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I'm glad at least he has SOME connection to Ireland, and not just a Norwegian switching to Ireland for no reason other than to have an easier time. So yeah it looks better for you!

Interesting, by the way, that FIS are now organizing a junior WC of sorts for women. I heard they hope to put a women's Nordic Combined event at the 2022 Olympics. About time! Hopefully the level of competition will be decent and they can follow the example of women's ski jumping.

Speaking of Ireland, it appears they've just acquired a Norwegian cross-country skiier. Apparently he had 'Irish origins'? http://www.t-a.no/sport/2016/11/29/Thomas-fra-Leka-går-verdenscup-i-helga-–-for-Irland-13859582.ece And he's competing in the WC sprint qualification today.

Ski Sports Alpine Skiing (4-7) - We've had quite a few retirements with Bank, Vrablik, Trejbal but we still have almost certainly Strachova in slalom, Kryzl in Giant Slalom, Krizova in downhill, Hudec just switched nationality, so hopefully medal chance in downhill and Super-G! Also chances for Dubovska, Berndt, Paulathova and the like, who are competing at WC level. Cross Country Skiing (4-8) - It would be a success if we could qualify both relay teams. Bauer is retiring (for good this time :P) and Magal has, too, and so for the men it will probably be Jaks, Kozisek and Razym, we have a lot of young skiiers as well, like Michal Novak, Knop or Graef, who are improving their results in the WC, and if all else fails we could always ask a long distance skiier to join the team like Petr Novak did for Sochi. For the women, great news is that Katerina Smutna has rejoined the Czech team from Austria, and with Novakova and Grohova and hopefully Vrabcova, assuming she starts skiing in time for Pyongchang, we could have four women. Ski Jumping (4-6) - Surely we will qualify 4 or 5 men, my guess is Koudelka, Hlava, Matura and young athletes like Vancura or Stursa. As for women possibly Blazkova has a chance, she is young, if she can improve into the top 30 in the world she could qualify. We used to have Dolezalova who was close to Sochi but it seems she's stopped racing for some reason. Nordic Combined (2-4) - Portyk and Dvorak for sure. Also potential for a team relay, young athletes Pazout and Danek look promising. Freestyle Skiing (1-4) - In moguls we have Honzig for the men's, though he isn't at WC level yet. Skicross hopefully Zemanova and Kucerova, maybe Kasparkova who won a bronze at the YOG, for the men possibly Jiri Cech but he's been out of the WC for awhile. Small chance in slopestyle men. Other disciplines practically no chance. Snowboarding (3-8) - In snowboardcross obviously Samkova and possibly another man and woman (Hopjakova, Kubicik). Slopestyle Pancochova for sure, possibly Vojackova or one of the men. Parallel slalom probably only Ledecka. Big air could also be Pancochova and we have a chance in the men's as well (Horak). Halfpipe I don't see happening unless, again, Pancochova. Biathlon (10) - Anything less than 10 is a catastrophe. I predict Slesingr, Moravec, Krcmar, Vaclavik, Soukup, Koukalova, Vitkova, Charvatova, Jislova, Puskarcikova. Skating Sports Speed Skating (2-4) - I guess the goal here is to qualify a team pursuit. Sablikova and Erbanova will qualify, and could be accompanied by Zdrahalova or Kerschbaummayrova. For men Durkiewicz has a very small chance. Short Track Speed Skating (0-2) - Novotna has said she wants to try for her 5th Olympics, and we also have a talented junior in Sejpalova who could make it. With men we don't have practically any chance. Figure Skating (4-6) - Brezina and Brezinova are practically certain unless something happens, I'm also counting on the junior world champions in the pair skate Duskova and Bidar. Also think we can qualify an ice dancing pair, either Mansour/Ceska or Sinicyn/Kuzmichova, so hoping for a spot in the team event? Sleigh Sports Luge (3-6) - Lukas and Antonin Broz will make it in the doubles. Kvicala/Kundera also have a chance. Hyman will probably make it in men's singles and Noskova in women's singles. Skeleton (0-1) - Very obscure sport in Czech Republic. We have one guy, Philip Moelter, who finished 29th at the last WCH, and he's still a junior, so he could improve and qualify. We have a woman on the European Cup circuit as well (Glaesser) but I don't think she really has a chance. Bobsleigh (4-6) - Fairly certain we can qualify a four-man, and hoping for a two-man as well. Quite a few athletes who could be in these teams. We don't have any females at the moment. Team Sports Curling (0-10) - Both men and women are eligible for the Olympic Qualifying Event but I think the women have a far greater chance, they made it to the WCH, whereas the men are stuck in Division B of Europe ever since Snitil retired. Anything could happen, though. Ice Hockey (25-50) - Men obviously already qualified. With the women, it really comes down to whether we can beat Switzerland. We have been improving quite a bit recently so I think we can do it, but it won't be easy. Would be amazing to finally see the women's team at the Olympics! Total Optimistic Prediction - (132) (which would be amazing, given for the first time we would have representation in all events) Total Pessimistic Prediction - (66) Total Realistic Prediction - (86)

