Olympics 2018 OLYMPIC GOLD Diggins and Randall Make U.S. History PARALYMPICS 32 Medals Won by U.S.A. and Canada RETIREMENTS 14 Athletes Depart GEAR 2019 Inside Scoop Official publication of Plus XC Ski Nationals $4.95 CCC Restructures www.skitrax.com World Cup Season Wrap Hall & Crawford Honoured Registration Number 9875 Agreement Number 1372521 Printed in Canada www.skitrax.com OLYMPICS 2018 SKITRAX 1 publisher/editor Benjamin Sadavoy international correspondent Peter Graves contributors Dalia and Dan Clausen, Jack Cook, Jim Fredericks, Peter Graves, Chris Hatton, Jennifer Jackson, Ron Johnson, Julie Melanson, Patrick Moore, Jack Sasseville, WATCH LIVE Noah Simms, Jonathan Wiesel, Sue Wemyss photographic contributions Reese Brown, Sarah Brunson, Ross Burton, WORLD CUP Canadian Paralympic Committee, CCC, Jon Engen, flyingpointroad.com, Peter Graves, Martin Kaiser, Tom Kelly, Flawia Krawczyk, Joe Kusumoto, Nordic Focus, Heinz Ruckemann, Herb Swanson, US Biathlon, BIATHLON US Paralympic Committee, USSA graphic design Ingrid Riets copy editing Claudia Brown administration & circulation Crystal Burs production CrackerJack Enterprises webmaster David Irving advertising sales Benjamin Sadavoy editorial office 260 Spadina Ave., #200, Toronto, ON M5T 2E4 Phone: (416) 977-2100; Fax: (416) 977-9200 subscriptions (2017/18) Newsstand (plus 13% HST) ......................................... $4.95 Annual (plus 13% HST) ............................................... $5.95 1 yr. (4 issues) Canada .......................................$14.95 CDN 1 yr. (4 issues) USA ..............................................$17.95 US 2 yr. (8 issues) Canada .......................................$25.95 CDN 2 yr. (8 issues) USA ..............................................$32.95 US International Subscribers: US$34.95 (1-yr); US$62.95 (2-yr) customer service Phone: (416) 977-2100; Fax: (416) 977-9200 [email protected] [email protected] official magazine of Cross United Country States Ski Canada Association member of Printed in Canada, Issued Fall 2018 4 SKITRAX OLYMPICS 2018 www.skitrax.com OUT IN FRONT continued from page 10 sporting-venue upgrades. Significant improvements will be made to the region’s premier cross-country Kikkan Randall Retires venue, Mount Van Hoevenberg, Amazing Career with Storybook Olympic Gold Ending by Sue Wemyss including a 5km racing loop and stadium, according to Jon Lundin, ORDA’s communications manager. The upcoming 2019 Games will be held from March 1-12 in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, followed by the 2021 competi- tion in Lucerne, Switzerland. Salomon Appoints Lazzaroni to Lead Nordic Ski Business in the Americas Salomon has appointed Robert Lazzaroni as Nordic regional commercial manager for the Americas, effective Aug. 27. Lazzaroni is a 25-year industry veteran and, most recently, the Nordic domestic-program director for U.S. Ski & Snowboard. In his new role, he will direct Salomon’s Nordic Legendary Kikkan Randall celebrates her third business in the U.S., Canada and Sprint Cup globe and an incredible career of Latin America. historic results and inspirational passion. During his three-year term with NordicFocus U.S. Ski & Snowboard, Lazzaroni ikkan Randall’s 18-year career officially came to a Randall was also an integral part of the U.S. women’s played a key role in the manage- Kclose with a unique victory lap at the last round of the 4x5km relay team that included Brooks, Stephen, Diggins ment of the 2017 FIS Nordic Junior FIS World Cup in Falun, Sweden as she celebrated her and, later, Bjornsen, as the squad took their first bronze World Championships in Utah. He is amazing career in front of a cheering stadium with her medal in 2012 in Gallivare, Sweden. The fab foursome also a past member of the French ski son, Breck. Randall helped pioneer the U.S. women’s went on to claim four more relay bronze medals. team (1983-1988). Nordic-skiing program, inspiring success, team spirit Randall always inspired team spirit among the squad Lazzaroni filled a variety of roles and support and culminating in her gold medal with Jes- with unique ways to lighten the tense mood of competition. in Nordic-product development, sales and marketing at The Rossignol sie Diggins at the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Games First there were the memorable Team USA signature relay Group between 1994 and 2011. for a storybook ending to her stellar career. socks in 2012, which Randall bought at a convenience store In his new role, Lazzaroni will Randall was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, but began in Germany. Later in 2015, the entire U.S. team released a serve as the primary manager of her skiing career as an Alaska Pacific University (APU) hilarious “Uptown Funk” music video just before the Falun Salomon’s Nordic category in the athlete at age 16 under the wing of Jim Galanes. She 2015 Nordic World Championships. Randall’s infectious Americas. He will also serve as a won her first National title