NewUS Nationals: Classic Distance Results

January 5, 2025

The third of four days of racing at the 2025 US Cross-Country Ski Championships in Anchorage, Alaska took place on Sunday, with the focus of the day being a mass-start classic race. Senior skiers were subjected to a 20K course which largely led to close finishes across both the men's and women's competitions. Junior skiers on the other hand, had half that distance to handle. Andreas Kirkeng of Norway was once again the fastest of the senior men's field, winning out by just under 10 seconds over the top American and second place finisher, John Steel Hagenbuch, with Luke Jager finishing just behind him in third as the second fastest American. Finishing 5th, Will Koch completed the all-American podium, while Team Birkie's Christopher Kalev was the top Midwesterner in 12th. An even closer contest, the seniors women's race was decided by less than 3 seconds with Kendall Kramer crossing the line just ahead of Erica Laven of Sweden. A little over 30 seconds back from those two were Lauren Jortberg and Kate Oldham who, along with Kramer, made up the all-American podium. Narrowly missing the podium in a sprint finish with Jortberg and Oldham, Erin Bianco was the top Midwest woman in 5th, while Renae Anderson and Emma Albrecht also had strong showings in 7th and 14th respectively. Junior titles on the day went to Jack Leveque and Lena Ponduska. Another rest day will take place tomorrow before the final event of the 2025 US Cross-Country Ski Championships on Tuesday: freestyle sprints.

NewTour de Ski: Stage 7 Freestyle Distance; Diggins Finishes Third in Tour

January 5, 2025

Seven stages later the Tour de Ski drew to a close on Sunday with one final climb up Alpe Cermis in Val di Fiemme, Italy. Covering a total of 10K, the race only really got underway once athletes reached the bottom of the downhill area, but that did not make the competition a sprint by any means. By the time they reached the summit, most were out of breath and on the ground, but not Norway's Therese Johaug, the women's winner both on the day and in the overall standings. Her all out blitz to the summit would leave her teammate Astrid Oeyre Slind behind to fight for second, which she did successfully, securing second in the overall standings as well. The third and final spot on the stage podium went to Heidi Weng, completing a sweep by Norway. Norway did not sweep the overall standings however, with that last podium position going to Jessie Diggins who dug deep to fend off the rest of the competition, finishing 6th and earning herself a piece of hardware. Taking home the overall title of the men's field was another Norwegian, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, who was not the first to the top of the climb, but did enough to hold onto his lead. That honor of fastest man on the day went to Simen Hegstad Krueger who brought with him Mika Vermeulen of Austria and Friedrech Moch of Germany, rounding out the men's stage podium, with Vermeulen also being rewarded with a second place finish in the overall standings for his efforts. Just missing the stage podium in 4th, France's Hugo Laplas would instead make the men's overall podium, finishing third. Crossing the line in rapid succession, Zanden McMullen and Ben Ogden led the way for the US men in 19th and 20th respectively. Athletes now will have a chance to get some well earned R&R before gearing up for Period III of the World Cup which kicks off Jan 17th in France.

NewBattle Creek Fifty K Coverage

January 5, 2025

Nearly 90 skiers turned up Sunday morning to start in darkness and subzero temps, skiing 50K and accumulating 4000 ft of climbing, for the Battle Creek Fifty K race. Spencer Davis prevailed over the men's field in a surprisingly close finish as Isaac Wieber was just 59 seconds back with Ryan Rogers taking third. Callie Knapp was the women's champion, again in a tight contest with Kitty Earl-Tornianen only 59 seconds behind. Nicole Nueno took third. Results posted along with photos.

NewSeeley Hills Classic Expands, Adding Freestyle Races

January 5, 2025

With the cancellation of the Sisu Ski Fest, Seeley Hills Classic has expanded their offerings, adding high school and middle school classic races, plus a 20K freestyle race and shorter junior freestyles races on Sunday morning.

