2015 Telemark World Championships
USA Hosted the 2015 FIS World Championships February 24-27
The 2015 
FIS World Telemark Skiing Championships brought 68 of the best telemark racers from 11 countries to Steamboat Springs to compete for the World Championships and the Junior World Championships. This was the second time the FIS Telemark World Championships have been held in the U.S., with the first event held in Whitefish, MT in 2003. The World Championships are held every other year, and this year teams from the United States, Canada, Norway, France, Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain, Sweden, Slovenia, Japan and the Czech Republic traveled to Steamboat for the event. The racers competed in four events including the Classic, Sprint Classic, the Parallel Sprint, and Team Parallel Sprint. The head-to-head parallel competitions were especially spectator friendly and exciting. Because Telemark is not yet in the Olympics, this was the showcase event for the athletes and the best of the best attended.
More Information Invitation Press Kit
World Championship races were broadcast through live streaming and can be viewed again online
The FIS Telemark committee approved funding for live streaming internet video of the 2015 Telemark World Championships in Steamboat Springs! This provided an exceptional opportunity to showcase Telemark Racing at the highest level to the world. All Howelsen Hill races were broadcast live on the World Championships event website www.telemarkworldchampionships.com as well as all Telemark Ski Federation websites around the world. The Mt. Werner race was recorded with an edited program aired approximately 3 hours after the race. In addition, opening ceremonies, awards, and athlete interviews were filmed. The video production crew consisted of five professional videographers with a minimum of three handheld cameras on the course and a fixed camera mounted at the back of the rap (reipeløkke). We’re very excited to bring Telemark racing and Steamboat Springs to the world! View all of the video at https://new.livestream.com/TeleHo
Thirteen racers represented the USA
The USA was represented by 13 racers at the World Championships in Steamboat Springs. Leading the women were Madi McKinstry, a seasoned veteran at age 20 and Lyta Foulk, the youngest racer at the event. McKinstry had a 6th place finish in the Junior Classic and an 8th place finish in the Junior Sprint as well as an 11th place finish in the full field women’s Sprint. After the races Madi McKinstry wrote, “Sometimes, I like to grow wings and jump for joy. This week was hard, this week was happy, this week made me realize how big an impact ski racing has had on my life. The people I’ve met and the places I’ve been are incredible–to say the least. Having all of my teammates and coaches in one spot for 4 fantastic days of racing made me a happy human. I had ridiculously high expectations for myself, and I didn’t meet them. But I skied happy, every single run. And that’s what matters.”
Lyta Foulk was the youngest racer in the competition and had a very strong performance with a 5th place in Junior Sprint, 7th place in the Junior Classic and a 4th place finish in the Junior Parallel Sprint. She also competed in the Team Parallel event. These results came just one month after recovering from a shoulder injury.
Joining McKinstry and Foulk, both of Steamboat Springs, CO, were Sarah Carley of Brentwood, NH and Taylor Finn of Colorado Springs, CO with 10th and 11th place finishes, respectively in the Junior Sprint.
The men’s group included 5 racers from Steamboat Springs with a vast range of experience. Tanner Visnick led the local racers and was one of only three competitors who raced both Classic races on Friday, finishing 9th in the full field and 4th in the Juniors, narrowly missing the podium. In the Sprint he placed 7th in the Juniors and 13th in the full field. He made it to the quarter finals in the Parallel Sprint and competed in the Team Parallel. Following the races, Visnick commented, “Frustrating day on the mountain today (Friday). After finishing 9th in the Seniors, I had the fastest raw time in the World Juniors Classic, but four penalties bumped me down to 4th position. Not the way I wanted to close out the World Championships, but this past week has been a good learning experience. You win some and you lose some. Thanks Steamboat for a successful week of races!”
Jeffrey Gay, Charlie Dresen, Jack Rosenthal and Brendan Durum also raced in front of their home town. Gay’s best finish was 17th in the Sprint, Dresen had a 22nd place finish in the Classic, Rosenthal finished 16th in the Junior Classic and Duram finished 13th in the Junior Classic
2014 National Champion, Cory Snyder of Franconia, NH was very strong against a competitive field. Snyder finished in 11th place in the Sprint, 14th in the Classic and made it to the Quarter Finals in the Parallel Sprint. He also competed in the Team Parallel event.
Tommy Gogolen of Breckenridge, CO was returning to racing after three knee surgeries in as many years, but tore the ACL in his “good” knee on the first day of racing and withdrew from the rest of the events. Larry Bosche of Berkeley, CA rounded out the men’s field.
The US team is looking forward to the Telemark National Championships to be held March 13-15 at Sunlight Mountain Resort, Colorado
Opening Ceremonies – February 23
The opening ceremonies were held at Mt. Werner in Gondola Square. The ceremonies included a Parade of Nations. The US National Anthem was sung by US Team member Tanner Visnick. Competitors were welcomed and bibs were drawn for the top 15 men and 10 women for the Sprint event held the following day. Steamboat Springs Ski Ambassador and Alpine World Cup and Olympic medalist Billy Kidd welcomed the 68 racers from 11 nations.
Tanner Visnick of Team USA sings the National Anthem
Day One – February 24 – Sprint
It was a perfect sunny day to race the Sprint on Howelsen Hill! Johanna Holzman of Germany raced to a Gold Medal finish for the Junior Woman and Swiss racer Nicolas Michel was the Gold Medalist for the Junior Men. Amelie Reymond took Gold and the World Champion title for the women and Tobias Mueller was the men’s World Champion of the Sprint.
In the Junior World Championship competition for the USA, Lyta Foulk led the women with a 5th place finish followed by Madi McKinstry in 8th, Sarah Carley in 10th, and Taylor Finn in 11th. Tanner Visnick raced to a 7th place finish in the Juniors with Brendan Durum in 14th. In the full field of competitors for the World Championships, the USA was led again by Lyta Foulk with a 9th place finish. Cory Snyder led the men in 11th place followed by Tanner Visnick in 13th position.
Women’s Podium: Amelie Reymond (SUI) Gold; Mathilde Ilebrekke (NOR) Silver; Jasmin Taylor (GBR) Bronze
- Women Jr Sprint 2_24_2015 Results
- Men Jr Sprint 2_24_2015 Results
- Women Sprint 2_24_2015 Results
- Men Sprint 2_24_2015 Results
Day Two – February 25 – Team Parallel
The Team Parallel event was held today and fulfilled the promise of exciting head to head racing. By the end of the day, the Swiss were atop the podium, France was in 2nd place and Germany took the third team position.
Lyta Foulk, Cory Snyder and Tanner Visnick represented the USA as one of eight teams in this event, but they were defeated in the first round.
Day 3 – February 26 – Parallel Sprint
Day 4 – February 27 – Classic
Overall World Champions
Medal Count by Nation – “Vive la France”
Thank you to our volunteers and our sponsors. This event would not have happened without all of you!