Team Birkie: Summer Training Programs Now Available

April 11, 2024

Join Team Birkie this summer and train with some of the Midwest's best through the team's upcoming summer training program. Running from June 1st to August 20th, the program is tailored toward collegiate level athletes who are looking to train in a competitive environment and reach new peaks. Space is limited, so be sure to sign up by May 1st to secure a spot.

Midwest MTB Report

April 10, 2024

For the second Midwest MTB Report of the season Jay Richards traveled south to Fayetteville, AR for the second race of the US XC Open series. This week's report opens with his firsthand recap from one of the races, along with a detour to check out some trails, old and new, in the surrounding Bentonville area. Closing it out is a look ahead to some midweek racing series that should be starting soon, and handful of other related items.

Birkie Membership Drive and Early Registration Underway

April 8, 2024

Support the American Birkebeiner and start your 2025 Birkie training by taking out a American Birkebeiner membership! As an added bonus, your membership gives you early access to race registration and a custom bib as well.

Team Birkie: Community Pride Fuels Our Success

April 5, 2024

Since it's first iteration some thirty years ago, Team Birkie has been an organization driven and supported by the community. In welcoming their newest community supporters, Women and Men Who Cross Country Ski…and Drink Coffee (WAMXC), Team Birkie invites other community groups and clubs to engage with the team and help take it to new heights.

Midwest MTB Report

April 3, 2024

Despite a last minute snowstorm socking in the Midwest, it's safe to say spring has now spring as we officially enter the third week of the season. Warmer weather ahead means it won't be long before it's time to turn in the trainer and hit the trails, so to get us ready we're catching up with Jay Richards who has the latest roundup of mountain bike related news and events in his first Midwest MTB Report of the year.

MSHSNSCA Award Winners Announced

March 31, 2024

The Minnesota State High School Nordic Ski Coaches Association has announced the award winners for the 2023-24 season. The coaches, assistant coaches and volunteers of the year recipients will be recognized with a trophy at the spring coaches meeting on Saturday, April 20th in Mora.

NNF: APU Awarded the 2023-24 NNF Cup

March 31, 2024

Following SuperTour Finals in Duluth, MN, the National Nordic Foundation has awarded this season’s NNF Cup to Alaska Pacific University (APU). Bridger Ski Foundation Pro Team and University of Utah Ski Team took second and third places.

US Nationals/SuperTour Freestyle Marathon Results

March 26, 2024

The US Nationals/SuperTour Spring Series wrapped up on Tuesday with a tough 40K freestyle event. Heavy snow over the previous two days, combined with more snow falling and strong winds, made for a brutal climax to the series. In the men's race, Minneapolis native Jake Brown and Johnny Steel Hagenbuch separated themselves from the lead pack in the final kilometers with Hagenbuch taking the victory just ahead of Brown. Canada's Antoine Cyr finished third, with Scott Patterson collecting the third place American podium. Racing with additional snowfall, the women's race was a war of attrition as Novie McCabe pounded out a brutal pace, eventually soloing in for the victory, Sydney Palmer-Leger taking second and Mariah Bredal third. Alayna Sonnesyn in fourth, was the only other skier to finish the 40K in under two hours.

US Nationals/SuperTour Spring Series Team Sprint Results

March 24, 2024

The US Nationals/SuperTour Spring Series switched to freestyle technique Sunday and paired up for team sprints. APU men lead the way with the tandem of Zanden McMullen and JC Schoonmaker taking the win as fellow teammates Michael Earnhart and Luke Jager edged out Canadians Julian Smith and Antoine Cyr for second. SMS T2's Lauren Jortberg and Alayna Sonnesyn blew out the women's field, winning by more than 15 seconds over APU's Renae Anderson and Novie McCabe, with Alex Larson and Margie Freed of Craftsbury taking third. All eyes turn to Tuesday for the marathon freestyle races as major snowfall is expected in the hours between.

US Nationals/SuperTour Spring Series Classic Sprints Results

March 23, 2024

Classic sprint titles were on the table Saturday for the US Nationals/SuperTour Spring Series at Spirit Mountain in Duluth. The men's final featured a showdown of World Cup talent as Canada's Antonie Cyr and JC Schoonmaker faced off. Schoonmaker pulled off the victory with APU teammate Zanden McMullen moving in for second and Cyr taking third. Team Birkie's Zak Ketterson scored third for the US podium. The women's final came down to Erin Bianco vs Novie McCabe, both striding hard up the final climb and descending together, with McCabe moving ahead in the finishing stretch for the victory, Bianco second and Alayna Sonnesyn securing third. Racing continues Sunday with a freestyle team sprint format.

