Anchorage Daily News

The gap between minus 10 and 2 degrees above zero may not seem like a lot, but it was enough to get skiers moving in the U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships on Monday in Anchorage.

After watching subzero temperatures cancel a weekend of races, athletes in the event finally hit the trails, albeit for shortened races. Women raced 5 kilometers instead of 10; men had their race shortened to a 10K from 15.

Skiers still applied enough layers - two pairs of long underwear, scarves wrapped around their heads and hats on top of scarves - to remain warm without impeding their strides.

"Trust me, it's still cold," said world-class skier Kikkan Randall, a hometown favorite who finished second in the women's race.

"The toes are the coldest part of my body right now," she said. "But it was great to get out there."

Randall finished three seconds behind the 5K winner, Caitlin Compton of Minneapolis, who completed the course in 14:48 seconds. Elizabeth Stephen, of East Montpelier, Vt., finished third in 14:56

For two days, skiers warmed up, waxed their skis and put on a few layers to brace for single digit temperatures.

What they got were double-digit numbers - but those figures were below zero.

Temperatures must be at least minus 4 for skiers to compete. For two days, the numbers were at least 10 below with no signs of improvement.

Randall, 26, said organizers made the right decision.

"It was just too cold," said Randall, who returned from World Cup competition in Europe for the national races. "You put your lungs at risk if you compete. It's just not worth it."

"You can just tell there was pent up energy last couple of days," Randall said Monday, when the temperature broke to about 2 degrees above zero. "Now, every one is tired from a hard effort today."

Races will be run through Thursday.

ADVERTISEMENT