Thrice the fun in Finland

The men's winner of last week's race in Norway is not well known to most of the sporting world. Ronny Hafsas, 24, a biathlete from Starheim, Norway had only been in one World Cup cross-country race before, and in that one (Davos, Switzerland -- February 3, 2007), he failed to break the top 30. He has been on a fast track in Norway for some time, having won junior championships on home snows in 2002 and 2003.

As a biathlete, he is also exceptional in skating. For years, I have heard the Norwegians talk of "Holiday stars" or "Christmas stars" -- those breakthrough performances that happen now thru the Holiday season. Will he be one? Will he be a factor at the Olympics? All we can say now is stay tuned and watch.

*** American Kris Freeman began his World Cup season with a solid 22nd in the individual 15m skate event, while Kikkan Randall finished 21st in the women's 10km.

Freeman said that he was satisfied with a solid start: "I didn't feel comfortable on my skis last week because of the varying conditions on the course. It was ice-rink hard in some places and deep-sugar snow in others. I never got into a rhythm and skied tense, but I had good energy and I am looking forward to the classic race this weekend in Finland."

*** CTV's expert commentator and former Canadian coach Jack Sasseville, spoke of Chandra Crawford's return to the World Cup after a year off due to injury: "Chandra's result was very far back -- I give her credit for doing the race, and she is still overcoming injuries -- but she needs the racing to get back to full shape, but she does leave herself open to criticism and speculation with an 86th place result."

Crawford is now not in an enviable position. She has to qualify for the Canadian Olympic team still, with her best chance likely to come in two weeks at the Dusseldorf sprints.

*** The U.S. Nordic combined team will not take part in this weekend's start to World Cup season but will take part in the following week's action in Trondheim. Until moving to Trondheim, they'll be training at the Olympic venues in Lillehammer. Expected to take part in the Trondheim combined for the Americans will be Billy Demong, Johnny Spilliane and Brian Fletcher. Todd Lodwick will start at the Continental Cup in Park City and then join his mates at the World Cup in Ramsau.

Combined fans will watch the return Austria's comeback kid, Felix Gottwald, and the return of Finn Hannu Manninen. The home crowd will also be hoping that Anssi Koivuranta, the defending champion of the World Cup, will be a winner. Norway will count on Magnus Moan and Petter Tande. Both Koivuranta and Moan had seven World Cup wins each last winter. The French, Germany and the squad from Japan are all contenders.

*** On the ski jumping beat, the Austrians have announced their starting lineup for the first World Cup jumping event of the season. Head trainer Alexander Pointer has already named Gregor Schlierenzauer (overall 2009 World Cup champion), Wolfgang Loitzl, Thomas Morgenstern, Martin Koch and Andreas Kofler. The last addition is Manuel Fettner who defeated David Zauner and Lukas Mueller for the final spot.

Norway will have a team of Tom Hilde, Anders Jacobsen, Vegard Sklett, Bjoern Einar Romoeren, Ken Gangnes and John Remen Evensen. Jacobsen has been on top recently in inter-team events.

The Finns adore ski jumping and it's woven into their cultural fabric every bit as much as saunas and reindeer. They will get their first chance too watch their returning-from-retirement hero Janne Ahonen and the talented Harri Olli. It has been reported that Ahonen is in top form.

The Swiss are still glowing with pride over Simon Ammann's double gold medals in jumping eight years ago in Salt Lake City. This off-season, the talented flyer won the summer Grand Prix and would love to recapture his winning ways in this year's Olympic season. Before Ammann, the Swiss hadn't medaled in jumping since the 1970s when Walter Steiner, the skilled wood carver and craftsman, flew to Olympic greatness in Sapporo in 1972 with silver

In what has been described as his last season competing in the sport, Polish star Adam Malysz -- a four-time overall champ -- is also hoping to end his career on a high note. He's no kid anymore, but he still is the pride of Poland -- and for good reason.

*** We have talked a great deal about the coming-out-of-retirement factor associated with the upcoming Vancouver Games. Add former Olympic champion Kristina Smigun to that list. The Estonian is expected to be in Kuusamo this weekend following two years away from the sport to have a baby.

*** Oslo should have its new landmark back in a matter of days now. When the famed Holmenkollen jump was torn down to make way for a more modern jump, the city held it's collective breath, awaiting the return of this national treasure, a silent sentinel that is visible from the entire city. The last of the in-run parts arrived from Poland, and a final gigantic piece of steel weighing 120 tons and 36 meters long was lifted into place on November 24. This wonderful hill should be all set for the 2011 World Nordic Ski Championships that Oslo will host.

*** In this country, the annual Yellowstone Ski Festival is underway in West Yellowstone, Mont. Important Super Tour races, clinics, biathlon competitions and much more are to be had -- it's a wonderful place to be. For more information visit www.yellowstoneskifestival.com.

*** The biathlon WC season gets underway Dec. 2-6 in Ostersund, Sweden.

*** Finally, for the world's specialists in cross-country, Nordic combined and jumping this weekend is going to be a big one. The events held in Ruka -- 25 kilometers north of Kuusamo, will attract a great deal of attention and huge crowds. The Finnish events will mark the only time that all three FIS Nordic sports will gather together at the same venue until the Vancouver Olympics. For this weekend will be what the Finns live for in the far north: To see the best of the best in Nordic sports, all on the edge of a vast wilderness, surrounded by forests, lakes and small cabins -- where winter is more than just to get through, it is to be celebrated.