Kikkan Randall

Anchorage skier Kikkan Randall finished third place in a World Cup sprint race, despite a fall early in the finals.  After winning both her quarterfinal and semifinal heats, Randall's fall caused a 10-meter deficit early on.  Randall was able to ski back into the lead, until being edged out in the final straight.  "Today was a very important race in the overall.  I was happy to gain some points on my closest competitors now that the...

by Andrew Hinkelman Wednesday, February 17, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Alaska's best hope for an individual medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics met an early exit Wednesday. Anchorage Nordic skier Kikkan Randall was eliminated from medal contention in the semifinals of the women's sprint Wednesday afternoon. Still, the eighth-place finish was the best performance of Randall's career in the classic sprint and the best Olympic finish ever by an American woman in Nordic skiing.

Anchorage is the perfect environment for an aspiring cross-country skier, but Kikkan Randall was also blessed with the bloodline to turn that opportunity into success. “I had an aunt and uncle that were Olympians in cross-country skiing,” Randall said after she qualified for the 2006 Olympics. “They were my role models growing up and so now I'm hoping to head the new generation of Alaskans. " Add family ties to Randall's relentless work ethic and determination, and you get a three-time Olympian, World Championship silver medalist and 15-time U.S. national champion.

by Rebecca Palsha Saturday, January 9, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- How about a lesson on cross-country skiing from an Olympian? Kikkan Randall and dozens of other ski coaches and athletes were at Kincaid Park Saturday to show girls between the ages of nine and 19 how to ski. More than 200 people came to get lessons. There were about 20 training stations where skiers could learn different techniques. "It's so inspiring," Randall said. "It's so great to see the smiles on their faces and just see everybody out there just really having fun on their skis.

Kikkan Randall has long been Alaska's darling of cross country skiing.  Already a 3-time Olympian and the only American woman to win a world cup race, Kikkan added to her greatness in 2012 with a season for the ages.  She won two world cup sprint races ( her best distance), and landed on the podium two other times during the season to become the first American since Bill Koch in 1982 to capture a season points title in any nordic ski discipline on the world cup circuit.  Randall has proven to be no one-season wonder, either.  She now owns a total of seven world cup victories, all in sprints, and has landed on the podium six times in the current season in only four weeks of racing.

by Christine Kim Monday, January 04, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Spotting a bright crowd of supporters isn't too hard at this week's U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships. Family and friends of local athlete Kikkan Randall cheered in their fan club gear sporting pink and black. Randall's father Ronn says all the hats and headbands are hand knitted and designed by her brother. He knitted about 25 hats and is working on an order of 20 more. Fans are also wearing bright pink snowpants and jackets with the logo.

by Channel 2 News staff Friday, February 12, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- In a poll conducted by Channel 2 News, respondents were asked which Alaskan athlete has the best chance of winning an Olympic medal. Here is the official question and results of the 226 people who voted. Which Alaskan athlete has the best chance of winning an Olympic medal? Kikkan Randall 61 % Callan Chythlook-Sifsof 14 % Kerry Weiland 12 % Holly Brooks 7 % Jay Hakkinen 3 % James Southam 2 % Jeremy Teela 1 % All polls conducted by Channel 2 News and KTUU.

For the time being, Kikkan Randall has won her sixth career medal in a World Cup Nordic ski race -- but her third-place result Sunday in Switzerland is in limbo. That's because Poland is appealing the disqualification of its third-place skier, who bumped Randall during the sprint final. Randall finished fourth, but was moved up a spot because of the disqualification. The appeal process could take a few days. If the decision holds, Randall will have captured a medal in consecutive weekends on the World Cup circuit.

Kikkan Randall secured her second straight World Cup sprint championship in style on Saturday, winning the women's freestyle sprint race by the length of a boot in Lahti, Finland.  Randall's sixth World Cup or World Cup Stage victory of the year clinches the title with two classic races remaining. After qualifying for the elimination round 11th, Randall won all three heats, including a photo finish to beat Mart Bjoergen. Randall also ranks third in the overall season standings across all disciplines.

Three Alaskans, and one other skier who also trains with the APU nordic program, were chosen to represent the United States at the World Championships next month in Oslo, Norway. Kikkan Randall, Holly Brooks, Sadie Bjornsen, and Lars Flora were all selected for the American squad.  Brooks, Bjornsen, and Flora all made the team based on multiple podium finishes last week at the National Championships.  Randall competes internationally on the World Cup circuit.   All four skiers represent APU, and only Bjornsen ( Methow, WA )

Kikkan Randall secured her second straight World Cup sprint championship in style on Saturday, winning the women's freestyle sprint race by the length of a boot in Lahti, Finland.  Randall's sixth World Cup or World Cup Stage victory of the year clinches the title with two classic races remaining. After qualifying for the elimination round 11th, Randall won all three heats, including a photo finish to beat Mart Bjoergen. Randall also ranks third in the overall season standings across all disciplines.