NewUS Nationals: Classic Sprints Results

January 4, 2025

Day 2 of the 2025 US Cross-Country Ski Championships afforded athletes an opportunity to flex their fast twitch muscles with classic sprints on the menu in Anchorage, Alaska. Erica Laven of Sweden was the top finisher of the senior women, winning the women's final by nearly 5 seconds over Mariel Merlii Pulles of Norway, with Samantha Smith finishing third as the top American and national champion. The Midwest's own Erin Bianco joined Smith on the all-American podium in second, finishing 5th in the final, while Nina Seeman stood a step down in third after finishing 6th. Again represented well in the women's field, the Midwest had an additional seven skiers who made the heats which included Emma Albrecht and Renae Anderson who both made the semifinals, finishing 8th and 11th respectively. The senior men's final was a much closer contest with Andreas Kirkeng of Norway just edging out Luke Jager for the win, although Jager would still earn the title of national champion as the top American. Finishing third was Michael Earnhart who was also the second American, and the third and final spot on the all-American podium went to Murphy Kimball who finished 5th. Kristoffer Alm Karsrud of Northern Michigan University led the way for the Midwest men in 10th. Both of the junior competitions came down to tight finishes, with Dane Karch and Neve Gerard ultimately emerging victorious in their respective men's and women's finals. Looking ahead to the third day of racing at the 2025 US Cross-Country Ski Championships, Sunday will feature a mass-start 20K classic race for the senior skiers, and half that distance for the juniors.

NewFirst Chance Results

January 4, 2025

Mora hosted the First Chance races on a brisk Saturday morning at the Vasaloppet Center, utilizing their snowmaking trails to provide a roughly 3K loop course. In the 10K race, Mitch Campbell won the sprint finish over Paul Olson with Louis Sirota in third. Lisa Garretson pulled ahead of her female competitors for the womens victory with Erica Kazin second and Emma Jamison third. Cece Jamison won the 5K race with Weston Pirki posting the top men's time. Full results linked in.

Tour de Ski: Stage 6 Skiathlon

January 4, 2025

As a grueling prelude to the final stage up the side of Alpe Cermis, Saturday held athlete's attention to a 10K classic, 10K freestyle skiathlon, the last opportunity to increase their standings before tomorrow's big climb. The men's race took place first and stayed competitive until the very end when, on the final uphill heading into the stadium in Val di Fiemme, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway rocketed to the front of the field and shattered the group. No one would catch him on his was to yet another World Cup victory, although Italy's Frederico Pellegrino and another Norwegian, Jan Thomas Jenssen, gave it the old college try, finishing second and third respectively. In the women's race Therese Johaug, also of Norway, decided to act earlier, putting the hammer down at the start of the final lap and leaving nothing to chance on her way to victory. Her win propelled to her to the top of the Tour de Ski standings, with Teresa Stadlober of Austria finishing second, and one of Johaug's direct competitors and teammates, Astrid Oeyre Slind, finishing third. Suffering from a bout of plantar fascitis, Jessie Diggins dug deep to deliver a 5th place finish and keep her hopes of a Tour de Ski podium alive, moving up to third in the overall standings. Equally impressive on the day was Julia Kern who put forth her best distance result to date, finishing 7th. Zanden McMullen led the US men in 17th. The Tour de Ski comes to its dramatic conclusion tomorrow with the climb up Alpe Cermis the final act of Period II of the World Cup.

Sisu Ski Fest Canceled Due to Low Snow

January 3, 2025

The Sisu Ski Fest in Ironwood, Michigan, has been canceled due to insufficient snowfall. The lack of snow makes it impossible to hold a safe race. Registered skiers can ski free at ABR on race day and pick up race packets. The Depot Dash for kids will still take place on Friday.

Tour de Ski: Stage 5 Classic Sprints

January 3, 2025

Much was still at stake on Friday as the Tour de Ski entered the final three stages of the competition in Val di Fiemme, Italy. Stage 5 was dedicated to classic sprints, and some crucial seconds were up for grabs in the pursuit of the overall men's and women's titles. When the dust had settled the women's title race had only grown closer, with the top 5 athletes in the overall standings all qualifying for the heats, but only one advanced to the final, Norway's Heidi Weng, where she secured an important third place finish. Winning that final was a defiant Nadine Faehndrich of Switzerland who took the lead early in the women's final and was rewarded for it, while Linn Svahn of Sweden slotted in behind her for her first podium of the season. As one of those top 5 athletes, Jessie Diggins' important 14th place finish led the way for the US women and kept her within striking distance of the title. With yet another sprint final victory, Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo widened the gap in the race for the men's title, largely leaving it a race for second. Second on the day in the men's sprint final went to Even Northug of Norway, while third went to Marcus Grate of Sweden, his first career podium. The US men's top finisher was Ben Ogden who finished 17th. Two stages remain in the Tour de Ski, with the first taking place tomorrow in the form of a 20K skiathlon.

