TOBLACH, Italy (March 13, 2016) – Julia Kern (U.S. Ski Team/Stratton Mountain School) led the U.S. team once again, with two podium finishes in the final weekend of racing at the U.S. Spring OPA trip in Toblach, March 11-13, to take second overall in the tour.
The final weekend of racing kicked off Friday, with a 2.5k freestyle race for the women, two U.S. women finished in the top 25. Erika Flowers (Stratton Mountain School) finished 22nd overall followed by Elizabeth Guiney (Craftsbury Nordic Ski Club) in 25th. Becca Rorabaugh (APU Nordic Ski Center) was the next American, finishing 29th, followed by Heather Mooney (Craftsbury Nordic Ski Club) in 31st. Switzerland’s Nadine Faehndrich edged Germany’s Elisabeth Schicho for first by just 1.6 second, followed by Italy’s Ilaria Debertolis who finished third.
Kern led the U20 women, finishing fifth in a competitive 2.5k freestyle, just 9.8 seconds out of first, behind Germany’s Katharina Hennig. France’s Delphine Claudel was second and Italy’s Anna Comarella finished third.
The men skied a 3.3k freestyle on Friday, where Logan Hanneman (Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks) grabbed a spot in the top 10, finishing seventh overall. Hanneman was just 0.8 seconds from a top-five finish. Miles Havlick (Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation) was the next American, finishing 22nd, followed by Alexander Treinen (APU Nordic Ski Center) in 23rd, Akeo Maifeld-Carucci (Bridger Ski Foundation) 36th, Tyler Kornfield (APU Nordic Ski Center) 42nd, and Kyle Bratrud (CXC Team) 49th. Switerland’s Ueli Schnider edged Italy’s Roland Clara for the victory, just 0.3 seconds ahead, followed by France’s Clement Parisse who finished third.
Zak Ketterson (Loppet Nordic Racing) led the U.S. U20 men, finishing in the top 10 overall. Thomas O’Harra (APU Nordic Center) was the next American, finishing 24th, followed by Leo Hipp (Northern Michigan University) in 37th. Czech Republic’s Michal Novak stole first by 5.5 seconds ahead of Germany’s Janosch Brugger, followed by Italy’s Mikael Abram who finished third.
The ladies action fight for second, third and fourth. (USSA-Bryan Fish)
Competition continued Saturday with a 10k classic for the women. finished 17th overall, followed by Guiney in 22nd, Flowers in 26th and Mooney in 32nd. Germany swept the podium as Elisabeth Schicho grabbed another victory, 4.7 seconds ahead of teammates Monique Siegel, and Julia Belger in third.
Kern grabbed a coveted spot on the podium in the U20 women’s 5k classic. Germany’s Katharina Henning claimed another victory, followed by Italy’s Anna Comarella and Kern who finished just 17.2 seconds behind in third.
In the men’s 15k classic, Hanneman led the U.S. men in 28th overall. Bratrud was the next American, finishing 38th, followed by Kornfield who finished 41st, Treinen 44th, Havlick 46th, Maifeld 47th and Saxton 48th. Switzerland’s Ueli dominated the 10k to claim another victory 1:41 minutes ahead of Italy’s Roland Clara and Czech Republic’s Alex Razym who finished third.
O’Harra and Ketterson led the U20 men, grabbing a spot in the top 30 in a 10k classic race. O’Harra finished 28th overall followed by Ketterson in 30th. Hipp was the next American, finishing 35th. France’s Martin Collet skied to a convincing first place finish 36.2 seconds ahead of Germany’s Janosch Brugger and France’s Jules Lapierre who was third.
Julia Kern finished second overall in the U20 overall minitour. (USSA-Bryan Fish)
The weekend concluded with a 10k freestyle pursuit for the women. Rorabaugh led the U.S. women, grabbing a spot in the top 20, finishing 17th overall. Guiney was the next American, finishing 22nd, followed by Flowers in 28th, and Mooney 32nd. Switzerland’s Nadine Faehndrich grabbed the victory 8.7 seconds over Italy’s Ilaria Debertolis and Slovania’s Lea Einfalt.
Kern grabbed another podium in the U20 women’s 10k pursuit. Kern finished second overall, just 7.7 seconds behind Switzerland’s Lydia Hiernickel. Germany’s Katharina Henning finished third.
"Julia's tactics were spot on in Sunday's pursuit," said U.S. Ski Team Development Coach Bryan Fish. "She started easy and in fourth place. Lydia - who is the overall OPA U20 points leader - caught her and they both pulled up to Anna in second. The 3 of them battled but Julia handily out-sprinted both to finish second overall in the tour."
Treinen led the U.S. men in a 15k freestyle pursuit, finishing 18th overall. Havlick was the next American, finishing 29th, followed by Maifeld-Carucci in 42nd, Kornfield 43rd, Hanneman 46th, Saxton 50th and Bratrud 62nd. Germany’s Florian Notz edged Italy’s Enrico Nizzi for first by 2.2 seconds, followed by Austria’s Johannes Kattnig who finished third.
Ketterson grabbed another top 10 in a U20 men’s 15k freestyle pursuit race, finishing ninth overall. O’Harra finished 23rd overall, followed by Hipp in 31st. Czech Republic’s Michal Novak grabbed first just 1.2 seconds ahead of France’s Jules Lapierre and Switzerland’s Dajan Danuser who finished third.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The next SuperTour event is the Spring Series in Craftsbury, VT, March 21-26.
- The SuperTour Spring Series races include a sprint, relay 15/10k freestyle and a 50/30k classic.
- The OPA Cup is essentially the SuperTour of Central Europe, where skiers from several nations compete for their countries World Cup spots.
- Julia Kern finished second overall in the tour.
RESULTS
March 11
Men’s 3.3k Freestyle
U20 Men’s 3.3k Freestyle
Women’s 2.5k Freestyle
U20 Women’s 2.5k Freestyle
March 12
Men’s 15k Classic
U20 Men’s Classic
Women’s 10k Classic
U20 Women’s 5k Classic
March 13
Men’s 15k Freestyle Pursuit
U20 Men’s 15k Freestyle Pursuit
Women’s 10k Freestyle Pursuit
U20 Women’s 10k Freestyle Pursuit
