Xie FulinSina Sports News Last week, while much of northern China was enjoying the joy of winter snow, the 2015-16 snow sports season kicked off in various locations across Europe and North America. As a highlight of the Winter Olympics, snow sports account for more than two-thirds of all Olympic events. Cross-country skiing, biathlon, alpine skiing, and more are heating up at scenic ski resorts.
Cross-Country Skiing World Cup Finland Ruka November 27–29
The Nordic opening series, the origin of snow sports, launched the new season in the northern Finnish town of Ruka. Over three days, events such as sprint, 10km freestyle (women’s 5km), and 15km classical (women’s 10km) tested the overall capabilities of each athlete. Norway once again demonstrated their strong prowess as the birthplace of skiing, sweeping all six championship titles for both men and women. Martin Sundby, the back-to-back World Cup overall champion, continued his excellent form this season, winning first in the 10km freestyle and second in the 15km classical, securing the men’s title at the Nordic Opening and taking an early lead in the 2015–16 World Cup rankings. Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Dario Cologna, who won two golds in Sochi, had a poor performance, only managing third in the 10km and failing to rank in the top ten overall. On the women’s side, legendary athlete Marit Bjørgen did not compete. Her teammate Therese Johaug claimed both the 5km freestyle and 10km classical titles to win the series.
Biathlon World Cup Sweden Östersund November 29–December 6
The mixed relay event fired the starting gun for the new biathlon season. In an era when the International Olympic Committee advocates mixed-gender events, the mixed relay made its official debut at the Sochi Winter Olympics. And just like in Sochi, the Norwegian team came out on top again. In the women’s 6km first leg, France’s Anais Bescond held a 3-second lead over Norway’s Tiril Eckhoff. In the second leg, Czech Gabriela Soukalova surged ahead, trading the lead with Norway’s Maiken Caspersen Falla. However, in the third leg, Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Bø gradually pulled away from the other teams. In the final leg, his brother Tarjei Bø maintained the lead to secure Norway’s first victory of the new season. Germany finished second, and the Czech Republic came in third. This stop will also feature individual races, sprints, and pursuits for both men and women. We’ll have to wait and see how the top athletes perform.
Alpine Skiing World Cup Canada Lake Louise November 25–29; USA Aspen November 27–29
The men’s second stop of this season’s Alpine Skiing World Cup moved to Lake Louise under the Canadian Rockies. Norwegian star Aksel Lund Svindal shook off his disappointing performance in Sochi, taking home victories in both downhill and super-G, temporarily topping the World Cup standings. Meanwhile, last season’s overall World Cup champion, Austria’s Marcel Hirscher, only managed third in his specialty, giant slalom, at the previous stop and went home empty-handed this time.
Meanwhile, the women’s competition heated up at the ski resort of Aspen in the U.S. Midwest. Last year’s overall champion, Austria’s Anna Fenninger, missed the entire season due to a serious knee injury. Host nation athlete Mikaela Shiffrin, who has dominated the slalom since Sochi, won both slalom events in Aspen this time, maintaining her lead in the World Cup standings.
(Peter)