US Nationals: Freestyle Distance Results

January 2, 2025

The new year presented new opportunities for national champions to be crowned as Thursday marked the start of the 2025 US Cross-Country Ski Championships. An individual-start freestyle event covering 10K on the trails at Kincaid Park opened the competition in Anchorage, Alaska, and John Steel Hagenbuch would be the first to take home a title, winning out by less than a second over Andreas Kirking of Norway in the men's race. Joining the pair on the overall podium was Walker Hall in third who was the second American, while Luke Jager rounded out the all-American podium in third as the fourth overall finisher. The women's race shook out much more decisively, with Kate Oldham taking home a title with over 10 seconds to spare. Kendall Kramer would join her on the overall podium as the second overall finisher and second American, while Erica Laven of Sweden also claimed a spot on the overall podium in third. Finishing 4th overall as the top Midwest athlete on the day, Luci Anderson would complete the all-American podium in third, topping off a host of impressive finishes by Midwest women which included Erin Bianco in 11th, Emma Albrecht in 14th, Margie Freed in 17th, and Michaela Keller-Miller in 19th. Reid Goble posted the fastest time of the Midwest men, finishing 9th overall. Of the juniors, Lucas Wilmont was the fastest man in 26th, while Samantha Smith was the fastest woman in 12th. After a day off tomorrow the competition continues on Saturday with classic sprints.

World Cup Racing: Tour de Ski Stages 5, 6, and 7 Schedule

January 1, 2025

The final three stages of the Tour de Ski are upon us with some of the most exciting races of the competition ahead. Shifting southeast just a few hours from the site of the first four stages, the final leg of the Tour will get started in Val di Fiemme, Italy on Friday with classic sprints. Qualifiers for those sprints will take place at 5:15 AM CST, while the sprint finals will take place a short while later at 7:45 AM CST. A 20K skiathlon is then the focus of Saturday where the men's field will be competing at 4:00 AM CST, and the women's field at 8:30 AM CST. Caping off the competition is the infamous climb up Alpe Cermis which will take place on Sunday as a mass-start 10K freestyle race and will see the men's field head up the hill first at 7:15 AM CST, followed shortly after by the women's field at 8:30 AM CST.

Hiihto Relays Coverage

January 1, 2025

Finn Sisu hosted the Hiihto Relays, a two person tag team event with racers each skiing a pair of 2.5K loops for a total of 10K, on the snowmaking loop at Battle Creek on Wednesday. On the men's side, the combo of Dave Joda and Jay Woodbeck edged out Mitch Campbell and Ryan Rogers for first place. Sisters Emma and Lillian had the best women's time. And the pairing of Alex and Julia Reich posted the fastest mixed time. Nearly 50 teams participated. Full results linked in, video recap posted.

Racing Outlook

January 1, 2025

Weekend races are still on; Mesabi East will revert to snowmaking course (two laps of 2.5K).

Tour de Ski: Stage 4 Classic Distance

January 1, 2025

World Cup racing in Toblach wrapped up on Wednesday with Stage 4 of the Tour de Ski, a 15K classic race in the pursuit format. Picking up where they left off the day before, Norway's Astrid Oeyre Slind and Harald Oestberg Amundsen were the first out, and also happened to be the first in, both picking up important victories that elevated the former to the top of the Tour standings, and the latter to a potential podium position in those same standings. Joining Slind on the day's pursuit podium was another Norwegian, Therese Johaug, and a Finn, Kerttu Niskanen, replicating the women's results from yesterday, while the men's results offered a little more variety with Edvin Anger of Sweden and Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway joining Oestberg on the men's podium. Of the US skiers, Jessie Diggins took back her title as the top North American finisher, crossing the line in 6th, while Gus Schumacher led the American men in 17th, a result equaled by Sophia Laukli on the women's side. After a travel day World Cup racing will pick up again on Friday in Val di Fiemme for the final three races of the Tour.

Tour de Ski: Stage 3 Freestyle Distance

December 31, 2024

The Tour de Ski marched on on Tuesday for the last World Cup race of 2024. An interval-start 20K freestyle race was the featured event for the third stage of the seven stage Tour, and it was Norway's day to shine as they claimed two of the three available podium positions in both the men's and women's competitions. For the second time this season Astrid Oeyre Slind stood atop the women's podium, narrowly knocking off her teammate Therese Johaug, while Finland's Kerttu Niskanen prevented a Norwegian sweep by finishing third. In the men's race Harald Oestberg Amundsen got his third win of the season, putting a 20+ second gap on the rest of the field which included his teammate, Simen Hegstad Krueger, who finished second, and Great Britain's Andrew Musgrave, who finished third. A slew of top-20 finishes were the highlight of the American athletes, with the like of Jessie Diggins, Ben Ogden, Sophia Laukli, and Julia Kern finishing 6th, 9th, 10th, and 13th respectively. Also worth noting was an impressive performance by Katherine Stewart-Jones of Canada who had the top North American result on the day, finishing just off the women's podium in 4th. The fourth and final event of the Tour in Toblach, a pursuit-style 15K classic race, will take place tomorrow.