What is Pavlina doing in Tjumen? It will get better, Slovakia, it will get better

Interesting story I missed there was another Serbian woman in IBU Cup last year in Martell- and in both of her races she shot 2 errors in the prone shoot and then was marked as DNF. Her name was Vahida Hozdic, relation to Edin, probably. And even more interesting she is currently 22 according to the datacenter, but was racing all the way back in 2009 in the IBU Cup, and then took a 5 year hiatus. Whoever knew.

Oh, okay. That's awesome! I have a few "favourites" this year in the IBU Cup- Greece (mostly Tsakiri), Britain, Latvian women, and Brazil of course. Also still hoping for a return of Greenland Haha

By the way, concerning the World Championships, thinking about Tsakiri here- an athlete needs to 'have' under 180 points to be eligible to start. Does that mean all the points from the races are added up and averaged out?

Yeah it's not this year. But they've added it starting 2019.

I wonder what they'd do for the World Championships. I would have one on the first day and one on the last day.

Hahaha would relays count for that?

I'll be rooting for you, even though we (Czechs) are probably going to crush you... But that's okay I mean when Kuzmina gets back I'm really banking on your women's relay. Maybe Totallympics should start an initiative when any Slovak athlete shoots a 0 they donate $10 to charity.

I certainly hope so! But the WC isn't looking too good for next year, unless she gets a wildcard, since Greece would have to beat one other nation in the Nations Cup, and IBU Cup doesn't count towards that. UNLESS she manages to put Greece as the best IBU Cup nation not counting the 25 top ranked in the nations cup, which is what Bosnia did last year and why Karisik has a consistent WC spot. So far she's managing to do that, but it was an unusual race. Still rooting on her though

I thought World Cup quotas were only given by Nation cup standing and subsequent wildcards?

Well if that's true Tsakiri's birthday is in March :/ So one month too young. Hopefully she can get a wildcard for the World Cup for next year, in this race she did outperform Hernandez, Szoecs and Karisik, all of whom do have WC spots. On an unfortunate note they've cancelled the relays and postponed the men's sprint to tomorrow. No word on the women's sprint yet.

Seriously? There's an age limit? Now THAT is a joke.

We'll probably see her at the WCH!

Hopefully the Czechs can continue their tradition of winning these things. Haha

Ah okay, cool. I'm not going to be able to 'watch' the women's one. Pretty interested in how it turns out though.

Wow, Tsakiri did have some good results. Imagine how good they could have been if her shooting had been on point :O She's definitely one to watch in the womens' race. Are you at the venue or just in contact?

Oh, no! Whyever? I hope it's not something along the lines of forgetting something basic, like last year and the relay reloading...

Actually? I'm quite surprised to be honest. But in a good way. Good to see the Greeks doing well. All three have gotten under 250, Kyriazis missed only 2x, Karamithas 3x. They did qualify two spots for the WCH by virtue of nations cup, interesting to see if two of them can get under 180. I'd say it's unlikely but possible, Angelis did it last year.

Wish her the best of luck. The conditions must have been harsh though. I wonder how much training they get and how much funding there is for the sport in Georgia?

Weee are nooottt worthyyy

Well then! Interesting! Good job! That means since the winning time is over 25 minutes, anyone who is less than say 6:40 behind (pretty much everyone) has qualified for the next trimester already.