NewWeb Roundup

November 29, 2023

Ruka Cool - Erin Moening reports in from Ruka, Finland, on her first weekend as part of the Trail to Gold coaching program.
XC to Biathlon - Margie Freed talks about her move from cross-country to biathlon in a recent US Biathlon podcast.
Return to Snow - Hannah Rudd shares tips on Pioneer Midwest about getting back on snow, from the very scenic Canmore Nordic Centre in Canada.
Gallivare Round 1 - Kevin Bolger recaps his first weekend racing, catching the Swedish season opener earlier this month at Gallivare.
Ariens Nordic - Silent Sports had a feature on the tremendous Ariens Nordic center in Brillion, WI, which first opened last season.
Why We Race - Allie Rykken blogs on Finn Sisu's site about the love of skiing and ski racing.
XC Ski Excuses Part 2 - Renae Anderson supplies a second round of excuses you can use when your race doesn't go as planned.
Stonegrind Care - New Moon shares an article from Ian Harvey on prepping those skis after stonegrinding.

NewWorld Cup Racing: Gallivare Schedule

November 29, 2023

The World Cup circuit moves on to Gallivare, Sweden this weekend for it's second stint of racing action, kicking off with an interval-start 10K freestyle race. Starting at 2:45 AM CST on Saturday, the women's field will be on course first, followed a short while after by the men's field at 5:00 AM CST. Then it's on to a 4x7.5K relay on Sunday which will feature the women's teams first at 2:50 AM CST, and the men's teams a bit later at 5:00 AM CST.

NewTeam Birkie Lessons this Weekend

November 28, 2023

Members of Team Birkie will be offering group technique lessons Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday, Dec 1-3, on-snow at Theodore Wirth. Limited spots available, proceeds support Team Birkie athletes.

NewRacing Outlook

November 28, 2023

The first scheduled race, the Season Opener in Calumet, has been rescheduled to the following weekend.

Holiday Relays Return

November 27, 2023

The Holiday Relays are being restarted this winter, racing Wednesday Dec 20th at Battle Creek West, and in tribute to the hard work of Ahvo Taipale. True relay format, 4x2.5K with two classic and two freestyle legs. Up to 12 teams will be able to compete, register your high school team today!

Gear West: JNQ Wax Service

November 27, 2023

Gear west is again offering race wax service for the Junior National Qualifier events. The first event is coming up fast, Dec 9-10th in Duluth, so get your skis in the queue!

St. Scholastica Open House Dec 8th

November 27, 2023

CSS Skiing is having an open house the Friday before the Duluth JNQ, Dec 8th. Come for a campus tour, dinner, meet the team and ask them and coach Kask questions about skiing at CSS and in college in general.

DXC Winter Warmup Thursday Evening

November 26, 2023

Come out Thursday evening with DXC and the Birkie Foundations at Earth Rider Brewery as they collaborate for an evening celebrating success in the Midwest ski scene. Learn more about their winter plans, and enjoy a beverage with proceeds going to DXC!

World Cup Ruka: Freestyle Distance; Diggins, Brennan Go 2-3

November 26, 2023

Saving the best for last, the final day of World Cup competitions in Ruka held no punches with drama unfolding in both the women's and men's mass-start 20k freestyle races. On course first, the women's race was largely contested by a group of 20 or so athletes up until the final climb into the stadium when all heck broke loose. Finding herself in a favorable position at the front of the group, Sweden's Moa Ilar would crest the hill first, with the US' Jessie Diggins (who had just lost a pole and corresponding glove not more than a kilometer ago) and Rosie Brennan in tow. Barehanded, Diggins would give Ilar a run for her money approaching the finish line, but Ilar would hold on in the end to claim her debut World Cup podium and victory, with Diggins taking second, and Brennan third. In a similar fashion the men's race would be settled on the final climb, with Michal Novak leading the charge ahead of the Norwegian newcomer, Jan Thomas Jenssen, and his teammate, Harald Oestberg Amundsen. With an impressive burst of speed Jensen would overtake Novak, earning his own debut World Cup podium and victory, while Novak would settle for second in front of Amundsen in third. A top-20 finish by Gus Schumacher (16th) and Scott Patterson (20th) in the men's race, as well as by Sophia Laukli (14th) in the women's race, would round out an impressive day for the US team. Next stop: Gallivare, Sweden for the second weekend of World Cup racing action.

