Highlights

NewWorld Cup Les Rousses: Classic Distance

January 19, 2025
A 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.

NewLapham Loppet Results

January 18, 2025
Danny 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.

NewShe de Ski Results

January 18, 2025
Over 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.

NewWorld Cup Les Rousses: Classic Sprints

January 18, 2025
After 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, 2025
Period 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, 2025
The 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, 2025
World 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, 2025
A 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, 2025
For 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, 2025
Day 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, 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.

Battle 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.

Seeley 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.

First 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

World Cup Racing: Tour de Ski Stages 3 and 4 Schedule

December 29, 2024
After 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, 2024
Over 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, 2024
Junior 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, 2024
Stage 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, 2024
This 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, 2024
Crisp 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, 2024
Sunday'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, 2024
For 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, 2024
A 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, 2024
Another 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, 2024
World 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, 2024
Saturday 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, 2024
Great 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, 2024
US 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, 2024
The 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, 2024
After 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, 2024
Sunday 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, 2024
Classic 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, 2024
An 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, 2024
U.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, 2024
With 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, 2024
The 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, 2024
Team 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, 2024
The 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, 2024
The 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, 2024
After 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, 2024
The 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, 2024
Ariens 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, 2024
Registration 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, 2024
The 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.

Price Hike: Birkie Tour, Night Race

October 15, 2024
The Birkie Tour and Night Race weekend is scheduled for Saturday, January 25th. Save some on fees by registering by Thursday night.

Biathlon: Sixteen Athletes Named to Final Pre-Season Camp in Vuokatti

October 7, 2024
U.S. Biathlon has announced the roster for the European pre-season camp to take place in Vuokatti, Finland, which includes a bevy of Midwest skiers. The final on-snow camp will later determine the trimester one IBU World Cup and IBU Cup rosters.

Team Birkie Announces 2024-2025 Development Team

October 3, 2024
Team Birkie's Regional Development Team adds six Minnesota athletes: Adrik Kraftson, Benon Brattebo, Colin Freed, Greta Hansen, Maggie Wagner, and Morgan Richter. All are NCAA skiers with strong local backgrounds, supporting Midwest talent development.