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Show I, B-3 The Park Record Wed/Thurs/Fri, January 5-7, 2005 Cross-country national races underway .. Soldier Hollow hosts •* nation's best XBy PAUL BOBBINS Special to the Record SOLDIER HOLLOW - The U.S. Cross Country Championships resume today with two races for the gents and two for the gentles at Soldier Hollow - 10-kilometer classic races for the men and 5K classic for the women today, 10K skate race and 5K skate for the women Thursday on the Olympic hills. The 2005 championships, which will have upwards of 400 skiers registered for one or more of this week's races, got rolling Monday with a little bit of everything in terms of weather. The women started at 9:30 a.m. in partial sunshine and after it turned cloudy, the men were sideswiped in mid-race by a wet snow squall that left the tracks sluggish for thefieldof 120. It was mind over matter - if you don't mind, it doesn't matter - for the last lap of the men's 30K freestyle technique title race. In the end. Park City's Andrew Johnson celebrated his 27th birthday in the best way posSCOTT $\NEiPARK RECORD sible as he captured his first national title. The country's best cross-country skiers prepare for competition at the U.S. Cross Country Johnson plowed through the Championships which take place this week at Soldier Hollow. The national competition welmuck to win in one hour, 18 minutes, comes over 400 racers. 41.6 , seconds with two-time domestic races last season and this, Soldier Hollow) to get married and Olympian Carl Swenson, who moved pen," he said. also had to turn up the heat at the have a baby: she attacked the As he neared the finish, Johnson to town last summer, taking the silver remaining hills, attacked the rest of medal in 1:19.05.6 byawhisker. Third shifted into a higher gear. In the stag- end for the victory. thefield...andwon. gered start, he started back of "It was so tough...certainly a lot place went to Dave Chamberlain, the Swenson and Chamberlain, so as closer than I was looking for," Among the handful of spectators defending and current SuperTour long as he kept them in sight, and he Dussault said. "I was losing until the were husband Sharbel and 3-year-old leader, his time was 1:19.06.3. knew he was in good shape. last hill and I said. 'I've worked this sonTaber. He doesn't understand the The women's champion was hard, I might as well give it every last details of racing, she said, but he "Two Ks from the finish, I was Rebecca Dussault, a three-time gold ounce of energy I have'...and some- knows Mommy does well...and, like nine or 10 seconds behind Carl and medal-winner a year ago in thing worked. any tyke, he knows when the skiing's Rumford, Maine, as she overtook Dave. I was determined to catch "But Abi had such a great race. I done, he gets Mommy back again. Abi Larson in the final couple of those guys," he said. "He wants to get up on the podiHe started with some zip, sput- had lots of splits, so I knew where I kilometers for her fifth title. Dussault was and where everybody was...and um with me," she said. When a friend tered and then motored in for the won in 45:54.8 with Larson, a former racer for the Sten-cats of Northern gold. Ivan Babikov, a Russian who when I started that hill I was six sec- suggested the crowd would love to Michigan University (coached by lives in Canada, had the fastest time onds back, and I wondered 'How am see him up there, too, she conceded, veteran Sten Fjeldheim) clocked in (1:17.32.8), but at the U.S. champi- I gonna win this thing? This isn't "Well, I may do that this week." One thing's for sure, Dussault figures to 45:00.0; Brooke Baughman took onships, titles and medals go only to going at all the way I planned.'" have a couple of more trips to top-3 the Yanks. So, while Babikov posted She started slowly, knowing she third (45:12.0) in the pack of 96 the fastest time, and collected the would need some oomph for the end. land, so Taber may make that podiwomen. first-place money, Johnson got the Her game plan worked um debut. Johnson, who helped inaugurate title. perfectlyr..but it took the full 15 Ks After these two midweek days of the Ski Team's Residency Program to execute. racing, the championships finish with "I started pretty well and I ended when he came to Park City in the "I didn't get loo negative when I classic technique sprints Saturday summer of 1999, has built a reputa- pretty well," Johnson explained, "but tion as one of the hardest, no-excuses there were some tough moments in was getting the splits [saying she was and pursuit races (7.5K classic leadworkers on a U.S. team littered with the middle of the race. I got cramps trailing Larson]. I was definitely frus- ing into a 7.5K skate for the women, hard workers. He was a popular win- in my legs at about 20 Ks'; that slowed trated because I couldnt understand 15K CL and then 15k freestyle for ner. He didn't quite expect the day me down and I got the point where -.and I don't know - why I was the men) next Monday. World Championships team would turn out that way but, in typi- for a couple of Ks - mostly on the behind them." So, she did the one thing Dussault members, along with World Junior cal "AJ" fashion, he kept his head steep uphills - where I slowed significantly, but then the cramps went knows how to do so well since he Championships berths and a down and kept charging. away." , returned from a self-imposed retire- Continental Cup crew will be "It was a tough day. I didnt feel ment after the 2000fseason (where announced after the championships The women started at mid-mornlike I was reaply going into the race, I she won the 5K freestyle crown at conclude. ing and Dussault, who has ruled just wasn't sure...but I made it hap- PARK CITY REAL ESTATE Professional, friendly real estate service for buyers and sellers in Park City & Deer Valley 435 655-8574 888 655-8574 (toll free) susanc(a'xmission.com SUSAN CATENACCI Associate Broker, C\l\ mn Prudential Utah Real Estate " V www>parkcity4sale.com fc DISCOVER the possibilities Free tutoring Personal attention Cutting-edge technology Make make more money Fully accredited classes Several degrees available Come visit our scenic campus a the faculty. QEEOA o o •o before 'em o CROSS COUNTRY SKI CLINICS White Pine Touring's Nordic Center presents 3 levels of clinics for kids from ages 3-18. These clinics start at the beginning of January and run through February 2005. and $undaf you can U Tots Learn to Ski Program - Introduction to Nordic equipment for tots through games & challenges. Ages 3-5. ' ; ;- f P£6 even refund the '^rice of a Deer Valley One Daf $Ki ?ass ($11) if ^ou buf sKis. hurpj, this special offer is for 2. da^s onty Kids Learn to Ski Program - Choose from 3 or 6 week sessions for your 4-7 year old. We'll introduce them t o = •;,::, the feeling of skinny skis and get them shuffling down the track. They'll learn basic coordination through ':, : .', games and fun challenges. . .'.;•:• In front of Ibe empire Day Lodge Sat. Tan. $ - Sun Tan. Bill Koch Youth Basic X-C Skiing Clinic - This Youth Ski League focuses on teaching the fundamentals of" ' cross-country skiing through a fun and interactive program. Ages range from 8-16. /'>•:< .. Youth Performance Tips & Tricks X-C Skate - This new program is designed to teach experienced -skiers new techniques and increase theirskill level.Train in a fun, non-competitive environment. Ages8-18. ,•.; , , MOUNTAIN RECREATION Expons Visit our website at www.whftepinetouring.com or call the Nordic Center for information, 649-6249. No! jus! the b«1 brand* OiKe Possignol, Atomic and Head), but who live the sport everf chan« the-j a/A. Whether fou're IniofamiVjfun, fresh air or competition, the pros'* at jan* will steer fou right. Cut this out and stick it in your wallet. Then when you find it a year later you'll say "Jeez, I missed the FREE test drive." Deer Valley, Snow Park Lodge 649-8770 1541 THAYNES CANYON DR. 435.649.6249> WWW.WH1TEP1NETOURING.CPM ,. : , ,. • ? - ' » < •••• |