US Nationals 2012 Classic Sprint

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Report at bottom

Torin dominated the Classic sprint today to pick up his 2nd sprint title of the year for the second consecutive year!

(I am sorry to say that Torin was DSQed in bizarre fashion after having won the final by a country mile.  See below for more information)

Torin, all by his lonesome - way to go!

Karl Nygren winning the qualifier

Karl leading a tough heat

Tyson Flaherty

Back to Torin - see this Tuck?  See how Diggins tucks (see previous photos).  That's how you go fast on the downhills (free speed).  Flat back, elbows on or below knees, hands up near face.  Look for speed or pay the price especially on a downhill finish.  I think 9 out of every 10 skiers were in a half tuck today...in a sprint race!

Jessie Diggins won her 4th US championship title this week today - a long and amazing week!

Jessie powering out of the start of the A final

Jessie coming out of a corner low and looking for speed.  She won all the downhills all week which means something when the course has a downhill finish!

Maria Stuber

Caitlin Gregg givin' it!

Kate Fitzgerald (gloves only)

Fitz (gloves only)

Tested and picked glide waxes yesterday as was the plan as I anticipated that today's kick solution could be a demanding one.  It did some freezing raining last night before they groomed.  Still, the tracks got an ice glaze on them which made things a bit tricky this morning.  We tested kick waxes, straight base green, straight klisters, and klisters covered.  Before qualifying, our best wax was Nordic Green Klister covered by Nordic Red Klister.  It kicked better than straight Base Green binder, especially on the hard ice sections on the climbs.  It glided better than Red Klister covered with Nordic Grip Red.  It was our best wax this morning and was also used to success.  After qualifying, it got progressively colder, the wind blew a bit more, and the tracks dried out. The snow became more of a dry granular sugar.  We rewaxed the test skis and checked it out again.  This time the "Base Green Trick" was the best. This is where a short thick layer of Base Green Binder is applied, heated in, and smoothed.  After it cools, add subsequent layers of Base Green trying to keep it as smooth as possible. Make the layers shorter working toward the middle.  It is important to keep this application short - klister zone.

It was a great week.  I was grateful for the super job Steve Bedard did testing and giving feedback.  He is a new Rossignol (and Toko) Tech Rep for New England.  I look forward to working with Steve in the future.

Also, a huge congratulations to all of the athletes, but especially to our Jessie Diggins and Torin Koos for taking 6 US national titles between them this year! 

(Turns out Torin was DSQed.  This was a strange occurrence.  Here's how FasterSkier covered the story http://fasterskier.com/2012/01/koos-disqualified-in-classic-sprint-plans-to-appeal/.  Anybody who has witnessed World Cup sprints knows that as Eric Packer said, this type of thing happens all the time without incident or comment.  In fact, I saw other athletes do the same thing during Nationals including one of the top women 300 meters before the finish.  Nobody said a thing except "that's racing"  Good luck with your appeal Torin!)