US Nationals/SuperTour Spring Series Classic Coverage

March 21, 2024

The Duluth organizers and Spirit Mountain staff delivered an excellent course for the opening day of the US Nationals/SuperTour Spring Series on Thursday for 10K classic technique racing. World Cup skiers were on exhibition as temperatures stayed below freezing for the events. The women hit the trails first with Novie McCabe taking the victory followed by Sydney Palmer-Leger and Ely native Erin Bianco. Canada's Antonie Cyr topped the men's field with Johnny Steel Hagenbuch the top American in second, Zanden McMullen third and Minnesota's own Zak Ketterson fourth. Results linked in, photosets posted along with video recaps.

Racing Outlook: US Nationals Spring Series

March 18, 2024

Organizers have posted a new trail report on the progress of course prep for US Nationals/SuperTour spring series. The racing kicks off this Thursday morning with a classic interval event.

World Cup Falun: Freestyle Distance; Diggins Finishes First, Wins Second Overall Crystal Globe

March 17, 2024

Sunday marked the end of another World Cup season with a mass-start 20K freestyle race wrapping up the final competitions in Falun, Sweden. After spending over 100 days as the leader in the overall standings, it was as if a weight had been lifted off the shoulders of Jessie Diggins as she lined up for the women's race with a point lead that could only be erased through a seemingly catastrophic event. That event was never given a chance of coming to fruition however as Diggins took the reigns from the start, confidently controlling her destiny and ultimately winning the race, and consequently the overall title. Having earned the title twice now, Diggins is the only American to have ever won the overall crystal globe multiple times. Finishing the season on a high note, two Norwegians also made the day's podium in the women's race, Heidi Weng and Anne Kjersti Kalvaa; while two Swede's, Linn Svahn and Frida Karlsson, joined Diggins on the overall podium; and a German, Victoria Carl, and another Swede, Ebba Anderson, joined Diggins on the distance podium. The men's race would also require a catastrophic event to unseat their leader in the overall standings, Harald Oestberg Amundsen of Norway, but that didn't stop his teammate, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, from trying. Earning the maximum points on the day in his 7th individual win in a row, Klaebo would fall just short of the mark as he led two other Norwegians to the podium in the day's race, a newcomer, Tefre Gjoeran, and a familiar face, Martin Loewstroem Nyenget. As a result, Amundsen would hold off Klaebo to claim the overall crystal globe with another Norwegian, Erik Valnes, rounding out the overall podium in third. The podium would shake out the same for the distance standings as well save for Paal Golberg standing in for Valnes in third. Last but not least, a number of other American athletes also ended the season on a high note on Sunday with five finishing within the top-20 including Rosie Brennan in 10th, Novie McCabe in 11th, Gus Schumacher in 12th, Scott Patterson in 15th, and Sophia Laukli in 17th.

Junior Nationals Mixed Relays Results

March 16, 2024

Junior Nationals wrapped up Saturday with the mixed relay freestyle events in Lake Placid. Warm and wet weather made for difficult conditions again, and while the Midwest didn't score any podiums they did have a number of top ten finishes: U20 6th (Hailee Zimpel, Davis Isom, Audrey Parham, Adrik Kraftson); U18 6th (Sydney Drevlow, Eddie Snider, Hanna Koch, Daniel McCollor); U16 8th (Linnea Ousdigian, Anders Decker, Elsa Lindfors, Logan Drevlow).

