Highlights
NewTeam Birkie at the World Championships
February 20, 2025The FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Trondheim, Norway, kicks off on next Wednesday, Feb 26th, and Team Birkie is well represented with five athletes officially been named to World Championship teams. Check out the schedule and support these skiers on their journey!
Plenty of Snow for the Great Bear Chase March 8th
February 18, 2025Organizers report plenty of snow and expect to run all their races: 20km and 50km skiathlons, and separate classic and freestyle races of 10km, 25km, and 50km, on March 8th. Registration is still open for some events.
US Ski Team: World Championships Team Announced
February 17, 2025With Period III of the World Cup circuit officially a wrap, the US Ski Team announced their lineup on Monday of who will be making the trip to Trondheim for the World Ski Championships in a week's time. Included on the roster were four Midwesterners to keep any eye out for when the kicks off next week: Jessie Diggins, Alayna Sonnesyn, Kevin Bolger, and Zak Ketterson.
World Cup Falun: Freestyle Distance; Diggins and Schumacher Share the Spotlight Again
February 16, 2025Just over a year after they shared the spotlight in Minneapolis, Jessie Diggins and Gus Schumacher made a triumphant return to the podium on Sunday going 1-2 in the day's mass-start 20K freestyle event. Skiing strategically, Schumacher kept it close in the men's race, sticking with the leaders throughout and making a move when it mattered to go neck and neck to the line with Norway's Paal Goldberg. Goldberg would ultimately edge him out, but Schumacher earned a historic second place finish for his efforts, a best ever result for the US men at that distance. Diggins also left it late in the women's race, but managed to create enough separation from the rest of the field heading into the homestretch that she could comfortably collapse after finishing first. The impressive showing by the US didn't end there though as Julia Kern crossed the line shortly afterwards, finishing a career-best 6th. Completing the podium in the women's race were Heidi Weng of Norway and Ebba Anderson of Sweden, while Harald Oestberg Amundsen claimed the final spot on the men's podium. A thrilling conclusion to Period III of the circuit, World Championships medals will be on the line when the World Cup next convenes less than two weeks out in Trondheim, Norway.
World Cup Falun: Classic Distance
February 15, 2025After Friday's sprints in Falun, Saturday saw athletes shift to distance racing with an interval-start 10K classic race. Fan favorite Ebba Anderson of Sweden was the fastest in the women's race, winning by a healthy margin over Norway's Heidi Weng, with Victoria Carl of Germany edging out the United States' top finisher, Jessie Diggins, for third. Iivo Niskanen of Finland also finished with time to spare, beating the best sprinter from yesterday, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway, as well as yesterday's second place finisher, Erik Valnes (also of Norway), who finished third. Returning to the circuit after some time at home, Gus Schumacher put in a solid shift to earn the top US men's result in 17th. There's more distance racing to come tomorrow with a mass-start 20K freestyle race closing out the competitions in Sweden.
Biathlon: Wright Claims Historic Silver at World Championships
February 15, 2025A huge day for the US Biathlon team, Campbell Wright skied to silver on Saturday at the IBU World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland after shooting a perfect 10 for 10 in the men's 10K sprint. His second place finish marked the first time the US men have ever taken home a World Championships medal in a sprint event, and the first individual World Championships medal for the US since Lowell Bailey won gold in 2017.
World Cup Falun: Classic Sprints
February 14, 2025After a two week break, World Cup racing resumed on Friday with the final competitions of Period III in Falun, Sweden. Heading into the World Ski Championships less than two weeks out, Friday featured the final sprints before the big event, classic sprints, and there was a sense that some athletes still had something to prove as the races got underway. Nowhere was this more apparent than with Linn Svahn of Sweden who breezed though her heats, easily winning the women's final and besting second place Nadine Faehndrich of Switzerland and third place Kristen Stavaas Skistad of Norway to the delight of the home crowd. Barely breaking a sweat as well was Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway who once again walked away with another win in the men's final, his 102nd individual victory. Finishing second and third to him were two of his teammates, Erik Valnes and Oskar Opstad Vike, with the latter picking up his first career podium. Just missing the cut for final, Jessie Diggins and Julia Kern topped the results for the US women with 7th and 8th place finishes, while Kevin Bolger led the US men with a 19th place finish. Classic racing continues into Saturday with an interval-start 10K competition for all athletes tomorrow.
World Cup Racing: Falun Schedule
February 12, 2025The final World Cup weekend of Period III is upon us with the circuit moving to Falun, Sweden in preparation for the World Ski Championships in neighboring Norway. FIS competitions in Falun will begin on Friday with classic sprints as athletes set out to qualify for the heats starting at 2:00 AM CST, and potentially participate in the elimination round starting at 4:30 AM CST. Saturday's ski races then include an interval-start 10K classic event which will feature the women's field racing first at 4:45 AM CST, and the men's field racing afterward at 6:45 AM CST. Finally, a mass-start 20K freestyle event on Sunday concludes the competitions in Falun with the men's field on course first at 4:00 AM CST, and women's field skiing subsequently at 7:00 AM CST.
Biathlon: World Championships Preview by US Biathlon
February 11, 2025It's that time of year—the 2025 IBU World Championships are here! The competition officially starts on Wednesday with a mixed team relay, but you can get ahead of the action by checking out US Biathlon's preview, linked in. And while you're watching, be sure to keep an eye out for Deedra Irwin, Margie Freed, Luci Anderson, Jake Brown, and Paul Schommer who will all be proudly representing the Midwest alongside the red, white, and blue.
Birkie Returns to Main Street Finish
February 10, 2025The American Birkebeiner is back with a downtown Hayward finish! Recent snow and thick lake ice allow the race to proceed on its traditional course, despite thin snow cover, especially in the final 10k. Organizers are working to improve conditions for the race, set to begin February 19th.
