Day 1 – Women’s Skiathlon and Biathlon

And we’re off!

Yesterday’s 7.5×7.5 Skiathlon got my portion of the Pyeongchang Olympics off to an incredible start.  The leaders skied in a pack until Charlotte Kalla broke things up on the final climb.  (Again.)   Jessie Diggins skied a gutsy, head down, hammer down heckuva race and finished just off the podium.

It was then time to upload a few photos and then run — yes, run — to get to the Biathlon 7.5k sprint photo briefing  (My apologies to Andy, Sophie and Noah for the all-too-quick hello.)

Have I mentioned that it’s cold here?  And the coldest place of all is the biathlon range.  The wind swirls constantly and played a significant role in the shooting during last night’s 7.5k Sprint.  I have to give a nod to my friend Christian Manzoni, the owner of NordicFocus.  When I asked him to predict the night’s winner, he rattled off a few of the favorites.  Christian then paused and said “It will probably be Laura Dahlmeier of Germany because she simply doesn’t give a crap about the wind or the weather.”

And tonight’s winner?

Laura Dahlmeier.

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Women’s Mass Start
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It might be windy.  It might be cold.  But it’s a great facility.
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First lap.
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Charlotte Kalla for the win!
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Post race wreckage.
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L to R, Marit Bjoergen (NOR), Charlotte Kalla (SWE), Krista Parmakoski (FIN)
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Podium presenters.
Oh, Canada! - ©flyingpointroad.conm
Oh, Canada! (Emma Lunder)
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Rosanna Crawford (CAN)
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One of the Dreissacker kids is here too.
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Laura Dahlmeier (GER) coming off the range and headed for the win.

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