Johnny Spillane upended the nordic combined World Cup scene. He opened the season with back-o-back-to-back podiums in Trondheim, Norway, and hit the high mark when he was gold medalist in the sprint at the World Championships in Val di Fiemme, Italy.

A year ago, Spillane stumbled through the first six weeks of the season, battling a cold that simply wouldn’t go away. He righted himself, coincidentally on what will be the 2005 World Championships hill and venue in Oberstdorf, Germany, with < a href=www.usskiteam.com/PublishingFolder/2013.htm target=blank> his first top-five of the season. Todd Lodwick was third in the same sprint.

This winter, as the World Cup schedule resumes Thursday in Oberhof, Germany, Lodwick is third and Spillane – who reached another in Trondheim before Christmas — fourth in the points. Spillane told Ski Racing being healthy is a key. Being a year older helps. Too.

‘It’s the same kind of thing [as 2003]. I feel confident about what I’m doing’ Spillane said before heading back to Europe. ‘Being healthy gives you the confidence to go out and do it. None of my comps were ‘Wow, that was a good comp.’ They were nothing special. I’ve definitely been at a much higher level … so that’s really encouraging.’ The two-time Olympian added, ‘And when you have a bad day, or a so-so day, and you’re still top-10, that’s where I’ve improved.’

Steira jacked over first podium

Norwegian cross-country racer Kristin Stormer Steira is looking to build on her first World Cup podium. She finished second Dec. 18 in a 15-kilometer freestyle mass start in Ramsau, Austria.

She had been sick for part of the fall, an athlete’s vital final preseason training period but the top-three was ‘incredible’ she said in an online story and boosts her confidence as she heads into the resumption of the racing schedule Jan. 8-9 in Otepaeae, Estonia. ‘It was very good for me to get confirmed that I can compete among the best. I have been a little sick this fall, but you always want to ski fast. It’s comforting for me to be able to show Coach Svein Tore Samdal that I can fight with the best’ she told www.langrenn.com.

More records at Soldier Hollow?

When the then-Chevy Truck U.S. Cross Country Championships were held at Soldier Hollow, Utah, in January 2000, it triggered a five-year run of record racing numbers. Will that continue next week when the U.S. championships return to the Olympic trails?

Last year, the record was pushed high and higher, hitting 458 on one day and climbing to 478 the next day. Racing begins Monday and runs until Jan. 10. At stake are berths at the World Championships (Feb. 17-27 in Oberstdorf, Germany) and Junior World Championships (March 19-26 in Rovaniemi, Finland) plus qualifying for a junior Scandinavian Cup trip in February in Norway.

‘We’ll be somewhere north of 352 skiers’ said Howard Peterson, who was on the organizing committee for the 1980 U.S. championships-in-exile when they were moved to Mont Ste. Anne, Quebec, because of no snow in the United States, and a committee member at the 1990 championships at Kincaid Park in Anchorage, Alaska. ‘We’ll have a better handle on things by the end of the week.’ Soldier Hollow had more than 20 kilometers of trails open at midweek.

Share This Article

About the Author: Pete Rugh