in January 2002 in the Free- spirit, passion and “fun” attitude had lit a fire of enthusiasm. key stakeholder in developing style sprint and qualified for her first Olympics at home Just prior to her final World Cup season in Fall 2017, overall strategy with global at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002. the U.S. team took delivery of their first wax truck, which brand management. Part of the U.S. development squad until 2005, Randall became a reality thanks to the work of the dynamic duo of Yukon Announces $1.4 Million for Sport joined the U.S. Olympic team for the 2006 Games in Torino, Randall and Liz Arky, a member of the Board of Directors Sports and Recreation in the Yukon Italy, finishing a record ninth place in the Freestyle sprint. and Board of Trustees at USSA, who shared the team’s announced a $1.4-million grant from The following season, she earned her first World Cup podi- story to attract donors who signed onto this dream – and the Government of Yukon in um in January 2007 in Russia, which opened the flood- it paid off big time. partnership with the Yukon Lottery. gates for more stunning results that followed. The next year, The storybook ending to her incredible career saw Twenty-eight sports will benefit she won her first World Cup and went on to claim 13 World Randall win the first-ever Olympic gold medal for the U.S. from the recent infusion of capital, Cup victories during a career that included 29 podiums. cross-country-ski team in the Team Sprint with Diggins at with the cross-country-skiing set to By 2009, the U.S. women’s team was coming togeth- the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The 18- receive the largest chunk. er, with Randall and Pete Vordenberg, the U.S. cross- year effort finally payed off for Randall – with work and The Yukon Recreation Advisory country-ski head coach, creating the framework and perseverance, she wrote another historic chapter with the Committee will control the grants building blocks with such skiers as Liz Stephen, Holly U.S. team as they evolved from valiant competitors to that range from $7,500 to $113,00 and will be given directly to the 28 Brooks, Laura Valaas and Morgan Arritola. More recruits Olympic champions. sporting groups or five special joined along the way and Randall’s leadership was key, Randall has recently been elected to the International recreation groups. Yukon Sport 4 Life as she shared a World Cup Team Sprint podium first Olympic Committee Athlete Commission, while also main- will handle grants from $2,750 to with Sadie Bjornsen in 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany, taining her role as president of Fast and Female USA. She $63,500, and will be geared toward then with Jessie Diggins in 2012 in Milan, Italy and then and her husband, Jeff, celebrated the birth of their son, 26 sport groups. In addition, later that season in Quebec City, Quebec. Breck, in April 2016, and she is now working on an MBA individual athletes will also receive In 2012, Randall made history again, winning her first at APU, along with motivational speaking and sponsor grants from $500 to $11,500. Sprint Cup globe, and then defended her title for two work. What an amazing career! The sport of cross-country skiing consecutive years in 2013 and 2014 against the best This summer, Randall was diagnosed with breast can- will accept the maximum from each sprinters in the world. cer and announced on her blog that she is undergoing organization, with a total income of $176,500. Athletes Dahria Beatty, Randall and Diggins had the right chemistry and treatments, adding that her “prognosis is good," and Graham Nishikawa and Jessica speed, striking gold in the Team Sprint at the 2013 FIS vowed to bring “tenacity, strength and energy toward this Nordic World Championships in Val di Fiemme, Italy. challenge.” (see page 6). 12 SKITRAX OLYMPICS 2018 www.skitrax.com OUT IN FRONT Frotten will also receive the maximum individual grant of $11,500. Out of the 32 athletes qualifying, nine were cross-country Devon Kershaw Retires skiers. For more information, visit One of Canada's Most Successful Cross-country Skiers by Jack Cracker www.community.gov.yk.ca. Sudbury’s Kershaw and long-time teammate Alex Rundle Sport Rollerskis Joins Cross Harvey reached Country Canada a new historic level winning On Aug. 17, Cross Country Canada Team Sprint gold in the (CCC) announced Rundle Sport as Holmenkollen at the FIS Nordic Worlds, becoming the first Canadian an official equipment supplier. men to stand on the top step According to CCC, it received of the Worlds podium. excellent feedback from athletes, and as a result will be distributing Rundle Sport Flex Skate rollerskis to all senior National team athletes, U25 National team athletes and National para-Nordic team athletes. Athletes commented on the smoothness and reliability of the rollerskis, as well as their on-snow feel, which allows them to optimize their rollerski training and transition from rollerskiing to snow-skiing.