XC Champs Delayed Again
Organizers will take one more shot at completing a race Thursday after the postponement of the individual sprint at the 2009 ConocoPhillips U.S. Cross Country Championships on Wednesday.
Able bodied and adaptive races were supposed to be held on Wednesday, but temperatures plummeted to -14 degrees Fahrenheit. The standard which the International Ski Federation has determined to be safe for cross country competition is -4F.
"It maybe peaked at -12F. There was not much chance. We showed up and gave it a try but we couldn't do it," U.S. Nordic Program Director John Farra said. "We'll try to do the individual sprint one more time."
According to Farra, weather forecasts for Thursday in Anchorage may throw an unexpected twist in the championship event by having to have it at night.
"There's some suggestion that this cold snap is going to end at night. The warming trend is supposed to peak at night," Farra said. "The organizer secured lighting for portions of the trail and we are planning on being able to hold the sprint in the dark by delaying the start."
The individual sprint is officially slated for Thursday, which will mark the close of the 2009 ConocoPhillips U.S. Cross Country Championships, pending a rise in temperature.
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XC Champs Delayed Again