Vasaloppet USA Classic Results
February 9, 2025Vasaloppet USA went old school on Sunday with classic races on their snowmaking course in Mora. In the 45K classic marathon, Renae Anderson flipped the tables from Saturday, taking the womens victory in dominating fashion over Chelsey Youngberg. Elspeth Ronnander was third. Willson Moore also earned some retribution after finishing second on Saturday, taking the men's classic victory on Sunday over Brian Gregg, with David Joda third -- all three finishing within three seconds. Louis Sirota and Paige Larson collected the 21K victories.
Vasaloppet USA Freestyle Coverage
February 8, 2025Battling a winter storm that dropped more than 5 inches of fresh snow overnight, the Vasaloppet crew packed their 12K course just in time to provide a good deck for the freestyle races on Saturday. In the premiere four lap, 48K freestyle race, a pack of four eventually reduced to two composed of Willson Moore and Matt Liebsch. In the end, it was Matt Liebsch breaking away in the final kilometers to add another title to his deep collection at the Vasaloppet. Moore solo'ed in for second, followed later by Sam Holt. On the women's side, Chelsey Youngberg continued her strong season, taking the womens title with Renae Anderson second and Sarah Widder in third. Perennial favorite Nathan Porath added to his own set of 36K titles in pulling ahead of teammate Craig Cardinal in the final 500 meters, with Paavo Rova outsprinting the chase pack to take third. St. Olaf swept the women's 36K podium, as Amaeli Kam-Magruder and Lily Hubanks nearly tied for first, Lily Ward taking third. The 12K champions were James Schwinghamer and Maev Storbakken. Results linked in, big photosets from the 48K and 36K races are posted.
Minnesota Finlandia Cancelled
February 7, 2025Another victim to the poor snow winter, Bemidji's legendary Minnesota Finlandia has regretfully decided to cancel their races, scheduled for next Saturday, Feb 15th.
Biathlon: Roster Named for 2025 World Championships
February 5, 2025With the 2025 IBU World Championships on the horizon, the United States Biathlon Association announced on Saturday their roster of athletes to compete in the event which is taking place in Lenzerheide, Switzerland next week. The roster names a multitude of Midwest athletes including Deedra Irwin, Margie Freed, and Luci Anderson on the women's team, and Jake Brown and Paul Schommer on the men's team.
Biathlon: Schommer Skis to Sensational Third in Ridnaun
February 5, 2025Earning his first international podium since the 2019-2020 season, Paul Schommer of Appleton, WI shot a near-perfect nine for ten on Wednesday to finish third in the men's 10K sprint in Ridnaun, Italy. Finishing just five seconds back from the leader, the third place finish sets Schommer up well to compete in Friday's 12.5K pursuit race. After a long break from international competition, Schommer had just returned to the scene in January.
World Cup Cogne: Freestyle Distance; Diggins Dispels Doubts in Win
February 2, 2025Jessie Diggins dispelled any doubts about her fitness on Sunday, winning the interval-start 10K freestyle race in Conge, Italy by over 5 seconds and beating two of her primary competitors all season long, Astrid Oeyre Slind of Norway and Kerttu Niskanen of Finland. With her foot fitness in question for the past few weeks, Sunday's result helped to ease any concerns heading into the World Ski Championships at the end of the month. Her win was also appeared to lift up American athletes around her, with newcomers Kate Oldham and Kendall Kramer having standout results, finishing 16th and 18th respectively. Another podium sweep by Norway in the men's race meant the status quo remained unchanged from yesterday with Harald Oestberg Amundsen, Iver Tildheim Andersen, and Martin Loewstroem Nyenget going 1-2-3, but one welcome change was a return to top-10 by Gus Schumacher of the US men. One more race weekend remains before a break for the World Ski Championships, with Falun, Sweden setting the stage for the conclusion of Period III of the World Cup circuit.
City of Lakes Loppet Freestyle Coverage
February 2, 2025The second day of racing action for the City of Lakes Loppet featured freestyle races, using the snowmaking course at Theodore Wirth. In the men's marathon, the lead pack eventually broke down to a three way battle with yesterday's champ, Conor McGovern taking the sprint finish ahead of Henry Snider and Xavier Mansfield coming in third. On the women's side, Caitlin Gregg separated from Chelsey Youngberg early on and then held her off for the title, Youngberg second, and Gabrielle Vandendries taking third. The shorter Puoli race saw Andrew Wallin and Diane Hankee post the top times. Results linked in, plus photos and video recap from the marathon race posted.
World Cup Cogne: Classic Sprints
February 1, 2025The second day of sprinting in Cogne, Italy, Saturday brought a return to a focus on individual competitions with classic sprints following yesterday's team event. Looking to punch their ticket to the World Ski Championships there were plenty of new faces in attendance, but experience still won out on the day. In the women's final the Swedish veteran Maja Dahlqvist proved that point by racing tactically to taking home the top honors, while Switzerland's Nadine Faehndrich strategically stuck with her to take second. Earning her first individual World Cup podium after nearly 150 starts, Laura Gimmler of Germany gleefully rounded out the podium in third. Also a recognizable sprint veteran, Norway's Erik Valnes set himself up smartly to win the men's final, overcoming his own teammates Ansgar Evensen and Even Northug to stand atop the all-Norwegian podium. With a 9th place finish in the semifinals, JC Schoonmaker led efforts of the American men, while Jessie Diggins posted the best result by the US women with a 10th place finish after staying away from striding for much of the last month. Athlete's time in Cogne will come to a close on Sunday with one last event: an interval-start 10K freestyle race.
