Shane Anderson on Podium at Colorado World Cup

  • February 24, 2010

USA’s  Shane Anderson on Telemark World Cup Podium in Steamboat Springs

 

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 – Steamboat Springs

Three days of exciting World Cup Telemark racing concluded today with race organizer, local coach and US Team member Shane Anderson on the podium with a third place finish in the Sprint Classic.  Anderson of Cody, Wyoming spends his winters in Steamboat Springs as a Telemark Coach for the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.  After three days of early arrivals at the hill to set the course and put fencing in place prior to the race and then removing the course after the race, he put down two spectacular runs.  Following the race Shane said, “It feels unbelievable.  I never imagined it would happen.  I’ve dreamed about it a lot and been close a time or two before.  It was great to do this on my home hill.  I wasn’t nervous because I have trained and raced on Howelsen Hill so many times.  All my equipment felt the best ever, my boots were comfortable and my skis were fast.”  This was the first US men’s podium since 2003.

The Sprint Classic event includes Giant Slalom gates with a Nordic jump in the middle of the course.  The racers must jump past a line put on the snow or seconds will be added to their time.  Following the Giant Slalom gates the racers ski through a 360 degree banked turn and then compete a Nordic skate section. 

Also on the podium were Phillippe Lau of France in 1st place and Eirik Rykhus of Norway in 2nd place.  Eirik is the current World Cup leader.  The Swiss women dominated the race today with Amelie Reymond in first place with a time 3 seconds faster than the second place racer, Sandrine Mayer also of Switzerland.  Maren Ulvesta Haugsten of Norway finished in 3rd.  Madi McKinstry of Steamboat Springs had the top US finish in 10th place. 

The US men’s team had six additional racers in the top twenty.  Charlie Dresen of Steamboat Springs finished in 11th.  Charlie took a six year hiatus from the US team and at the age of 46 joined the team again this season and had a great race today.  David Hobbs of Whitefish Montana, who is currently training and coaching in Steamboat, finished in 15th, Drew Hauser of Silverthorne Colorado placed 16th, Eric Lamb was 18th, Cory Snyder of Franconia, New Hampshire was 19th and Jeffrey Gay of Steamboat Springs placed 20th even after his boot buckle broke.