World Cup Ruka: Classic Distance; Career Best for Brennan

November 25, 2023

Day 2 of racing in Ruka for the World Cup season opener was reserved for an interval-start 10K classic race with the women's field getting the competition underway. The event would be tightly contested with the podium ultimately coming down to the Swedish duo of Ebba Anderson and Frida Karlsson, separated by five seconds on either side by Rosie Brennan of the US, her best finish to date in the event. The men's race would go down similarly, with the Finnish favorite Iivo Niskanen serving as the separator between two Norwegians, Martin Loewstroem Nyenget and Erik Valnes, who were all within ten seconds of each other. Among the rest of the US crowd, other notable results included a strong 11th place finish by Jessie Diggins, and a 22nd place finish by Gus Schumacher. A mass-start 20k freestyle race on Sunday concludes the competitions in Ruka for the opening weekend of the World Cup.

World Cup Ruka: Classic Sprints

November 24, 2023

Cold weather, clear skies, and classic sprints kicked off the start of a new World Cup season in Ruka, Finland on Friday. Opening day for the Americans saw five qualify for the heats—Rosie Brennan, Jessie Diggins, Julia Kern, Ben Ogden, and JC Schoonmaker—with the first four advancing as far as the semifinals, a good showing for the group. For the women's final, Sweden's Emma Ribom, last year's winner, took first, followed closely by teammate Jonna Sundling, and Kristine Stavas Skistad of Norway. And in the men's final, it was not to be another victory for Johannes Hosflot Klaebo of Norway, but instead one for teammate Erik Valnes, with the aforementioned finishing third and France's Richard Jouve separating the two in second. The opening weekend action continues with interval-start 10K classic races on Saturday, starting at 3:00 AM CST for the women and 5:15 AM CST for the men.

Snowmaking Watch

November 23, 2023

Snowmaking operations have fired up with the cold weather...
- Birkie Trailhead
- Loppet Stadium
- Spirit Mountain

US Ski Team: Staffing for the WJC/U23 and U18 Winter Trips

November 22, 2023

The U.S. Ski Team is seeking coaches and support personal for the upcoming 2024 U18 Scandinavian Trip and World Junior/U23 Championship Team. Positions include coaches, ski technicians, medical/PT support, and a Director of Service. Application deadline is Dec 1st.

Purchasing Trail Passes Online

November 22, 2023

Snowmaking operations are firing up across the region as cold weather finally settles in. We've updated our list of trail passes and parking permits, most of which you can purchase online and be ready to hit the groomed trails.

World Cup: Ruka Weekend Series

November 22, 2023

The World Cup seasons opens this weekend at Ruka Nordic in Kuusamo, Finland! Events include classic sprints Friday, classic 10K on Saturday, with an exciting mass start 20K freestyle Sunday. Most of the US squad is expected to compete, including a trio Minnesotans: Jessie Diggins, Alayna Sonnesyn, and Zak Ketterson. Live streaming on the Ski and Snowboard app, starting with the heats Friday morning at 5:30 am CST.

Biathlon: World Cup, IBU Cup Rosters Announced

November 20, 2023

The United States Biathlon Association has posted the World Cup and IBU Cup rosters for the first trimester. The IBU World Cup season starts Nov 25th in Oestersund, Sweden with the IBU Cup kicking off in Kontiolahti, Finland on Nov 30th. Midwest athletes are strongly represent with Deedra Irwin, Margie Freed and Jake Brown on the World Cup circuit and Michaela Keller-Miller, Anna French Vaclav Cervenka and Luke Brown on the IBU Cup team.

New Moon: Trail Rewards Program

November 17, 2023

Trail Rewards is New Moon's free loyalty program. Members get rewards for every $1 spent which can redeem rewards for product discounts. Plus, they receive first access to New Moon's newest products and much more.

Ariens Nordic Trail Passes on Sale

November 16, 2023

Ariens Nordic Center in Brillion, WI, is Wisconsin's newest snowmaking operation, now heading into their second season. They are offering early-bird pricing on seasonal trail passes -- act by Nov 30th for the lowest pricing.