Wolf Tracks Rendezvous Results
February 1, 2025Minocqua Winter Park hosted their annual Wolf Tracks Rendezvous on Saturday, using a roughly 10K loop of their best conditions. Andrew Nadler claimed victory in the men’s 31.5K skate race followed closely by Danny Sonnentag and Zeke Fashingbauer. On the women’s side, Gwen Reese led the field, with Stephanie Gurgel and Laura Anderson rounding out the top three. Jeremy Todd and Olympia Todd finished 1-2 in the 20K skate. In the classic races, 31.5K champions were Murray Dunsirn and Delaney FitzPatrick; 20K titles to Aaron Jacobson and Alina Jesien. Full results linked in.
Mt. Ashwabay Summit Results
February 1, 2025Louis Sirota won the men’s 30K classic at the 2025 Mt. Ashwabay Summit Ski Race in 1:30:03, narrowly edging out Mitchell Campbell and Josh Albrecht. Julia Lavanger took the women’s title in 1:54:14, with Katrin O'Grady and Annie Bunio Thompson in second and third. Mark Parman and Kathryn Pintar posted the top 15K classic times. Nick Ross secured victory in the men's 30K skate with a time of 1:15:11, followed by Mark Lalonde and Shane Steele. In the women's category, Hanna Torvi finished first in 1:29:15, with Mary Beth Tuttle and Carolyn Warren completing the podium. Dennis Kotcon and Joan Rundman were the top 15K skaters. Full results linked in.
City of Lakes Loppet Classic Coverage
February 1, 2025The City of Lakes Loppet Festival opened on Saturday with classic races on the snowmaking course at Theodore Wirth. Canadian Conor McGovern took a narrow victory in the men's marathon beating Xavier Mansfield by two seconds with David Joda finishing third. In the women's race, Chelsey Youngberg took first place, with Helen Townley and Vivian Johnson rounding out the podium. Puoli champions were Anatoly Rosenflanz and Grace Wermerskirchen. Full results linked in, photos by Shannon Brault posted.
World Cup Cogne: Team Sprints
January 31, 2025Another weekend of World Cup races kicked off on Friday with the second team sprint event of the season, and the first in the classic technique. Cogne, Italy was the host for the occasion, and in true sprint fashion both the men's and women's final came down to close finishes. Winning the women's final by the largest margin across both competitions was the Finland I team which crossed the line nearly a second in front of a four-way fight for second. The shakeout of that second place group would see Sweden I secure second, with Germany I taking third. In the men's final a free-for-all finish would see Norway I win out over France I by less than a half second, while Sweden I claimed the final spot on the podium in third. Another tough relay day for Americans, the top men's team finished 10th, while the top women's team finished 14th. Returning to an individual focus, more classic sprints are on the menu for tomorrow.
World Cup Racing: Cogne Schedule
January 29, 2025Less than a month out from the World Ski Championships the competition looms large, but luckily there are still two more weekends of World Cup racing for athletes to prepare for the big occasion. The first is this weekend in Cogne, Italy, which gets underway on Friday with a round of team sprints. Taking place in the classic technique, those sprints are slated for 4:20 AM CST and 6:20 AM CST for the qualifiers and finals respectively. The following day, Saturday, will see athletes compete in more classic sprints, this time individually, with that event similarly taking place at 3:30 AM CST and 6:00 AM CST for the qualifiers and finals. Wrapping it all up on Sunday, athletes will continue to compete individually for an interval-start 10K freestyle race which will have the men's field racing first at 3:00 AM CST, and likewise for the women's field a few hours later at 6:00 AM CST.
World Cup Engadin: Freestyle Distance
January 26, 2025After a sudden snowfall that left organizers scrambling to set the course, this weekend's World Cup action in Engadin, Switzerland drew to a close on Sunday with a mass-start 20K freestyle event. It was apparent early on in the men's race that Norway had adapted to the course conditions the best with nearly all of their athletes in contention as the field strung out, and it became increasingly clear that the nation would sweep the podium before the finish line was even in sight. Asserting himself over the rest of his countrymen, Johannes would take the victory, while Iver Tildheim Andersen finished second, with Didrik Toenseth third. Likewise, the women's race saw Astrid Oeyre Slind, also of Norway, get off to an early lead that would only ever really be contested by her teammate, Nora Sanness, but in the end Slind would not be denied her fourth World Cup win. A sprint finish from four would decide third with Jonna Sundling of Sweden taking the last spot on the podium, while Jessie Diggins would finish just a few seconds back in that group for 5th, the top result by an American. Zak Ketterson claimed the top finish by an American man in 30th. Another weekend in the books, the circuit heads south to Italy for the final races in Europe before heading back to Scandinavia with the World Ski Championships looming on the horizon.
Founders Classic Results
January 25, 2025The Mora Ski Club put on their annual Founders Classic races Saturday at the Vasaloppet Nordic Center. Three distance races were on the line: 24K titles went to Zach Nelson (photo finish ahead of Brock Lundberg) and Elspeth Ronnander, 12K to Bennett Lundberg and Kate Foley, 6K to Torsten Stenberg and Audrey Urbanowicz.
World Cup Engadin: Freestyle Sprints
January 25, 2025Freestyle sprints were the focus for World Cup athletes on Saturday as they attempted to advanced to the heats and beyond on a winding, lakeside course. The US team had a noticably better day in Engadin as eight made the cut from the qualifiers, including Jessie Diggins who lead that group with another sprint final appearance. Unfortunately, the race would get away from her early after a fall and a broken pole took her out of contention, but she would still earn a 6th place finish for her efforts. Winning that final was Sweden's Jonna Sundling who celebrated a hard fought victory over her rival, Kristen Stavaas Skistad of Norway, while Sundling's teammate Maja Dahlqvist held off an impressive Sonjaa Schmidt of Canada for third. To no one's surprise the men's final was won by the one and only Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway who has yet to lose a sprint this season. Sweden's Edvin Anger joined him on the podium in second, while France's Lucas Chanavat would be promoted to third after Italy's Frederico Pellegrino was relegated to last for obstruction. Making it as far as the semifinals, Ben Ogden led the US men in 12th, while Julia Kern also matched that result in the women's semifinals. A mass-start 20K freestyle race awaits all athletes tomorrow as the final featured event in Switzerland.