World Cup Falun: Classic Distance

March 16, 2024

Athletes were subjected to a sleeting snowstorm on Saturday for the second to last day of the World Cup season. Taking to the trails in Falun, Sweden to race 10K in an interval-start format, the classic race was a crucial chance to earn points towards the still-to-be-resolved distance and overall standings. One athlete in particular looking to hold off her competition was the American Jessie Diggins who held a slim lead in both. Her efforts would see her go above and beyond to not only finish 5th on the day, but also significantly increase her lead in both the distance and overall standings, enough so that she could claim the distance crystal globe a day early. A little further up in the day's results were two athletes from Finland, Kerttu Niskanen and Johanna Matintalo, who finished first and second in the women's race, followed by Jonna Sundling of Sweden who finished third. Also looking to solidify his place in the standings was Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo who, despite sitting out a sizeable chunk of the season, was still within striking distance of the overall crystal globe while leading the distance standings. In a near repeat of the race a week prior, it looked as though Finland's Iivo Niskanen would hold the top time for much of the men's race, but Klaebo once again played the spoiler, beating Niskanen's time by over 20 seconds and clinching the distance crystal globe, with Martin Loewstroem Nyenget, also of Norway, rounding out the podium in third. Not mathematically out of the running yet, Klaebo will get one last shot to try to overtake his teammate, Harald Oestberg Amundsen, for the overall crystal globe tomorrow, while Jessie Diggins will be seeking to cement on to her lead in the final feature in Falun, a mass-start 20k freestyle race.

Junior Nationals Classic Distance Results

March 15, 2024

A rocky start to the final day of individual racing on Friday at Lake Placid for the Junior Nationals mass start classic events with organizers changing the course and schedule after crashes during the U16 opening races. However, Midwest continued to capture podiums as Logan Drevlow completed his dominance of the week with another victory in the U16 field and Linnea Ousdigian taking the surprise win in the U16 girls field. Other top results: MU16 - George Nelson 12th; FU18 - Sydney Drevlow 6th; MU18 - Daniel McCollor 8th, Eddie Snider 14th; FU20 - Hailee Zimpel 5th, Greta Hansen 10th, Audrey Parham 12th, Lillian Franzen 13th, Ashley Grossklaus (IMD) 16th; MU20 - Ben Dohlby 5th, Adrik Kraftson 10th, Jonathan Clarke 12th, Davis Isom 18th.

World Cup Falun: Classic Sprints

March 15, 2024

The final weekend of the World Cup kicked off on Friday with the final sprint competition of the season—a classic sprint. Taking place in Falun, Sweden, the stage was set for an epic showdown in the women's final where it was a rivalry rematch between three Swedes, Jonna Sundling, Linn Svahn, and Emma Ribom, and a Norwegian, Kristen Stavaas Skistad. Despite their desire to win at home, the Swedes were no match for Skistad however as the Norwegian skied away with the win. Of the Swedes, Svahn would finish second, finding solace in having secured the sprint crystal globe earlier in the week, and her teammate, Sundling, would finish third in both the day's sprint and the sprint standings, with Skistad finishing second in the latter as well. A second place finish by Lauri Vuorinen of Finland, his first podium in 110 starts, was the biggest surprise in the men's final which was won handily by none other than Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway, as his teammate, Harald Oestberg Amundsen, backed him up in third. Klaebo, who had also already secured the sprint crystal globe earlier in the week, would finish first in the sprint standings, with another of his countrymen, Erik Valnes, in second, and Lucas Chanavat of France in third. Racing through challenging conditions, only one of four qualifying Americans would advance out of the quarterfinals, JC Schoonmaker, who's progress was halted in the semifinals, finishing 9th on the day. Looking ahead, two days of distance racing are all the remains now with an interval-start 10K classic race up next on Saturday.

MCSA Nordic at the 2024 USCSA National Championships

March 14, 2024

Luke Dykowski reports on the recent USCSA National Championships: The St. Olaf Women bring home their third consecutive National Title; the University of Wisconsin-Madison Women finish second-place overall; the University of Minnesota-Duluth joins the fray, and the Midwest records no fewer than ten All-American finishers on each day of racing.

Junior Nationals Classic Sprints Results

March 13, 2024

Junior Nationals in Lake Placid, NY, got steamy on Wednesday as the temperatures soared into the 50s by afternoon for a full day of classic sprints. Leading the way for the Midwest again was Logan Drevlow, racing a savvy final to take the boys U16 title! Sister Sydney Drevlow finished just one step back, taking second place in the girls U18 final. Miles Miner (NE) also scored a second place finish in the boys U18 division. Other top results: Hannah Koch 7th FU18; Jordan Parent 8th FU20; Linnea Ousdigian 10th FU16; Ben Lewis (NE) 12th MU20. Results linked in. Racing resumes on Friday with classic mass start races.

