MUSGRAVE SHIFTS UP A GEAR IN
PREPARATION FOR THE OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
Andrew
Musgrave, Britain’s top skier on the British Cross Country Ski Team,
proved his worth against some tough competition in his first World
Cup race of the season in Beitostølen, Norway on Saturday 21
November.
At 19
years of age, Musgrave was the youngest competitor in a field of 100
starters in the 15 km free technique race. Finishing 6.58% behind
the winner and earning 52.64 FIS points in the process, made this
his best points in his 11 World Cup races to date.
Roy
Young, Head Coach of the British Nordic Ski Team, describes the
scene and the day’s events:
“Beitostølen is a good, twisting 5km course with some sharp
bends on fast descents, a big uphill and a swoop downhill to a 180
degree turn just before turning up to the stadium. Andrew started
out in control and kept up the pace throughout the whole race. He
managed to progressively gain time over his competitors on each of
the three laps, partly by pushing hard on the hill climbs. It was a
good day for Andrew who raced well in a challenging field, with a
mature head on his shoulders.”
Musgrave
shows typical humility in summing up his performance “Today went
quite well, but I feel I have more to give, and hope to improve as
the season progresses.”
Musgrave’s result last weekend keeps him safely within the
qualifying standard for the Olympic Winter Games and the leading
contender for one of three likely cross country ski places in Team
GB. Selection for the second place is between Alex Standen, Andrew
Young, Callum Smith, Marc Walker and Simon Platt. On the ladies
side, there is an absorbingly close contest emerging between Fiona
Hughes, Posy Musgrave and Sarah Young to secure the third place. The
athletes will have another chance to meet the Olympic qualifying
standards in