Ski Racing - February 27, 2012

entered this season except for the one he lost to his own teammate. Look out for UVM rookie Bobby Farrell, who has posted stellar results but lost his touch at the home carnival, so nerves could certainly be a factor in Montana, assuming he makes the team cut.

Women’s Nordic

Anything is possible when the UVM and Dartmouth pattern of alternating greens inevitably mixes in with Utah’s Maria Graefnings and Colorado’s Eliska Hajkova and Joanne Reid. Graefnings’s return to collegiate competition has been a spark in the RMISA, and defending classic champion Hajkova might have timed her peak perfectly to add another title to her collection. The 5K freestyle race could quite possibly turn into a lung-burning sprint. Dartmouth’s Sophie Caldwell and Vermont’s Caitlin Patterson and Lucy Garrec will have to lay it all on the line to give chase, but the 15K classical might provide just enough distance to wear out their competition. Alaska’s Jaime Bronga could be a contender if she finds the pace and form she had in the early season.

Denver’s Espen Lysdahl poses a serious threat in the slalom.

Men’s Nordic

Middlebury’s Patrick Johnson is a man on a
mission. While head nordic coach Andrew
Gardner insists the plan is to “take it week
by week,” anyone who doesn’t think John-
son has a legitimate shot at going all the way
this year in either the 20K classical or 10K
freestyle race has his head in the snow. Dart-
mouth’s Eric Packer and Sam Tarling won’t
make it easy for him. The Dartmouth men’s
nordic team has been indomitable this year in the East, but altitude is a critical variable in Montana. Without effective acclimatization, home favorite David Norris of Montana State or Colorado’s Rune Oedegaard could easily steamroll the sea-level contenders. Utah’s Miles Havlick has a shot given his consistent podium record in the RMISA, but he’ll need to hit the wax and eat his Wheaties.