World Cup Engadin: Mixed Team Relay
January 24, 2025An opportunity for athletes to come together as a team, Friday was reserved for a mixed relay as the weekend's races in Engadin, Switzerland got underway. From the start there was separation as the field became stretched, and by the second lap the lead pack was just two, a team from Sweden and a team from Finland. The third lap saw that number reduced to one as the team from Sweden went it alone, ultimately remaining uncontested for the remainder of the race. Second was a different story however as the competition heated up in the closing K, and when the dust had settled it was a team from a Norway and a team from Switzerland who had made the cut for the final two podium positions. A disappointing day for the US squad, a 14th place finish and a 16th place finish by the two fielded teams meant the best North American results on the day went to our neighbors to the north who's first team finished just outside the top-5 in 6th. World Cup competitions continue tomorrow with freestyle sprints in Engadin.
World Cup Racing: Engadin Schedule
January 23, 2025With the Swiss Alps as a backdrop, the World Cup relocates to Engadin this weekend for three days of racing in Switzerland. The action commences on Friday with the first relay of the season, a 4x5K mixed technique event that will have teams alternating tags between men and women with the start slated for 9:00 AM CST. It's on to freestyle sprints the following day with the qualifiers for that event taking place at 3:45 AM CST, and the finals scheduled for a few hours later at 6:15 AM CST. Sunday brings the competitions to a close with another mass-start 20K race as the final weekend event, this time in the freestyle technique with the men's field going first at 5:30 AM CST, and the women's field following suit at 8:00 AM CST.
World Cup Les Rousses: Classic Distance
January 19, 2025A mass-start 20K classic event wrapped up World Cup racing in Les Rousses on Sunday with athletes competing on a challenging, climbing-centric course. It was ladies first for the day, and from the start Sweden's Frida Karlsson was eager to lead the charge as she set the pace and strung out the field. Her efforts would net her nearly a minute and a half lead by the time she crossed the line, with her teammate Ebba Anderson the next skier in in second, and a content Teresa Stadlober of Austria finishing just behind her in third. Similar tactics were at play in the men's event, but a later push led to a closer finish with the race being decided in a three-way sprint between William Poromaa of Sweden, Iivo Niskanen of Finland, and Simen Hegstad Krueger of Norway. They would finish in that order, with Poromaa collecting his first career World Cup victory. Top finishes for American athletes came from Ben Ogden in 12th, and Sophia Laukli in 16th. Hopping the border, next weekend's races will take place a few hours to the east in Engadin, Switzerland.
Lapham Loppet Results
January 18, 2025Danny Sonnentag of Cambridge, WI captured the overall men's freestyle title at the 2025 Lapham Loppet Saturday morning with a time of 26:03, followed closely by Conner Nilsen just one second behind, while Madison's Alice House claimed the women's freestyle crown in 30:53. Gus Roche from Peak Nordic secured the men's classic division victory at the 10.5K event. The race drew 130 registrants with 108 finishers across multiple age groups and disciplines to Lapham Peak.
She de Ski Results
January 18, 2025Over 200 women competed Saturday morning in the She de Ski races on the snowmaking trails at the Birkie Trailhead in Cable. Margie Nelson captured the women's 20K classic title while Chelsey Youngberg won the 30K freestyle.
World Cup Les Rousses: Classic Sprints
January 18, 2025After the fast conditions yesterday in Les Rousses, France, World Cup athletes were geared up for another round of rapid racing with classic sprints on deck for Saturday. In the women's competition it was a star-studded show with almost all of the favorites making the final, but chief among them was Sweden's Jonna Sundling and Norway's Kristine Stavaas Skistad who's rivalry had them neck and neck to the finish. Ultimately it was Skistad who would be victorious on the day, with a surprise surge from another Swede, Maja Dahlqvist, relegating Sundling to third. The men's final finished in a similar style, albiet with less history and the nations reversed as Edvin Anger of Sweden took home his first World Cup victory over two Norwegians, Ansgar Evensen and Erik Valnes. A slight deviation from the norm, the standout for the States was on the men's team with JC Schoonmaker also making the men's final where he finished 5th, while Ben Ogden just missed the cut, finishing 9th. Rosie Brennan led the women's team with a 26th place finish. Sunday wraps up racing in Les Rousses with a mass-start 20K classic race as the final event.
World Cup Les Rousses: Freestyle Distance; Diggins and Ogden Go 1-3
January 17, 2025Period III of the World Cup circuit got under way in Les Rousses on Friday, but desipte the weekend's competitions taking place in France, it was a day to celebrate for Les Red, White, et Blues. Taking part in an interval-start 10K freestyle event, Jessie Diggins showed her mettle, fighting through foot pain to take the win over some of the season's strongest so far: Astrid Oeyre Slind of Norway and Victoria Carl of Germany. She would credit her performance to the impressive Ben Ogden on the men's team, who just a few hours earlier put in an incredible solo effort to secure a third place finish in the men's race, his second World Cup podium and first ever in a distance event. His finish would put him under 10 seconds back from the men's race winner, Iver Tildheim Andersen of Norway, and less than 5 seconds out from second, Paal Goldberg, also of Norway. American fans had at least one more name to celebrate on the day however, Sophia Laukli, who also bounced back from injury to an 8th place finish. Looking to tomorrow, classic sprints will be the subject for Saturday.
Noquemanon Ski Marathon Cancelled Due to Low Snow
January 16, 2025The 2025 Noquemanon Ski Marathon in Marquette, Michigan has been cancelled due to insufficient snow and poor trail conditions. Organizers cited safety concerns for the 800 registered racers. The race plans to defer registrations to 2026. Skiers are encouraged to still visit the area and explore other trails like Big Bay, Saux Head, and Valley Spur.
