For the week of January 23 - 29, 2002

Idaho International Grand Prix at Sun Valley

Final Nordic race prior to Olympics

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By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

Head to Sun Valley next week for an Olympic primer.

More than 150 cross country skiing Olympians from around the world will compete Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the Sun Valley Nordic Center in the Idaho International Grand Prix. For many elite cross country ski teams, the race is the final competition prior to the Winter Olympic Games in Utah.

The race will include members of the the U.S. Olympic Nordic Team as well as teams from Norway, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Ukraine, Liechtenstein and Canada.

Most of those teams, with the exception of the U.S. team, are already in Sun Valley training, and most will stay until just before the Olympics begin on Feb. 8, said Sun Valley Marketing Director Jack Sibbach.

"This is the cream of the crop," Sibbach said. "Probably the only really elite team that’s missing will be the Russians.

"They’re out there training most of the day. They’re very friendly, and they’re great to watch."

The competition Wednesday will include a women’s 5 kilometer classic race at 10 a.m. and a men’s 10 kilometer skate race at 1 p.m. Both events will be held at the Sun Valley Nordic Center and Gun Club.

Spectators are invited free of charge, and parking will be available in the Sun Valley Village with free shuttle service to the races.

"It’s a great, great experience for our kids and for the community to see them here," Sibbach said. "It’d be great to see everyone out there cheering them on."

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.