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Locals Win Sprint Classic
Big Mountain, Montana
February 19-21, 2000

  • US Telemarkers Continue Winning Streak in Classic
  • Swede, Finn Take GS

    It was an emotional scene at Big Mountain Ski Resort today, as two US Team members and local residents of Whitefish stood on the podium after the second day of International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup Telemark races and the sprint classic competition.

    World Cup Skiing
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    Reid Sabin of the USA took 1st place with a combined time for two races of 2:57.44. Patrick Leopold of Switzerland placed 2nd with a time of 3:02.30 and Tore Welding of Norway took 3rd at 3:02.33.

    "It feels good to do so well on our home hill," said Sabin. "I really want to thank all of our supporters — the community, the mountain, everyone."

    For the women, Pia Raita of Finland took her second win in two days with a time of 3:18.71. Lene Haskjold of Norway placed 2nd with a time of 3:24.52. At 3:27.45, American and local resident Cody Thompson, who placed 5th here yesterday, took 3rd, saying that the amped crowd really made it a special day.

    "At all the World Cup races we've been to in Europe, I've never heard a roar from the crowd like that, anywhere...." — Cody Thompson (USA)

    "With so many US Team members from Whitefish, the crowds have been amazing," commented Thompson. "At all the World Cup races we've been to in Europe, I've never heard a roar from the crowd like that, anywhere."

    The all-terrain sprint classic race includes giant slalom sections, banked turns (including 360º whip-around called the reipelykkje, pronounced "rap-o-LOOSH-ah"), rollers, skate sprints, and two Nordic distance jumps. The classic, which will be run Monday and will conclude the Big Mountain races, incorporates even more grueling skate and terrain sections.

    — Brian Schott, MountainZone.com Correspondent