World Cup Racing: Les Rousses Schedule
January 14, 2025World Cup racing returns this weekend for Period III of the circuit, a prologue for World Championships which are just over a month out. A trip to Les Rousses, France will start off the cycle with competitions getting underway on Friday. First up is an interval-start 10K freestyle race which will be taking place at 6:30 AM CST for the men, and 8:45 AM CST for the women. Then classic sprints take center stage on Saturday, with qualifiers taking place at 5:15 AM CST, and the knockout rounds happening afterward at 7:45 AM CST. Finally, the weekend's activities come to a close on Sunday with a mass-start 20K classic race for both the women's and men's fields which will start at 4:20 AM CST and 8:45 AM CST respectively. In addition to Jessie Diggins and Alayna Sonnesyn who were present for Period II, the Tour de Ski, and will be returning for Period III, Midwest supporters should be on the lookout for Luci Anderson, Emma Albrecht, Erin Bianco, and Zak Ketterson who may all be making appearances in the coming weeks.
Low-pet Law-pet Challenge Coverage
January 12, 2025A couple of inches of fresh snow overnight slowed the conditions just a little for the Low-pet Law-pet Challenge (aka Pre-Loppet) race on the snowmaking trails at Theodore Wirth Sunday morning. The men's 10K raced featured a fairly large pack before juniors Eli Andre, Dylan Little and Daniel Gladkov pulled ahead with Andre taking the photo finish over Little. The women's 10K race was a close battle for the two St. Olaf stars, Liesl Cope-Schaeffer and Lily Ward, vs. Laura Cattaneo, Cattaneo making her move in the final kilometer to take the victory, Cope-Schaeffer second, and Ward third. The 5K race was largely a junior race with Peter Schulz and Louisa Lindfors posting the top times. In the 15K fat bike race, Sean Cooley and Laura Bednarski were champions. Results linked in, photos from the 10K and 15K events posted.
Seeley Hills Classic Freestyle Results
January 12, 2025For the first time in race history, the Seeley Hills Classic offered a freestyle race Sunday. And like Saturday, it was a family affair as Marit Ross-Sonnesyn and Nick Ross took the women's and men's titles out of a field of just over 150 skiers. Sarah Widder and Maggie Bowman rounded out the women's podium, with Sam Holt and Anders Sonnesyn second and third for the men. Results linked in.
Seeley Hills Classic Coverage
January 11, 2025Day one of the Seeley Hills races, held at the Birkie trailhead this year, as skiers pounded out laps on the 5K snowmaking loop for 20K and 35K classic races. The premiere 35K race came down to a three way sprint for the podium positions with Brian Gregg besting Dave Joda and Matt Liebsch for the victory by just two seconds. Caitlin Gregg completed the family sweep in taking the women's title ahead of Chelsey Youngberg and Vivian Johnson. Champions of the 20K race were Drew Huotari and Charlotte Brown. Sunday will feature first time freestyle races for Seeley Hills. Results linked in along with photos from Jackie Schneider.
Tour de Ski: Stage 7 Freestyle Distance; Diggins Finishes Third in Tour
January 5, 2025Seven 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.
Battle Creek Fifty K Coverage
January 5, 2025Nearly 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.
Seeley Hills Classic Expands, Adding Freestyle Races
January 5, 2025With 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.
First Chance Results
January 4, 2025Mora 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, 2025As 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.
Tour de Ski: Stage 5 Classic Sprints
January 3, 2025Much 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.
Sisu Ski Fest Canceled Due to Low Snow
January 3, 2025The 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.
World Cup Racing: Tour de Ski Stages 5, 6, and 7 Schedule
January 1, 2025The 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.
Tour de Ski: Stage 4 Classic Distance
January 1, 2025World 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.
Hiihto Relays Coverage
January 1, 2025Finn 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.
Tour de Ski: Stage 3 Freestyle Distance
December 31, 2024The 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.
World Cup Racing: Tour de Ski Stages 3 and 4 Schedule
December 29, 2024After an exciting two days in Toblach the Tour de Ski continues on Tuesday with another two days of racing at the same venue in Italy. First up is an interval-start 20k race in the freestyle technique where the men's field is slated to go first at 4:30 AM CST, with the women's field following suit at 7:45 AM CST. Then it's on to a pursuit-style 15K classic race the following day where athletes will be taking to the course in the same order: with the men's field racing at 3:30 AM CST, and the women's field racing at 5:30 AM CST.
Tour de Ski: Stage 2 Classic Distance; Diggins Does it Again
December 29, 2024Over her decade long career of racing on the World Cup circuit Jessie Diggins has won freestyle sprints and distance races, but never a classic race. That all changed on Sunday when she crossed the line ahead of some of the best athletes in the world, winning a race she doubted she would ever win. On the way to her 26th World Cup victory she beat the likes of Kerttu Niskanen of Finland, who finished second and who's last name is synonymous with classic skiing, and Astrid Oeyre Slind of Norway, who had already had three podium finishes this season and picked up a fourth today. Diggins led a strong group of American athletes, with the likes of Gus Schumacher, Rosie Brennan, and Zanden McMullen all also finishing within the top-20 in 7th, 14th and 17th respectively. While Schumacher ended the day in 7th, he finished well within striking distance of the men's podium as the race came down to a mass-finish. Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo made no contest of that finish, crossing the line in first, and was followed by two more of his teammates, Erik Valnes and Haavard Moseby. Athletes will now get a one day reprieve from the racing action before the Tour de Ski resumes on Tuesday. (Photo: Leann Bentley)
Great Bear Chase Offers Improved Junior Bear Chase Experience
December 28, 2024Junior skiers and their families will find improvements to this year's event: The Junior race has been moved to Saturday afternoon and fees are waived (via anonymous donor). Price hiking coming Jan 1st, so register for events before 2024 ends.
