Andy Newell (U.S. Ski Team) on his way to 24th in the men’s freestyle sprint qualifier at last month’s World Cup in Planica, Slovenia. He went on to location 23rd on the day. (Photo: Fischer/NordicFocus)
It has been a extended time on the Planet Cup for 32-year-outdated U.S. Ski Staff sprinter Andy Newell.
Newell flew back to Vermont earlier this week, skipping the final European Planet Cup races of the season in Lahti, Finland. In a telephone interview on Wednesday, he cited a need to recharge and reflect on what has been a lengthy season, although getting ready for the upcoming Ski Tour Canada — Globe Cup Finals — from March one-twelve.
More than the final decade, Newell has been chasing Globe Cup points in pursuit of the Sprint Crystal Globe. That’s taken a toll, he mentioned.
“It’s been very a few years of performing that and I’ve just felt like it was time for me to come property and take a break and type of reevaluate things a tiny bit,” he mentioned. “For the previous month or two months, I’ve been really wrestling with the notion of probably retiring from ski racing.”
Vintage 2008 Newell
Newell started out the season off sturdy. His very first European foray, a traditional sprint in Gallivare, Sweden, Newell placed second behind Russia’s Sergey Ustiugov. In the initial Planet Cup of the 2015/2016 season, Newell opened with a fourth-spot finish in the traditional sprint in Kuusamo, Finland.
Because Jan. 5 at the Tour de Ski’s traditional sprint in Oberstdorf, Germany, the place Newell placed ninth, he’s had a difficult go of it. It is not some thing his robust commence to the season would have foretold.
Back residence coaching, FasterSkier asked Newell what he was most proud of in terms of his Planet Cup job. His response speaks to his longevity as one particular of the world’s elite sprinters.
“I’m proud of that kind of consistency,” he stated. “I feel if you had been to seem back on the start record when I did get that first podium back in 2006, I don’t believe you’d see any guys that are nevertheless racing now, not to mention nonetheless qualifying on the World Cup sprints. … I believe becoming capable to adapt year following 12 months, and keep relevant and keep present in the sprints has been a challenge, but also one thing I’m proud of.”
Newell’s outcomes above the many years illustrate his stamina. He was the eighth-ranked Planet Cup sprinter at the finish of the season in 2006. He completed the season sixth again in 2007, then rose to fourth in 2010 and fifth all round as not too long ago as 2013.
In the interview, Newell also discusses feasible strategies for his skiing future and a daily life immersed building the next generation of U.S. talent.
But before then, just before any final selections are made, Newell will try to rekindle his groove for the Ski Tour Canada — a series of races most most likely not to be his last Planet Cups, but perhaps his last as a full-time Globe Cup athlete.
Newell finding air on his skinny skis.