World Cup Racing: Falun Schedule

March 13, 2024

The final weekend of the World Cup is nearly here and there's much still at stake as the circuit lands in Falun, Sweden. Although the winners of the sprint crystal globes have already been decided, Friday's classic sprints will establish who finishes second and third in the sprint standings, with that competition taking place at 6:15 AM CDT and 8:45 AM CDT for the qualifying and elimination rounds respectively. Saturday and Sunday's competitions will then decided who takes home the distance and overall crystal globes, with an interval-start 10K classic race taking place on Saturday, and a mass-start 20K freestyle race on Sunday. The schedule for those events has the women's field starting first at 5:00 AM CDT on both days, while the men will be racing a few hours later at 8:00 AM CDT and 8:15 AM CDT between Saturday and Sunday.

Moose Valuable Skier Nominations

March 12, 2024

Moose Nordic is giving out the MVS Award again this year with the help of Finn Sisu, Madshus, and Salomon. Two Minnesota high school skiers will be chosen for living out the values of sportsmanship, humility, empowerment, and integrity. Each winner's high school team will receive a pair of Madshus Redline race skis, boots from Finn Sisu, and Salomon skate skis. Nominations deadline is March 24th.

World Cup Drammen: Classic Sprints; Brennan Back on Podium

March 12, 2024

Like watching NASCAR in a city square and with the crowds to back it up, the streets of Drammen, Norway were host to classic sprints on Tuesday for the penultimate destination of the World Cup. Making a trend of last weekend's all-Norway display in the men's classic marathon, today's competition was again an all-Norway affair with the podium in the men's sprint final again being swept by the host nation. After the dust had settled on another commanding performance, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo stood atop the three tiered steps for the 81st time in his career, while his teammates Haavard Solaas Taugboel and Even Northug stood a step down to either side of him. Norway's success stretched into the women's sprint final as well where Kristen Stavaas Skistad showed her strength in the closing stretches of the race, triumphantly returning to the top of the podium in front of the home crowd. Also making a triumphant return to the podium was an American, Rosie Brennan, who put forth a determined performance to cross the line in third, just behind Linn Svahn of Sweden. Other notable American performances on the day came from JC Schoonmaker, who finished 6th in the men's sprint final, and Julia Kern, who just missed the women's sprint final in 7th. Now the final weekend of World Cup racing awaits which will have athletes closing out the season in Falun, Sweden.

Junior Nationals Freestyle Coverage

March 11, 2024

Junior Nationals competition in Lake Placid, NY, had a stormy start Tuesday as snow fell most of the morning, giving way to sunshine and strong winds in the afternoon. Minnesota State champion Logan Drevlow shined brightest for the Midwest on opening day as he earned the U16 boys crown by five seconds. Linnea Ousdigian nearly made it a Midwest sweep of the U16 titles, finishing second by less than three seconds! Also making the podium Tuesday, Ben Dohlby second and Davis Isom third in the boys U20 race. Other top 20 performances: MU16 - Connor Reckinger 8th, Soren Winikoff 9th, Jack Rudolph 12th, Dylan Little 20th; FU18 - Sydney Drevlow 5th, Hanna Koch 14th, Greta Dickman, 18th; FU20 - Hailey Zimpel, 9th, Ashley Grosslaus (IMD) 10th, Ella Niznik 18th, Audrey Parham 20th; MU20 - Adriak Kraftson 13th, Ben Lewis (NE) 16th, Jonathan Clarke 19th. Results linked in, along with links for photos and livestream replay.

Tour de Finn: Inaugural Season Celebration

March 10, 2024

With the ski season winding down, join the Tour de Finn in celebrating its inaugural season this Saturday, March 16th, at Finn Sisu. There will be food, drinks, and door prizes, and also awards for some of the top placing individuals and teams in the series, so be sure to check the final standings beforehand. All are welcome!

World Cup Racing: Drammen Schedule

March 10, 2024

On their way to Falun, Sweden for the final weekend of the World Cup, athletes will have a 24-hour layover in Drammen, Norway on Tuesday for a round of classic sprints in the city. The action will kick off at 5:30 AM CDT with a qualifier for all competitors, and then it's on to the heats at 8:00 AM CDT where the top-30 advancing athletes will vie for the second-to-last sprint points of the season.