Tour de Ski: Stage 1 Freestyle Sprints; Diggins off to a Winning Start
December 28, 2024Stage one of the Tour de Ski saw the US Team get off to a spectacular start on Saturday with a total of eight athletes making the heats in the freestyle sprints. That group included the defending champion from last season's Tour de Ski, Jessie Diggins, who put her best foot forward by winning the women's sprint final in dramatic fashion over Jasmi Joensuu of Finland and Nadine Faehndrich of Switzerland. On the men's side another American made the final, Ben Ogden, but his attempt at a second career podium was cut short by a broken pole. Starting the Tour after a two year hiatus, Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo made the men's final a race for second yet again, cooly winning out over Lucas Chanavat of France and Janik Riebli of Switzerland. For the US squad, additional notables included Julia Kern and Gus Schumacher who both made it as far as the semifinals, and Alayna Sonnesyn who reached a new career high, finishing 19th on the day. Tomorrow athletes will be switching gears and techniques as they tackle a mass-start 15K classic race.
World Cup Racing: Tour de Ski Stages 1 and 2 Schedule
December 25, 2024This weekend the World Cup circuit starts back up again for the annual Tour de Ski. Spanning seven stages and all of Period II, this year's Tour is entirely in Italy and will take place in Toblach for four stages, and Val di Fiemme for three. The first two stages are Saturday and Sunday, with freestyle sprints on the former and a mass-start 15K classic event on the latter. Qualifiers for the sprints will begin at 5:00 AM CST on Saturday, followed by the finals at 7:30 AM CST. Sunday's classic race is slated for a 5:30 AM CST start with the women's field out first, followed by the men's field at 7:45 AM CST. Due to its grueling nature, a smaller crowd will be competing at the Tour de Ski which will include Midwest representatives Jessie Diggins and Alayna Sonnesyn.
Winter Warm-up Results
December 21, 2024Crisp temperatures did little to slow down a very competitive field for the Winter Warm-up Saturday morning at Elm Creek. In the 10K race, Cooper Camp dethroned Matt Liebsch in a sprint finish with Jose Miguel Fresco Hanlon in third. Morgan Richter topped the women's field with Ingrid Thyr second and Ella Niznik third. The 5K champions were Matthew Jenneke and Grete Engels. Full results posted.
World Cup Davos: Classic Distance
December 15, 2024Sunday's interval-start 20K classic race was the final competition in Davos, Switzerland, and the final event of Period I of the World Cup circuit. While there were some absences from the lineup with a few athletes breaking early to prepare for the Tour de Ski, most of the big names were still there, including Therese Johaug of Norway who was a favorite to win the women's race. That honor would go to her teammate however, Astrid Oeyre Slind, who picked up her first World Cup victory at the age of 36, while Johaug would get bumped to third by Finland's classic superstar, Kerttu Niskanen. Equaling his sisters efforts, Finland's other classic superstar, Iivo Niskanen, would finish second in the men's race behind an impressive performance by Martin Loewstroem Nyenget of Norway, and ahead of an inspiring third place finish by France's Hugo Lapalus, his first 'real' World Cup podium. Results from the American crowd was mixed on the day, with Jessie Diggins and Rosie Brennan posting the highest finishes of the women's team in 7th and 8th, while Gus Schumacher led the men's team in 21st. A well deserved rest awaits athletes now, with Period II of the World Cup, the Tour de Ski, starting up a few days before year's end on Dec 28th.
World Cup Davos: Freestyle Sprints
December 14, 2024For the second night in a row freestyle sprints were the main event in Davos for their World Cup weekend. Saturday's result were markedly better for US athletes with eight making the elimination round, and half of that group making it to the semifinals or further. That group included Jessie Diggins and Ben Ogden, who both fought hard to advance to the finals but met tough opposition there, each finishing 6th. One other notable standout of that group was Alayna Sonnesyn who reached a new career high on the World Cup circuit, finishing 22nd. Winning the respective men's and women's finals were the standouts from yesterday's races, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway and Jonna Sundling of Sweden, who both crossed the line unchallenged. Joining either on the podium were France's Lucas Chanavat and Norway's Erik Valnes in the men's race, and two Norwegians, Mathilde Myhrvold and Julie Myhre, in the women's race. Tomorrow will feature an interval-start 20K classic race for the final day of World Cup racing in Switzerland.
World Cup Davos: Team Sprints
December 13, 2024A rarity on the World Cup circuit, athletes got to try their hand at sprinting as a team for the opening night of races in Davos, Switzerland. Of the four teams fielded, three made the cut for Team USA, but success was hard to come by in a fairly competitive field. The best results from the group were a pair of 7th place finishes by the men's and women's teams, with a second men's team finishing immediately behind the first in 8th. Favorites by far, Norway and Sweden claimed victory in the men's and women's races respectively, bolstered by a pair of sprinters that have been on a hot streak: Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo and Jonna Sundling. Filling out the rest of either podium was an elated Swiss team and a team from Sweden on the men's side, and a Norwegian team and another excited team from Switzerland on the women's side. Athletes will now do it all again tomorrow with another round of sprinting on the books, this time competing individually.
World Cup Racing: Davos Schedule
December 11, 2024Another World Cup weekend is upon us with athletes migrating south to Switzerland for three days of racing in Davos. Switching things up a bit, the opening event on Friday will be a team sprint in the freestyle technique which will take place at 11:00 AM CST. The sprinting action then continues into Saturday with a round of individual freestyle sprints where the qualifiers will take place at 7:45 AM CST, and the heats at 10:15 AM CST. To close it all out, an interval-start 20K classic race will take place on Sunday, with the men's field going first at 4:30 AM CST, followed by the women's field at 7:00 AM CST.
