NORDIC JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS. Only two days after the World Cup weekend in Otepää, the Estonian winter capital welcomes the world's future stars of Cross-Country Skiing, Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping to the FIS Nordic Junior and U23 Cross-Country World Championships from 25th-31st January 2011. The 2011 event, the first FIS Championships held in Estonia, will bring together some 500 young athletes from more than 35 countries. Junior ladies and men in Cross-Country are the first to fight for a set of FIS World Championship medals.

Otepää is the best-known winter sports center in the Baltics. The Tehvandi Sport Center is already well known among the fans of Cross-Country Skiing. Prior to the 2011 Championships, the Center was thoroughly renewed. A new stadium was constructed, teams can enjoy new wax rooms and the competition and media center are located in a newly-built stadium building. Also the Tehvandi K90 jumping hill, completed in November 2007, was only recently inaugurated in the Continental Cup series for Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined.

"The basic layout of the courses was done by Hermod Bjoerkestoel and Vegard Ulvang when they were here during Saku Suverull back in 2003," explained Cross-Country Chief of Competition Tiit Pekk and continued: "The courses are very suitable for juniors and younger skiers. They are not on the extreme side of our homologation guidelines."

First event scheduled Wednesday was ladies 5 km individual start free with 88 ladies from 35 nations participating. In the ladies' race Norway swept the podium led by Ragnhild Haga whilst the men's title went to Sindre Bjoernestad Skar before Markus Weeger (GER) and Perttu Hyvärinen (FIN).

FIS news
26.1.2011

Norwegian triple victory in Otepää

Norwegian junior ladies dominated today’s podium of 5 km Free Individual start.

Ragnhild Haga won with a clear margin over runner up Kari Oeyre Slind, who lost on Haga 5.6 sec. Big medal favorite and Heidi Weng finished third having lost on Haga +8 sec.

Cold weather with -8°C and hard packed snow welcomed 88 athletes. From the start Norwegian ladies occupied top three places on the result list. 

Heidi Weng confirmed the role of the favorite and started the first 2.5 km loop very fast. She was in the lead by three seconds ahead of Kari Oeyre Slind and Ragnhild Haga. However, Weng could not maintain the high pace in the second loop and dropped to third place in the finish. Haga kept the steady pace and came for victory edging out Slind to silver.

Weather:-8 ,
Snow Conditions: hard packed

Quotes

Heidi Weng (NOR)

“I am happy with my podium today. I started fast in the first loop but in the second one I did not have enough power in my legs. I will start in Friday’s sprint.

Kari Oyere Slind (NOR)

“I expected the Norwegian team to be very strong today. I am very satisfied with my second place. I did not think I could be second today but I had hoped for a podium. I expected that the Norwegian team would be strong today.

Ragnhild Haga (NOR)

“I absolutely did not expect to be on the podium today. The feeling is amazing. It ‘s a dream come true actually. I tried to preserve some power for the second lap. I wanted to ski fast in downhills and turns. I am really happy with my last lap.

FIScrosscountry.com
Wednesday 26 January 2011

Sindre Bjornestad Skar romps for victory

Norway can celebrate after first day of the Junior/U23 World Championships in Otepää already four medals. After ladies’ triple in 5 km free Norwegian Sindre Bjoernestad Skar claimed World Champions title over 10 km Free.

Junior men’s race over 10 km free consisted of three 3.3 laps. Skar took the lead after first 3.3 km lap from Russia's Sergey Ustiugov. The Norwegian kept the high pace during the whole race and led at all intermediate points.

Ustiugov started very fast and slowed down last two laps. German juniors showed very good performance with Markus Weeger and Jonas Dobler fighting for the podium. Excellent last lap and strong finish brought Markus Weeger to silver medal. Finland’s Perttu Hyvarinen was after first 3.3 km only at 13th place. The young Finn speeded up and moved to 6th place after 6.6 km. In the last lap he was closely fighting with German Jonas Dobler for the bronze medal. Hyvarinen edged out the young German in the finish by only +1.2 sec and could celebrate bronze medal.

Temperature: -8°C
Snow: Hard packed
Quotes

Perttu Hyvarinen (FIN)

I’m really happy with the bronze medal. The last lap was my best. I knew that track is really hard and snow is slow. I listened to my body because I knew I could be good towards the end of the race. There were many skiers on the course especially in the second lap.

Markus Weeger (GER)

I started little bit slow because I was aware of the hard track. Last part of the competition was a real fight. I gave all I had and it was enough. I am absolutely happy about the silver medal. In the end the margin between second and fourth place was very small.

Sindre Bjoernestad Skar (NOR)

It feels amazing to become the World Champion. I knew this race could be my best chance for victory and fought from the first meters of the race. I think the track is great and very tough. I expected Perttu would know fast today. I met him at Youth Olympics two years ago.

FIScrosscountry.com
Wednesday 26 January 2011