World Cup Oslo: Men's Classic Marathon

March 10, 2024

Subdued at home yesterday, the Norwegian team was out in force on Sunday for the men's edition of the World Cup 50K event in Oslo. Much of the mass-start field remained in contention though the midpoint of the race, but that field started to be whittled down as the finish drew near, and with a only a few kilometers to go that group was reduced to less than a dozen athletes with a majority of them sporting Norwegian suits. Those odds would play into the host nation's favor as five of its athletes crossed the line first in a mass-finish, the first of that group being Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo who earned his first marathon victory. Joining him on the podium were his fellow countrymen, Martin Loewstroem Nyenget and Paal Golberg. Finishing in the top half of the field, Scott Patterson was the highest placing US athlete in 25th. Not part of the day's race but receiving recognition was Jessie Diggins who was awarded the prestigious Holmenkollen Medal, Norwegian skiing's highest award for competitors. After a day off athletes will relocate to Drammen, Norway for a single day of classic sprints through the city streets.

Racing Outlook: US Nationals Spring Series

March 9, 2024

Believe it or not, but there is still one major race event in the Midwest this season: The US Nationals Spring Series/Supertour, happening at Spirit Mountain in Duluth, March 21-26th. Organizers are planning to shift to the event to the top of Spirit Mountain to utilize the snow at the top of the alpina runs.

NCAA Championships: Classic

March 9, 2024

The 2024 NCAA Championships drew to a close on Saturday with the second and final day of racing in Steamboat Springs, CO. Another set of titles were up for grabs, and athletes were up to the task in the day's contest, a mass-start 20K race. Between the men's and women's competitions two very different approaches were offered to reach that ultimate goal, with the women's winner, Jasmine Drolet of Dartmouth University, coming from well behind to take home a title in the women's race, while the University of Colorado Boulder's Magnus Boee broke away early in the men's race to never be caught, landing himself a title of his own. Joining the two titlists on the respective podiums were Haley Brewster from the University of Vermont and Sydney Palmer-Leger from the University of Utah in the women's race; and Florian Knopf of the University of Denver and Will Koch of the University of Colorado Boulder in the men's race. Last but certainly not least, Elizabeth Tuttle of the University Vermont, Roger Anderson of the University of New Hampshire, Skylar Patten of Michigan Technological University, and Ben Dohlby of the University of Alaska Fairbanks head home with the top results of those representing the Midwest, all finishing within the top-20 in 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th respectively.

World Cup Oslo: Women's Classic Marathon

March 9, 2024

Just as last year's World Cup 50K event in Oslo was the first of it's kind for the women's field in the freestyle technique, this year's 50K event was the first of it's kind for the women's field in the classic technique. Skiing six laps on the rolling and revered Holmenkollen course, the race was off to a quick pace from the start with a group of less than a dozen separating themselves from the rest of the field early on. Only gaining ground as the race went on, Sweden's Frida Karlsson led the breakaway for much of contest, breaking free herself with under 10K to go to earn a well-deserved victory in Norway. Hot on her trail was her teammate Ebba Andersson who slid into second, and after her, an exciting sprint finish in which Germany's Katharina Hennig just nipped Austria's Teresa Stadlober at the line for third. Putting on an admiral performance to maintain her lead in the overall World Cup standing, Jessie Diggins was the top finisher of the US women in 11th. Sunday will feature a repeat of today's race with the men's field getting their chance to compete in the 50K event.

Biathlon: History Made at Home for U.S. Biathlon Men’s Team

March 8, 2024

Continuing a streak of success when it comes to US skiers racing on home soil, the US biathlon men's team made history on Friday after their relay team of Vincent Bonacci, Sean Doherty, Campbell Wright, and Jake Brown earned a best-ever fourth place during the ongoing IBU competitions at Soldier Hollow.

Junior National Teams Announced

March 7, 2024

With less than a week to go before the big event, CXC has formally announced the full Midwest and Great Lakes team lineups for the upcoming Junior Nationals competition in Lake Placid, NY. Selected athletes will be competing Match 11-16 against some of the best in the US. Another group of U18/U16 athletes will also be heading north to compete at the Canadian Ski Championships being held March 10-16.

