- reported by Peter Gagarin

Congratulations to Ali Crocker and Alex Jospe, 8th and 25th in the Long distance World Champs.

Tomorrow's events

Three-person teams, the men start at 10 am local time, the women at 10:05. Men’s team is Scott, Adrian, and Greg, in that order. Women’s team is Ali, Alex and Cristina in that order. So that’s a 5:00/5:05 start on the east coast and 2:00/2:05 on the west coast.

This is the last race of the WOC. Let’s all cheer for good races for all of them!

Photos from the Long, as well as a post-race interview with Ali, are on the US Team blog.

by Peter Gagarin

Today was the Sprint Relay, a new event. One team per country. Each team composed of one man and one women. A mass start. Each does 3 legs, so 6 legs for the whole thing, but very short legs.

And like Wednesday's Middle distance, held is a serious snowstorm. But, as they say, orienteering is an outdoor sport, and we race rain or shine, or in this case, snow and wind.

Skiing for the USA were Greg Walker and Ali Crocker, with Greg leading off. Now Greg has been the best of our guys, but even at that he has been about 40% behind the winner in the sprint and middle, whereas Ali has been a good bit closer to the best women. So there was the expectation that Greg might fall behind quite a bit, and then Ali recoup a little, and so on throughout the 6 legs.

Read more ...

by Peter Gagarin

What’s coming on Thursday --

The Sprint Relay. A new event. One team per country. Each team composed of one man and one women. A mass start. Each does 3 legs, so 6 legs for the whole thing, but very short legs.

Here’s the best part — start is at 3 pm local time, which means 10 am on the east coast and 7 am on the west coast. So you can watch it without getting up in the middle of the night. Go to the Ski-O WOC home page:
http://www.skiwoc2011.com/index.php?en&subj=18

Skiing for the USA will be Greg Walker and Ali Crocker. Good luck to them!

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More on Wednesday’s middle race race --

Read more ...

by Peter Gagarin

So the Middle distance has just finished. Ali Crocker was best for the USA again, another 18th place (excellent!), while Greg Walker was best for our men again.

One thing that strikes me is that the orienteering looks very hard, especially considering that you are on narrow ski trails and moving fast. Take a look at the GPS tracks and you’ll get an idea. Note also that Ali was wearing a transmitter today so you can watch her progress.

Oh, and it all was happening is a raging snowstorm.

GPS tracking for the women is at:
Part 1: http://www.tulospalvelu.fi/gps/20110323middleW1/
Part 2: http://www.tulospalvelu.fi/gps/20110323w2/

And for the men:
Part 1: http://www.tulospalvelu.fi/gps/20110323middleM1/
Part 2: http://www.tulospalvelu.fi/gps/20110323m2/

Click the “From Start” button in the upper left and then the Play arrow and you can watch it as if it was a mass start.

Women
1. Polina Matchikova, RUS 39:52
18. Alison Crocker, USA 48:45
30. Alex Jospe, USA 59:45
45. Cristina Luis, USA 1:26:00
52 starters

Men
1. Staffan Tunis, FIN 40:13
51. Greg Walker, USA 58:33
60. Scott Pleban, USA 1:02:57
62. Adrian Owens, USA 1:05:17
67. Nikolay Nachev, USA 1:09:49
78 starters

Full results at:
http://www.emit.nu/resultat/live/110322/

Sprint at the World Champs is done.

Ali Crocker finishes 18th, Alex Jospe 24th!

Women
1. Tove Alexandersson, SWE 15:11
18. Alison Crocker, USA 17:09
24. Alex Jospe, USA 18:55
47. Cristina Luis, USA 37:09
53 starters

Men
1. Olli-Markus Taivainen, FIN 18:04
49. Greg Walker, USA 25:22
52. Adrian Owens, USA 26:55
53. Scott Pleban, USA 26:41
65. Nikolay Nachev, USA 35:13
76 starters

Full results at:
http://www.emit.nu/resultat/live/110322/

GPS tracking for the women is at:
http://www.tulospalvelu.fi/gps/20110322sprintW/

And for the men:
http://www.tulospalvelu.fi/gps/20110322sprintM/

Click the “From Start” button in the upper left and then the Play arrow and you can watch it as if it were a mass start.