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Park City Native Delivers Two World Cup Wins In Nordic Races

US Ski and Snowboard

US Ski and Snowboard Nordic skier Rosie Brennan was born and raised in Park City and graduated from Park City High School.

Brennan is the second American to wear the world cup yellow leader’s bib. Sadie Bjornsen was the first last season. Brennan won her first world cup victory on December 12 in a freestyle sprint and her second world cup victory on December 13 in a 10k freestyle. Both victories occurred in Davos, Switzerland. Brennan said Nordic skiing has multiple events and winning the 10k has been a focus for her this season.

“The sprint is about 1.2 kilometers and we ski them in elimination heats. So, by the end of the day, you've done that course four times. I would actually say the sprint is my weakness. I was absolutely flabbergasted to win that race. It was something I just really didn't expect at all. But I have always wanted to be, you know, an all-around skier. I think that's one of the fun things about cross country skiing, is there are so many events and so there's always something to be working on, improving. 10k’s in general are probably my best event and so that was one that I had had my eyes on for quite some time. That one was a little more of a relief to get the victory in that. It was just an incredible weekend, very rewarding.”

Brennan said the COVID-19 pandemic has created an uncertainty both in training and competition.

“So, the 10k in Davos is a race that I picked out back in May as one of my goal races. I didn't really give it a second thought who was there or not. Going into this season we knew that there was going to be surprises one way or another, you know one way or another, whether it was having races, not having races, who came, who didn't come. You know all those things and yeah, I think it was just one of those things. It was a World Cup. It was a race, and I was there and I better you know, just do my best to make the most of the time over here in Europe because you never know when a race is going to be cancelled.”

Brennan finished the Tour de Ski 10-day, 8 stage race in 6th place overall. She said she and Jessie Diggins work well together, and they played off each other’s strengths during the Tour de Ski series.  Diggins and Brennan came in first and second places in two of the Tour De Ski events.

“…three different venues in two different countries over 10 days. So, we got two rest days in that period. And the events are both sprints and distance in skate and classic. It really kind of focuses on those that you know can be competitive in every event. And then kind of the kicker of the whole event is that you finish with the climb. You race up an alpine mountain. We do about 5k on the rolling flats and then 5k straight up a hill.”

Brennan now lives in Alaska and is with the APU Nordic Ski Club, an Olympic Development program. Her mom still lives in Park City, and she comes back to ski and train from time to time.

Diggins leads the overall world cup standings, with Brennan third overall while maintaining as the distance leader.

The team is about half-way through the season, with a full slot of racing events to come.  

 

KPCW reporter Carolyn Murray covers Summit and Wasatch County School Districts. She also reports on wildlife and environmental stories, along with breaking news. Carolyn has been in town since the mid ‘80s and raised two daughters in Park City.
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