THE MASTERS WORLD CUP 2008

The 2008 Masters World Cup was held in McCall, Idaho, February 28 - March 7 at Ponderosa Park. The first time this FIS-sanctioned event has been held in theUSA for a decade. Though we had held the Alpine equivalent of this XC event in Sun Valley in 2005, the FIS altitude limit for cross-country racing was 1800 m; most of us eat, sleep and ski at higher altitudes, so the choice of venue went to McCall, the only other bidder from North America.. The rotation of prospective venues just changed to allow consideration from North America every three years. After Autrans in France next year and Falun, in Sweden, the following year, Canmore, an Olympic venue, in Canada, comes up.

Typically, the host country has the largest group of competitors. This year, 660 Americans signed up to race. However, there were 152 from Canada and 122 from Russia; in all, 1256 competitors from 23 countries. The consensus of most seasoned competitors was that the standard of skiing was very high. Americans won 131 medals, Russia won 100 and Norway, with 45 competitors, took home 51 medals, the only country to have more medals than competitors.

The Wood River Valley was well represented. The following locals brought home medals, or memories of tough fights on the XC tracks. Each competitor has an opportunity to race in three races, any mix of classic or freestyle as well as an opportunity to enter a relay. Such relays comprise teams of four racers and are put together by national team captains who select racers’ gender and age categories. Teams may also be international, though they don’t qualify for medals.

Gabriele Anderson won three golds in individual events and a gold in the relays comprising teams of four racers, two classic and two skate, over 5 km courses. Such relays are put together by national team captains who select the reacers’ gender and age categories.

Other golds went to Jon Engen (2), Charley French (2), Norm Clark (2), Laura McCabe (2), Rebecca Rusch (1), Del Pletcher (1). Silvers went to Joanne Davis (3), Muffy Ritz (3), Leslie Hall (2), Laura McCabe (1), Del Pletcher (1), Phil Puchner (1). Bronzes went to Jon Engen (1), Karoline Droege (1), Del Pletcher (1), Leslie Hall (1) and Muffy Ritz, Del Pletcher, Jon Engen medaled in the relays.

It would appear that American racers tend to compete at home more than abroad. Many US podium finishes bore unfamiliar names. Not really all that surprising since participating takes about a ten-day bite out of vacation time, of which we have less than half of most internationals and in recent years suffering from an increasingly feeble dollar. On the other hand, 122 Russians? Newly minted oligarchs or subsidized racers? Typically the Russians hold a series of qualifying races and skim the likely winners, bankrolled by the Russian Ski Federation and aided by suppliers, to the tune of four pairs of skis apiece, in many cases.

The MWC website has lists of results at MWC2008.com.