Nordic

Hoffman and Diggins Win at SuperTour Finals

by
USSA
2016-03-21 16:35
 

CRAFTSBURY, VT (March 21, 2016) – The 2016 USSA SuperTour Finals and L.L. Bean U.S. Long Distance National Championships kicked off on Monday at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, with a 15/10k individual freestyle race. Coming off of strong World Cup seasons, Jessie Diggins (Afton, MN, U.S. Ski Team/SMS T2) and Noah Hoffman (Aspen, CO, U.S. Ski Team/Ski & Snowboard Club Vail) claimed the victories.

Hoffman was just one of the athletes that praised the venue. “The organizers here in Craftsbury have done an outstanding job of putting together a world-class course without much help from Mother Nature,” he said.


Jessie Diggins stands on top of the podium in the 10k SuperTour final. (Reese Brown)

In the women’s 10k, Diggins dominated the race by 36.2 seconds over U.S. Ski Team teammate Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA, U.S. Ski Team/APU Nordic Ski Center). Despite the convincing first place finish by Diggins, the battle for second between Bjornsen and Finland’s Riitta Liisa Roponen was a close match. Bjornsen made gusty moves in the final kilometers to move herself into second to secure the position, edging out Roponen by just 0.5 seconds. Roponen settled for third.

“It was so nice to be racing in the U.S. again and to see everyone!” said Diggins. “That’s why I come to spring series – it’s all about the awesome people that I never get to see enough!”


Noah Hoffman skates to a win in the 15k. (Reese Brown)

Diggins also relayed that the athletes are tired, but she’s excited to be racing in Vermont. “Racing again after the tour was tough,” she said. “The World Cup season took quite a lot out of me, but after a total rest week with my boyfriend in Boston, I’m happy and healthy again and excited for one last “hurrah” to close out the season.”

In the men’s 15k, the fight for first was a battle between Hoffman and Scott Patterson (Anchorage, AK, APU Nordic Ski Center). Hoffman skied to the lead in the final leg of the race, and snatched the victory by a toe, just 0.6 seconds over Patterson. Patrick Caldwell (Lyme Center, NH, U.S. Ski Team/SMS T2) finished third.


Noah Hoffman feels a little tired after a season of racing. (Reese Brown)

Hoffman reiterated Diggins’ comments of season fatigue. “Today was challenging because the course had one long climb and lots of recovery, so I had to hit that one climb hard each lap,” said Hoffman. “I didn't feel great—it's been a long season and I haven't had perfect recovery since the Canadian tour—but I'm very happy to walk away with a narrow win.”

Three races remain in the 2016 USSA SuperTour Finals. Competition continues Tuesday with a 1.5k classic sprint race. Qualifiers begin at 9:00 a.m. EDT with heats starting at 11:30 a.m EDT.


Jessie Diggins celebrates after winning the 10k. (Reese Brown)

2016 USSA SuperTour Finals Schedule (times EDT)

Tuesday, March 21 – SuperTour Finals
9:00 a.m. - 1.5k classic sprint qualifiers
11:30 a.m. - Sprint heats

Thursday, March 24 – SuperTour Finals
9:00 a.m. - Mixed relay (2x5k classic, 2x5k freestyle)

Saturday, March 26 – SuperTour Finals, Long Distance National Championships
9:00 a.m. - Men’s 50k classic, Junior Men 20k classic
12:30 p.m. - Women’s 30k classic, Junior Women 15k classic

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The 15/10k individual freestyle race was skied on a 3.4k loop due to a lack of snow.
  • Not only was Patrick Caldwell third overall, he was also first overall for the U23s, followed by Adam Martin (Northern Michigan University) in second and Fabian Stocek (Dartmouth College) who was third.
  • Cambria McDermott (Montana State University) was first overall for the U23 women, followed by Kelsey Phinney (Middlebury College) in second and Felicia Gesior (Northern Michigan University) in third.
  • Katherine Ogden (Landgrove, VT, U.S. Ski Team/Stratton Mountain School) was first overall for the U20 women followed by Alayna Sonnesyn (University of Vermont). Julia Kern (Waltham, MA, U.S. Ski Team/Stratton Mountain School) was finished third.
  • Ian Torchia (Northern Michigan University) finished first for the U20 men, followed by Thomas O’Harra (APU Nordic Ski Team) and Gavin McEwen (Dartmouth Ski  Team) who was third.
  • Adam Glueck (Ford Sayre Ski Club) was first overall for the men’s U18 age group, followed by Wyatt Gebhardt (Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) and Simon Zink (Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) was third.
  • Alexandra Cobb (Stratton Mountain School) was the only U18 women to race the 10k freestyle race.
  • Mae Chalmers (Stratton Mountain School) and Adam Witkowski (Stratton Mountain School) were the only two U16s that raced in the 15/10k freestyle.

QUOTES

Jessie Diggins
It was so nice to be racing in the US again and to see everyone! That’s why I come to spring series - it’s all about the awesome people that I never get to see enough. The volunteers and organizers here at Craftsbury have done an outstanding job preserving the snow and making a great racetrack that is both fun and challenging. 

In all honesty, racing again after the tour was tough. The World Cup season took quite a lot out of me, but after a total rest week with my boyfriend in Boston, I’m happy and healthy again and excited for one last “hurrah” to close out the season. 

Noah Hoffman
Today was challenging because the course had one long climb and lots of recovery so I had to hit that one climb hard each lap. I didn't feel great, it's been a long season and I haven't had perfect recovery since the Canadian tour, but I'm very happy to walk away with a narrow win. The organizers here in Craftsbury have done an outstanding job of putting together a world-class course without much help from Mother Nature.

RESULTS
Men’s 15/10k Freestyle
Women’s 15/10k Freestyle

 


 


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