First-ever Nordic Adaptive Race in Vermont Held at Bread Loaf

For the first time in history, a nordic adaptive race was held in Vermont, at Bread Loaf this weekend, kicking off two days of Middlebury Winter Carnival skiing. Thanks to the efforts of Sabra Davison, the FMN coach, and Patty Ross, the Middlebury College assistant nordic ski coach, as well as Patrick Standen from the Northeast Disabled Athletics Association and Cathy Thompson from Northeast Passage at UNH, six racers from New Hampshire and Vermont sped through a 3K course on sit-skis, powering up the first hill on Battell, charging across the Picnic Loop, and sliding down the final pitch on Battell before climbing back into the stadium field and doing the whole thing all over again. (The course had to be altered at the last minute due to wet conditions in the field.) First across the finish was Brian Genovese (pictured) for the men, and Alicia Dana for the women. Here are the final results, adjusted for disability level:

Genovese, Brian LW-12 14:19

Standen, Patrick LW-11 16:41

Dana, Alicia LW-10.5 17:18

Shepard, Marlon LW-10 20:10

Zielfeld, Arika LW-11 23:15

Nelson, Rick LW-10 29:12

The sit-ski race grew out of FMN member Sophie McKibben's efforts this past summer to start, with Sabra Davison, an adaptive program for Frost Mountain. FMN now has its own sit-ski, which is offered free of charge to any disabled athlete who would like to learn nordic skiing. In addition, NDAA holds sit-ski clinics throughout the winter.

Thanks to the Bread Loaf groomers, to Fischer, to the Middlebury Ski Team, and to all the volunteers on the course. Let's make this an annual event! More pictures here.

Craft's Speedsuit Will Give Sweden Olympic Medals

This post first appeared in this form in Faster Skier.

Last week Craft presented the speedsuit that has been under development for the past year in collaboration with the Swedish national team for the Vancouver Olympics. According to experts, the new suit could actually make a big difference. To read more....

Source: langd.se

Translated by Tim Reynolds

Born and raised in Vermont, Tim Reynolds is psyched to be operating out of the Northeast Kingdom of his home state as part of the Craftsbury Green Racing Project. He spent his undergraduate years at Middlebury, where he was an EISA carnival winner and three-time NCAA qualifier and All-East pick. Tim captained the Panthers his senior year, and is looking forward to winters with more skiing and less studying. A convicted Europhile, look for Tim to do all he can to earn races in Europe this season. At Craftsbury he’s working on local food sourcing.