The Bobcat Nordic team competed at the West Yellowstone Super Tour last weekend.
Bobcat Nordic Squad Tunes-up for Season at West Yellowstone Super Tour
12/3/2015 11:23:00 AM | Men's Skiing, Women's Skiing, Skiing
“Every professional team in the country shows up to compete, and the West Yellowstone event is an important weekend for elite racers who are attempting to qualify for World Cup and Olympic team positions,” said MSU first-year Nordic head coach Matt Johnson. “In the week leading up to the races many collegiate teams, including the Bobcats, got their first week of quality on-snow training before the race season starts.”
The Montana State Nordic ski got ready for its 2016 season competing in the annual West Yellowstone Super Tour this past weekend. The Super Tour race series is the premier Nordic racing circuit in the United States.
"Every professional team in the country shows up to compete, and the West Yellowstone event is an important weekend for elite racers who are attempting to qualify for World Cup and Olympic team positions," said MSU first-year Nordic head coach Matt Johnson. "In the week leading up to the races many collegiate teams, including the Bobcats, got their first week of quality on-snow training before the race season starts."
This year the Bobcats have been lucky to have quality skiing conditions at home since the beginning of November, however the tracks in West Yellowstone and the camp atmosphere over Thanksgiving break made it a perfect opportunity to focus on technique and fitness in preparation for the RMISA season ahead.
"With plummeting overnight temperatures and daytime highs reaching only the single digits, the courses were in great condition and athletes bundled up to protect against the elements all weekend," Johnson said. "Friday's freestyle technique sprint race featured a fast and unique 1.2 kilometer course where athletes raced at maximum speed for just over two minutes."
Bobcats who qualified in the top 30 for quarterfinal heats included Anika Miller, fourth, freshman Olivia Ekblad 30th, and independent racer Cambria McDermott, eighth. McDermott will rejoin the team spring semester. Gretchen Burkholder qualified for the junior heats in seventh in a field of 30 racers.
The Montana State men had an equally good performance with Sawyer Kesselheim qualifying 15th, followed closely by Forrest Mahlen, 19th, and freshman Karsten Hokanson, 21st.
"In the afternoon heats the team showed they can compete with the best in the nation, even after a long and exhausting week of volume training," Johnson said. "Anika Miller, still recovering from illness in the weeks before the competition, forced her way into the semifinals, while Cambria McDermott raced all the way through the women's A final, eventually ending up in sixth place.
"Sawyer Kesselheim and Karsten Hokanson both skied well in their quarterfinals, but were barely outskied in the finish lanes to miss advancing," Johnson added. "Forrest Mahlen led the Bobcats into the semifinals, and in a very exciting and close race skied to third in his semi, barely missing the time needed to move on to the men's A final.
In the interval start freestyle race on Saturday morning, Kesselheim led the way with a 12th place finish, and was the third RMISA skier. Karsten Hokanson placed 17th overall, and first among junior skiers by a decisive 42-seconds. Forrest Mahlen placed only 20-seconds behind in 21st place, and Erik Axelsson just missed the top 30, placing 31st in a time of 37:44.
Anika Miller led the women with a 24th place finish, followed by Lina Hultin, 31st.
The Bobcat Nordic team will be traveling to Sun Valley, Idaho to race on December 4-5 in the Classic Sprint and Classic Mass Start 10/15km disciplines.
Check the event website for more information and results at www.svsupertour2015.com, as well as the MSU Bobcats Facebook page for live updates from the races. www.Facebook.com/Bobcatskiing
Results from West Yellowstone:
Freestyle Sprint: http://www.skirunbikemt.com/uploads/3/7/6/9/37692819/11.27.15_sprintresults.pdf
Freestyle Distance: http://www.skirunbikemt.com/uploads/3/7/6/9/37692819/st_overall.pdf
"Every professional team in the country shows up to compete, and the West Yellowstone event is an important weekend for elite racers who are attempting to qualify for World Cup and Olympic team positions," said MSU first-year Nordic head coach Matt Johnson. "In the week leading up to the races many collegiate teams, including the Bobcats, got their first week of quality on-snow training before the race season starts."
This year the Bobcats have been lucky to have quality skiing conditions at home since the beginning of November, however the tracks in West Yellowstone and the camp atmosphere over Thanksgiving break made it a perfect opportunity to focus on technique and fitness in preparation for the RMISA season ahead.
"With plummeting overnight temperatures and daytime highs reaching only the single digits, the courses were in great condition and athletes bundled up to protect against the elements all weekend," Johnson said. "Friday's freestyle technique sprint race featured a fast and unique 1.2 kilometer course where athletes raced at maximum speed for just over two minutes."
Bobcats who qualified in the top 30 for quarterfinal heats included Anika Miller, fourth, freshman Olivia Ekblad 30th, and independent racer Cambria McDermott, eighth. McDermott will rejoin the team spring semester. Gretchen Burkholder qualified for the junior heats in seventh in a field of 30 racers.
The Montana State men had an equally good performance with Sawyer Kesselheim qualifying 15th, followed closely by Forrest Mahlen, 19th, and freshman Karsten Hokanson, 21st.
"In the afternoon heats the team showed they can compete with the best in the nation, even after a long and exhausting week of volume training," Johnson said. "Anika Miller, still recovering from illness in the weeks before the competition, forced her way into the semifinals, while Cambria McDermott raced all the way through the women's A final, eventually ending up in sixth place.
"Sawyer Kesselheim and Karsten Hokanson both skied well in their quarterfinals, but were barely outskied in the finish lanes to miss advancing," Johnson added. "Forrest Mahlen led the Bobcats into the semifinals, and in a very exciting and close race skied to third in his semi, barely missing the time needed to move on to the men's A final.
In the interval start freestyle race on Saturday morning, Kesselheim led the way with a 12th place finish, and was the third RMISA skier. Karsten Hokanson placed 17th overall, and first among junior skiers by a decisive 42-seconds. Forrest Mahlen placed only 20-seconds behind in 21st place, and Erik Axelsson just missed the top 30, placing 31st in a time of 37:44.
Anika Miller led the women with a 24th place finish, followed by Lina Hultin, 31st.
The Bobcat Nordic team will be traveling to Sun Valley, Idaho to race on December 4-5 in the Classic Sprint and Classic Mass Start 10/15km disciplines.
Check the event website for more information and results at www.svsupertour2015.com, as well as the MSU Bobcats Facebook page for live updates from the races. www.Facebook.com/Bobcatskiing
Results from West Yellowstone:
Freestyle Sprint: http://www.skirunbikemt.com/uploads/3/7/6/9/37692819/11.27.15_sprintresults.pdf
Freestyle Distance: http://www.skirunbikemt.com/uploads/3/7/6/9/37692819/st_overall.pdf
Players Mentioned
Nordic
/ Men's Skiing
Nordic
/ Women's Skiing
Nordic
/ Women's Skiing
Nordic
/ Men's Skiing
Nordic
/ Men's Skiing
Nordic
/ Men's Skiing
Nordic
/ Women's Skiing
Nordic
/ Women's SkiingWednesday, June 10
Thursday, September 27
Thursday, September 27
Thursday, September 27