World Cup Lillehammer: Skiathlon; Diggins Takes Third
December 8, 2024World Cup racing in Lillehammer, Norway came to a close on Sunday with the first skiathlon of the season. Historically a strong event for Jessie Diggins, Sunday's 20K race was no different as she skied smart to finish third just behind a defiant Heidi Weng of Norway. Well out in front in the women's competition however was another Norwegian, Therese Johaug, who erased any doubts about her post-retirement fitness with a statement win. The men's competition was a much tighter affair with the race coming down to the wire in a three-way sprint between three Norwegians: Harald Oestberg Amundsen, Jan Thomas Jenssen, and Martin Loewstroem Nyenget. They would finish in that order, but not without an American hot on their heels, Gus Schumacher, who had a strong showing with a 5th place finish. Across the board the US team had markedly improved results on Sunday, with Sophia Laukli and Julia Kern also finding success with 11th and 20th place finishes respectively. It's on to Davos, Switzerland now for the third and final weekend of Period I of the World Cup, with the action getting underway on Friday with a team sprint event.
World Cup Lillehammer: Freestyle Sprints
December 7, 2024Saturday was for freestyle sprints which marked the second day of World Cup competitions in Lillehammer, Norway. Compared to last Saturday it was a more productive outing for the US team with five making the heats, including the top men's qualifier, Ben Ogden. The team's success would be limited however, as Jessie Diggins was the only athlete to advance, making it as far as the semifinals where she finished 8th. In the women's final it was a race for second as Sweden's Jonna Sundling skied away with the win, leaving her teammate Johanna Hagstroem to duke it out against Norway's Julie Myhre, with the pair finishing in that order. The men's final was no different as Norway's finest, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, left the rest of the field in his dust, so it was up to his teammate Even Northug and Italy's Federico Pellegrino to fight over the remaining two spots on the podium, finishing second and third respectively. Turning their attention to Sunday, athletes will be facing a 20K skiathlon event for the final day of racing in Lillehammer.
Skadi's Chase Coverage
December 7, 2024Great conditions - weather and snow - for the Skadi's Chase races at Elm Creek on Saturday morning, part of the Minnesota Nordic Opener. Matt Liebsch secured yet another title, pulling ahead of Sam Holt in the final stretch with David Joda rounding out the podium for the men. In the women's race, Gabby Vandendries took the victory over Cheresa Bouley with Nicole Eliasson in third. IN the 4K high school races, St. Paul Central's Elsa Lindfors and MPA's Eddie Snider topped the big fields. Results linked in, plus photosets from both races posted.
Biathlon: Campbell Wright Scores 4th Place in Kontiolahti
December 6, 2024US Biathlon team member and New Zealand native Campbell Wright finished fourth in the men's 10km sprint in Kontiolahti, Finland, on Friday, his best World Cup result to date. Wright shot a perfect 10/10 and finished just seconds off the podium.
World Cup Lillehammer: Freestyle Distance
December 6, 2024The second World Cup weekend of the 2024-2025 season kicked off on Friday in the same way last weekend's competitions did: with a 10k interval-start race, this time in the freestyle technique. Taking place in Lillehammer, Norway, home field advantage was in full effect as the home team swept both the men's and women's podiums, with the most notable finish of the group going to Therese Johaug who picked up her first victory on the circuit since two years prior at the same venue. To either side of her on the women's podium where her teammates, Heidi Weng in second, and Astrid Oeyre Slind in third, while the men's podium, from the top down, was made up of Martin Loewstroem Nyenget, Simen Hegstad Krueger, and Haralad Oestberg Amundsen. After some sensational skiing last Sunday, the American results were more subdued, with Jessie Diggins leading the way for the team in 5th, while Sophia Laukli also posted a strong result in 15th. Tomorrow is a new day with new possibilities however as athletes will shift gears and warm up their fast twitch muscles for a round of freestyle sprints.
World Cup Racing: Lillehammer Schedule
December 3, 2024After a thrilling opening weekend the World Cup circuit moves on to Lillehammer, Norway for the second stop of the season. The competition kicks off on Friday with an interval-start 10K freestyle race for all athletes where the men's field will be heading out first at 3:30 AM CST, followed by the women's field at 5:45 AM CST. Then freestyle sprints are on deck for Saturday, with a qualification round taking place at 2:00 AM CST, and the ensuing heats taking place at 4:30 AM CST. Finally, a 20K skiathlon will close out the weekend on Sunday, with the men's field again getting to go first at 3:00 AM CST, and the women's field getting their turn afterwards at 5:15 AM CST.
World Cup Ruka: Freestyle Distance; Diggins Does it Again
December 1, 2024Sunday was a big day for American athletes as four would finish within the top-10 in the day's 20K mass-start freestyle event in Ruka. Leading the group was Jessie Diggins who was a testament to "if there's a will there's a way," battling back to not only reel in a pair of Norwegian skiers that broke away late, but also pass them in the final few hundred meters for a fiery finish that earned her her first win of the season. She did so by out sprinting Jonna Sundling of Sweden, who had been hot on her heels for much of the race but had to settle for second, while Heidi Weng proved to be a better sprinter than her teammate Therese Johaug, finishing third. Not much further back was Sophia Laukli who finished an impressive 10th. Also impressive was the pair of Zanden McMullen and Gus Schumacher of the US men who finished 7th and 8th respectively, a career high for McMullen. There was a lot of red finishing in front of the two however, with five Norwegians in the top-6 which included the podium of Harald Oestberg Amundsen, Jan Thomas Jenssen, and Martin Loewstroem Nyenget. Next up: athletes will be making their way to the other side of Scandinavia for three days of racing in Lillehammer, Norway, starting with a 10K interval-start freestyle race on Friday.