Kikkan Randall of Anchorage and partner Jessie Diggins of Afton, Minnesota combined to give the United States its first gold medal in a World Championship nordic ski competition on Sunday, skiing to the victory in the team sprint title in Val Di Fiemme, Italy.  Randall and Diggins had previously teamed up for a win in a World Cup race earlier this season in Quebec City. It is Randall's first gold medal at the World Championships as well.  She took silver in the 2009 individual freestyle sprint.  "This is the most incredible day of my ski career so far," said Randall in a press release issued by the U.S. Ski team.

Kikkan Randall of Anchorage won her third cross country ski race on the World Cup circuit this season, dominating the freestyle sprint  in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia.  The venue is just outside of where the 2014 Winter Olympics will be held, in Sochi.  Randall went wire to wire in her victory, capturing all three heats as five American women cracked the top 17. "I'm super happy that my ability to be strong over many courses works out well...

A Day after turning 30 years old, Kikkan Randall of Anchorage collected her second win in three stages of the annual Tour de Ski in Europe.  Randall, the reigning season points champion in the sprint discipline, dominated the field in Tuesday's 1.4 kilometer sprint, winning the final by 8.7 seconds.  Randall also dusted the field in qualifying and in other heats, prevailing by 4.8, 4.3, and 3.4 seconds, respectively. With the win, Randall rises from 14th to 5th in the overall Tour de Ski standings with four events remaining, all in Italy.

Kikkan Randall has long been Alaska's darling of cross country skiing.  Already a 3-time Olympian and the only American woman to win a world cup race, Kikkan added to her greatness in 2012 with a season for the ages.  She won two world cup sprint races ( her best distance), and landed on the podium two other times during the season to become the first American since Bill Koch in 1982 to capture a season points title in any nordic ski discipline on the world cup circuit.  Randall has proven to be no one-season wonder, either.  She now owns a total of seven world cup victories, all in sprints, and has landed on the podium six times in the current season in only four weeks of racing.

Anchorage skier Kikkan Randall finished third place in a World Cup sprint race, despite a fall early in the finals.  After winning both her quarterfinal and semifinal heats, Randall's fall caused a 10-meter deficit early on.  Randall was able to ski back into the lead, until being edged out in the final straight.  "Today was a very important race in the overall.  I was happy to gain some points on my closest competitors now that the...

Another outstanding win for Kikkan Randall as she hit the gas pedal and abandoned all competition in her dust, winning her second straight FIS Cross Country World Cup Sprint in the Swiss resort of Davos. Randall, who finished first, easily swept every heat winning by 1.7 seconds over Russian Natalia Matveeva.  The win put Randall in third behind Marit Bjoergen in the World Cup overall and has a 240-194 lead over Matvevva in the spring standings Kikkan said, “It was a lot of hard racing today.

Another outstanding win for Kikkan Randall as she hit the gas pedal and abandoned all competition in her dust, winning her second straight FIS Cross Country World Cup Sprint in the Swiss resort of Davos. Randall, who finished first, easily swept every heat winning by 1.7 seconds over Russian Natalia Matveeva.  The win put Randall in third behind Marit Bjoergen in the World Cup overall and has a 240-194 lead over Matvevva in the spring standings Kikkan said, “It was a lot of hard racing today.

One day after claiming her fourth career victory in an FIS World Cup nordic ski race, Kikkan Randall has made history again -- and this time, she had company. Randall and APU teammate Sadie Bjornsen finished second in Sunday's World Cup sprint relay in Duesseldorf, Germany. It is the first podium finish ever for a United States duo. Randall and Bjornsen came in only 1.6 seconds behind the victorious team from Norway. "Today even tops yesterday," said Randall. "I've always known that we could put together a podium-capable relay team, and we did it!

The U.S. Ski Team's Kikkan Randall skied to an  exhilarating  final in the freestyle sprint Saturday in Duesseldorf, Germany. After a slow start, she fought her way into second place, with the finish line in sight. Showcasing her i mmense endurance , she made a critical pass, outsprinting Natalia Vedeeva of Russiain the homestretch to win her fourth career FIS World Cup sprint. The win moved Randall into the World Cup sprint lead