US Team Prepares for FIS World Cup Races

  • November 21, 2008

The US Telemark Team is waxing their skis and getting their gear together for a new season. Those in Colorado have snow in their mountains and have just started training on the hill. Others are continuing with their dryland training and are praying for the snow to come.

Many team members will be attending the race camp at Steamboat Springs prior to Christmas to jump start their season, others plan to attend the European World Cup races in December.

With no snow yet in Northwestern Montana or Idaho and a desire to get an early start on the season, earn FIS points, and to be at the top of their race game for World Championships in January, three racers are headed to Europe in December. Kelsey Schmid-Sommer and Peter McMahon of Whitefish and Suzanne Pattinson of Sandpoint Idaho plan to attend races in France and Switzerland between December 13 and 17. Kelsey Schmid-Sommer is the leading US woman placing 5th place overall in World Cup racing last season. Her goal is to race to a spot on the podium this year and is anxious to get started toward that goal.

In January, nearly all members of the US team will be attending World Championships in Austria. Some will be racing in the Czech Republic and Slovenia prior to the World Championships and some may visit Spain for races following the Championships. Drew Hauser is in his last year of eligibility to race at the Junior World Championships and hopes to be at the top of the podium. Two years ago, Drew was on the podium twice with a 2nd place finish in the Telemark GS and a 3rd place finish in the Sprint Classic. Also racing in the Junior World Championships will be team members Lorin Paley, Ben Paley, Erika Walters, and development team member Jeffrey Gay all of Steamboat Springs. Shane Anderson of Cody Wyoming will be leading the men’s team.

In March, several team members hope to fly to Norway to compete in the final two events of the season in the country where Telemark skiing was born. There are no World Cup races schedule in the US this season.

Event results will be posted at www.ustsa.org as soon as they are available so that you can track the team or your favorite racer.