World Cup Ruka: Classic Sprints
November 30, 2024Classic sprints were the main event for the second day of World Cup racing in Ruka, a day that was filled with highs and lows. For the US team, it was a challenging day, with only two athletes qualifying for the heats, Jessie Diggins and Rosie Brennan, who both struggled to advance out of their quarterfinals. The heats were also rife with crashes, knocking out a few of the favorites, but also leaving opportunities for a few of the up-and-comers. That group included Sweden's Johanna Hagstroem, who got her first victory in the women's final, and the runner-up, Norway's Julie Myhre, who got her first podium. Joining the pair on the podium was Maja Dahlqvist, also of Sweden. The men's sprint final had a different narative, with Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo maintaining his sprint status quo with yet another win, with his teammate Erik Valnes at his side in second. To the delight of the home crowd, Lauri Vuorinen rounded out the men's podium in third. The opening weekend of World Cup racing will conclude tomorrow with a 20K mass-start freestyle for all athletes.
World Cup Ruka: Classic Distance
November 29, 2024An exciting new World Cup season got underway on Friday at the Ruka ski resort in Finland, this time breaking the decades long norm with a 10K interval start classic race. Norwegian dominance was felt across the board as the nation secured four podium positions between the men's and women's races, but the top finish in both competitions went to a Finn and a Swede respectively—the hometown hero Iivo Niskanen, and Frida Karlsson. Therese Johaug, the returning retiree, and Astrid Oeyre Slind rounded out the women's podium in second and third, and Harald Oestberg Amundsen and Martin Loewstroem Nyenget did likewise for the men's podium. Like no time had passed at all, Jessie Diggins and Rosie Brennan led the way for the US team, both securing top-10 finishes in 7th and 9th respectively, while Gus Schumacher was the highlight of the men's squad, finishing just inside the top-20 in 18th. The second of three days of racing will bring a bout of sprinting action tomorrow, again in the classic technique.
Biathlon: Midwest Athletes Get Internationals Starts
November 25, 2024U.S. Biathlon announced the 16 athletes who will represent the United States on the World Cup and IBU Cup circuits for trimester one. Several Upper Midwest athletes will compete in the Biathlon World Cup and IBU Cup events including Deedra Irwin, Margie Freed, Jake Brown, Lucinda Anderson, Michaela Keller-Miller, and Luke Brown.
World Cup Racing: Season Preview
November 22, 2024With less than a week to go until the start of a new World Cup campaign we've put together everything you need to know to follow the action all winter long. It's going to be a high stakes season with the World Championships taking place in February, but there's plenty of reason to be exited for a US squad that's been firing on all cylinders the past few years. Dive into the coverage to find out where the team will be headed and who they'll be competing against when the season kicks off next Friday.
Tour de Finn: 2024-2025 Updates
November 12, 2024The Tour de Finn is gearing up for its second season and has announced its lineup for the 2024-2025 season. Building off of last season, they're implementing a selection of rule changes to make their schedule more accommodating and to better account for race cancelations (which we saw plenty of this past winter), plus they've added two more offerings: the Dirtbag Series, and the Skiwerx Series.
Team Birkie Launches Sponsorship Initiative
November 12, 2024Team Birkie, with five Olympians and multiple Birkie victories, showcases the region's commitment to an active, outdoor lifestyle. Businesses can now partner with Team Birkie to connect with a health-conscious, upwardly-mobile population and support athletes inspiring the next generation in the upper Midwest.
Birkie: Inaugural Shred de She Fat Bike Event Announced
November 11, 2024The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation is hosting Shred de She, a new women's fat biking event Jan 3-5th in Cable. Modeled after the successful Ski de She series, the event aims to encourage female riders of all levels to explore winter fat biking, develop skills, and connect with a community of enthusiasts. The event will feature skill-building clinics, guided trail rides, and wellness workshops.
Loppet Foundation Welcomes New Executive Director Meghan Cosgrove
November 8, 2024The Loppet Foundation has named Meghan Cosgrove as its new Executive Director. Cosgrove, with a track record of making the outdoors more inclusive, looks to build on the organization's success and continue its mission of growing the cross-country skiing community through experiences that foster diversity and equity.
Midwest Racing Season Preview
November 7, 2024After a warm start to fall, a chill has entered the air which can only mean one thing—winter is coming. Despite a subdued 2023/2024 season on the racing front, each new season brings a renewed sense of excitement to see the first flakes fly, and we're looking to bottle some of that excitement as we preview the Midwest racing scene for the 2024/2025 season.
NNF Launches Officials' Grant to Boost TD Pool
November 7, 2024The National Nordic Foundation (NNF) has launched an Officials' Grant Program to support volunteers who officiate cross-country skiing competitions. The initiative aims to create a sustainable fundraising model and address the long-standing need for more FIS Technical Delegates (TD). The grant program seeks to reduce financial barriers for new officials, with a focus on recruiting recently retired athletes and others motivated to stay involved in the sport.
Ariens to Host First U.S. Biathlon Masters Nationals
November 4, 2024Ariens Nordic Center in Brillion, WI, will host the inaugural U.S. Biathlon Masters Nationals and NorAm Masters Championships on February 14-16th. The event offers midwest cross-country skiing and biathlon enthusiasts, including masters athletes from the region, a chance to compete at a world-class venue. Medals will be awarded in five age categories, plus an "Open" division for athletes under 30.
Sisu Ski Fest: Races Over Half Full, Price Hike Coming Friday
October 28, 2024Registration is now open for the 16th annual SISU Ski Fest. The ski races will take place Saturday, Jan 11th in Ironwood, MI. Sign up before Friday, Nov 1st and save on this quality early season race on natural snow in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
CXC Rollerski Championships Coverage
October 27, 2024The CXC Rollerski Championships were held over the weekend on the asphalt trails at the Birkie Trailhead in Cable. Team Birkie and World Cup athletes Alayna Sonnesyn and Zak Ketterson showcased top form on the weekend, with Ketterson taking the 10K skate and classic sprint titles and Sonnesyn also winning the 10K skate and coming in second in the sprint final. Full results linked in, along with classic sprint photos from Bryce Kryzer.