Bobcat Nordic Standout Norris Fifth American Finisher at World Cup Event
12/14/2012 6:59:00 PM | Skiing
While most Montana State students finished their fall semester finals on Thursday, Montana State Nordic ski standout David Norris was being educated by the world’s best skiers.
While most Montana State students finished their fall semester finals on Thursday, Montana State Nordic ski standout David Norris was being educated by the world's best skiers.
Norris, a native of Fairbanks, Alaska, was the fifth American finisher and 48th overall in the men's World Cup cross country 15-kilometer mass-start race in a time of 44 minutes, 34.0 seconds, held at Canmore Nordic Centre in Alberta, Canada- the cross country venue for 1988 Winter Olympic Games.
Germany's Tim Tscharnke won the event in 41 minutes, 14.8 seconds.
“It was a good experience,” Norris said. “I feel like on any given day it is a pace that I can match. It is a tough competition, but I feel like it is a level of skiing that is attainable.”
Norris, competing in his first ever World Cup race, finished behind teammates Kris Freeman, 14th, 41:48.7; Noah Hoffman, 22nd, 42:26.2; and Erik Bjornsen, 36th, 43:34.8. Rounding out the US squad were Michael Sinnott, 51st, and Matt Gelso, 52nd, Matthew Liebsch, 55th, and Andrew Newell, 59th.
Norris, who turned 22 on Wednesday, was the sixth youngest competitor in the 65-member field that included squads from Germany, Norway, Russia, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Kazakhstan, Japan, Poland, France, New Zealand, Australia and the United States.
Norris will complete his first World Cup experience on Sunday with the 30-kilometer skiathlon, which features both classic and freestyle components with an equipment change at the halfway mark of the race.
Wednesday, June 10
Thursday, November 12
Saturday, March 10
Thursday, March 08
