Gary Kingston, Postmedia News January 1, 2013
Racing the short and intense sprints on the World Cup cross-country skiing circuit can often feel like a ski cross or NASCAR race. It's often all about avoiding the carnage around you.
Len Väljas of Toronto did just that Tuesday to finish third in a skate-ski sprint at Val Mustair, Switzerland, in the third stage of the punishing Tour de Ski and capture Canada's first podium of the 2012-13 season.
The lanky skier, one of the tallest on the circuit at six-foot-six, said he was "super pumped" about his finish on a tricky 1.4-kilometre course that featured some sharp turns, a quick, steep uphill and a challenging downhill to the finish.
"This was our first race here; first time we skied the course was this morning," said the 24-year-old Väljas, who had struggled early in the season, in part because of a cast he was wearing to protect a broken hand. "The downhill was pretty technical. It was great for the fans. There was lots of crashing and bumping.
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