Discussion: Ski-O European Champs

There is not too much attention paid to Ski-O here on AP, but I thought it's pretty cool that three Americans (including two attackpointers: Biggins and acjospe, as well as Carl Fey) are currently racing at the European Ski-O Championships in Switzerland. Go Team USA!!
Here are results from the first race, the sprint: http://www.o-l.ch/cgi-bin/abfrage?type=rang&year=2...

...and here you'll find more in the next few days - maybe even some maps according to the available links.

There are also 8 people from the US doing the Ski-O World Master competition at the same venue as the European Championships.

WMOC entries from USA
country name class confirmed
USA Scott Pleban M40
USA Aims Coney M50
USA Kenneth Walker M55
USA Thayer Raines M55
USA Brendalynn Giese W50
USA Terry Myers W55
USA Candice Raines W55
USA Sharon Crawford W60

These results will be posted on the web site that Bubo mentioned.

Some results from the WMOC today:
Scott Pleban - 3rd, M40
Sharon Crawford - 2nd, W60
Congrats!

Overall results for the World Masters are here. Scott Pleban and Sharon Crawford were in the top 3 individually and overall!

Maps for the events are located here.

Hey would someone that was there care to comment on those "dashed" trails? I wonder if they were wide enough to skate or if it was a double-poling fest?
Thanks!
BTW, congrats on some awesome results from Sharon and Scott.
Looking forward to start the Western Series here!

Speaking of skiing, the Canadian men just put 3 in the top 17 of a World Cup Nordic race, which ain't bad. They were all less than a minute from the winner and ahead of some guys named Sommerfeldt, Freeman, Koukal, Vittoz and Roenning.
A lot can happen in a mass-start race and it wasn't too long ago that this was unthinkable for the men to ski this well.

FIS Results

I have not been at the European Champs, but by IOF standards dashed lines should be scatable. Double polling tracks are marked with dotted lines and and usually these are classic ski tracks. The dashed trails vary from 1 to 2 or 3 snowmobile track width. You can argue that single snowmobile track width is not very scatable, though. :)

Hey, speaking about the World cup nordic races. Anyone knows if some channel here in Canada is broadcasting live from the races in Canmore?

Evidently they are streaming some live coverage on cbc.ca/sports and I think they are showing it on real tv in February. Sprints are up next.

Regarding ski-O tracks:

Solid green = normal groomed track - normal skating possible, depending on steepness

Dashed Green = scooter track - not wide enough for a full skate action, but variations of marathon skate and DP are used - uphill is HARD, especially with deep snow outside the scooter track

Dotted line = usually just a small track made with snowshoes

BIG Congrats to Scott - awesome performance, Sharon too

JK

Further on the tracks at Engadin:

As John wrote, the solid tracks were 2 m wide and skatable, except where the pitch was near vertical (not kidding -- when herriboning up my fear was toppling over backwards on some of the sections). Mostly, however, these were fast.

The dashed tracks I measured as 4' wide. They were packed with a regular snowmobile or Alpine dual track, both dragging two tires side by side. With deep fresh snow a couple days before the races, some of the tracks were quite soft. This made double poling difficult in places. Also making travel interesting were the t-intersections on the dashed tracks, some while coming downhill at speed. The occasionall technique was a controlled crash into the deep soft snow, although Scott stopped one time against a tree, snapping his tip. This was half-way through the sprint and he still finished with a good time.

There were no dotted tracks.

JK - thanks for filling out the relay. Enjoyed meeting you. KW