Roundup: U.S. Nordic Skiers Prepare For Upcoming Season In Canmore
by Alex Abrams
Members of the U.S. Para Nordic team pose for a photo in Canmore.
Every other week we scour the web for the latest going on in the world of U.S. Para Nordic skiing. Here’s what you missed!
U.S. Para Nordic Skiers Get Back To Racing
Some of the top U.S. Para Nordic skiers returned to racing last week.
Members of the U.S. national and development teams took part in a series of races while in Canmore, Alberta, for a training camp. They spent Thanksgiving together, in preparation for the start of the world cup season.
The Americans are preparing to compete in their first world cup of the season in Planica, Slovenia, on Jan. 11.
Feels *so* good to be racing again! Nation’s Cup in Canmore is in the 📚!#ShowTheWorld // #TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/ZltfsGIDUN
— U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing (@USParaNordic) November 26, 2022
Sydney Peterson was one of the skiers in Canmore, and she shared on Instagram that she was introduced to Para Nordic skiing a year ago. In March, she earned three medals while making her Paralympic debut in Beijing.
Peterson, a native of Lake Elmo, Minnesota, will compete again this season. She was among the athletes who trained and raced in Canmore.
“I am grateful to ski at the capacity I am able to now, but strive to gain function and movement,” Peterson wrote on Instagram. “The medals are the shiny part, but truthfully, skiing is one of the best (and fun!) things I can do for myself.”
Oksana Masters Is Recovering From Surgery
Oksana Masters will have to spend some time in a hospital bed before racing on snow again.
Masters, a 17-time Paralympic medalist, shared on Monday that she was recovering after undergoing surgery on her left hand.
Masters posted three photographs of herself in the hospital on Instagram. One of the photos shows stitches on her left hand, leading up to her middle finger.
“Well, leave it to me to just slowly take down each limb of mine, one by one,” Masters wrote on Instagram. “My body decided to take a detour through the surgery room. Long road ahead of me to get back to racing.”
Masters has spent plenty of time in the hospital over the years, undergoing various procedures. She had leg surgery 100 days before the start of the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, but she returned in time to win a pair of gold medals in Para-cycling. Masters followed that up with three golds and eight overall medals in Beijing.
Before undergoing surgery, the multi-sport star showed her support for the U.S. men’s soccer team in the World Cup by posting a video of herself wearing a personalized jersey.
Kendall Gretsch Takes Paratriathlon Silver
Kendall Gretsch was busy racing last week, just not on her sit ski.
Gretsch, a Paralympic gold medalist in both Para Nordic and paratriathlon, earned a silver medal at the 2022 World Triathlon Para World Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The six-time Paralympic medalist finished second in the women’s PTWC race at the world championships, finishing in a time of 1:09:08. She crossed the finish line 25 seconds behind gold medalist Lauren Parker of Australia.
Silver secured 🔒
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) November 24, 2022
Two-time Paralympian @Kendall_Gretsch is taking home silver in the PTWC. @usatriathlon | #AbuDhabiFinals pic.twitter.com/4BNFjyR5R4
Gretsch and Parker have established a good rivalry in the paratriathlon. Gretsch rallied down the stretch to beat Parker by one second and earn the gold medal at the Tokyo Games last year.
Gretsch is expected to transition to Para Nordic now that the paratriathlon season is over.
Upcoming Craftsbury Nordic Ski Clinic
The Craftsbury Outdoor Center, located in Craftsbury Common, Vermont, is hosting a Nordic ski clinic for visually impaired athletes and guides this weekend.
Craftsbury will also hold a free “Adaptive Nordic Ski Open House” for youth and adults with disabilities on Jan. 8.