NCAA Championships: Freestyle

March 7, 2024

The opening day of competitions at the 2024 NCAA Championships in Steamboat Springs, CO had the air of picking up exactly where the previous year's competitions left off. After settling for second in both of last year's races, Dartmouth University's John Steele Hagenbuch triumphantly took the men's title in the day's main event, an interval-start 7.5K freestyle race, prevailing over last year's short distance champion, Joe Davis of the University of Utah, and another staple from the same institution, Tom Mancini. A strong skier all season, Michigan Technological University's Skylar Patten led the way for the Midwest men in 14th. Up to the task of filling the massive shoes left behind by her teammate, Novie McCabe, who was last year's women's short and long distance champion, Sydney Palmer-Leger of the University of Utah dominated the field in the women's race, coming back from an early deficit to take the title by over 20 seconds. Finishing second and third were Haley Brewster the University of Vermont and Jasmine Drolet of Dartmouth University. An impressive top-10 performance by Luci Anderson, who currently competes for the University of New Hampshire, saw her ski to 9th, the best finish by a woman with ties to the Midwest. After a day of rest on Friday the 2024 NCAA Championships will conclude on Saturday with a mass-start 20K classic race for both the men's and women's fields.

World Cup Racing: Oslo Schedule

March 6, 2024

World Cup athletes will have one thing, and one thing only on their mind this weekend: a classic marathon race at the hollowed Holmenkollen ski venue outside Oslo, Norway. Covering six 8.3K laps for a total of 50K, the mass-start classic event will be spread across two days, Saturday and Sunday, with the women's field racing on the former at 3:30 AM CST, and the men's field racing on the latter at 4:30 AM CDT (daylight savings change!). Only five scoring events remain in the World Cup season, so if you've been watching the standings closely you won't want to miss this weekend's competitions!

NCAA Championships Preview

March 5, 2024

The 2024 NCAA Championships are upon us and it's time to crown a new set of men's and women's champions! Whether you've been following the action across the conferences all season long or are just now tuning in, get up to speed on the competitions being held in Steamboat Springs, Colorado with our event preview. Racing begins Thursday morning!

USCSA National Championships

March 4, 2024

The U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) will host its 5-day long annual U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard National Championships from March 4-9th, 2024 in Lake Placid, NY. This year, over 600 competitors will roll into the home of the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Games to compete for National collegiate titles in alpine, Nordic, snowboard, and freeski events.

Wisconsin State Distance Championships Freestyle Coverage

March 3, 2024

The Wisconsin Nordic Ski League (WNSL) wrapped up their season Sunday with the Distance Championships freestyle races, along with Great Lakes JNQ qualifier. Due to the JNQ addtion, the freestyle races this year were run as an interval start (with seeding). Paige Beining, ANST, skied the second fastest Wisconsin time on Sunday to sew up her combined title. Josephine Kwasny, Iola, was second, Lauren Carlton, ANST, third in the combined WNSL scoring. Charlie Vater, Iola, put down a sub 19 min time on the 6K course to easily collect the boys combined title with Kristian Hudacek, CVN, second and Nathan Burke, Peak Nordic, taking third. Eric Anderson, guest skier from Lake City, had the fastest skate time on the day. Results linked in, photos posted along with video clips of the top skiers.

World Cup Lahti: Freestyle Sprints

March 3, 2024

Sunday brought freestyle sprints, and with them the final day of World Cup racing in Lahti, Finland. A form of groundhogs day for some, and potentially a recurring nightmare for others, the women's final was again made up of three of the Swedish favorites—Jonna Sundling, Linn Svahn, and Maja Dahlqvist—and the Norwegian giant, Kristen Stavaas Skistad. Sundling was the one to throw the lastest punch between the two nations, so naturally it was Skistad's turn to return the favor as she skied away with the win well before the finish, leaving Sweden to seek solstice in a third place finish by Dahlqvist after a surprising second place finish by Coletta Rydzek of Germany. Precedent took preference in the men's final as well with Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway again outlasting his repeated rival, Lucas Chanavat of France, to take the win, overshadowing a first World Cup podium by Valerio Grond of Switzerland in third. The struggles continued for the US squad on Sunday, as four skiers were able to qualify for the heats, but non were able to advance. JC Schoonmaker and Julia Kern made it the furthest, finishing 13th and 16th respectively. A week of rest will be all but required of athletes before the upcoming weekend in Oslo, Norway where a classic marathon will be the headliner at the legendary Holmenkollen ski venue.

Wisconsin State Distance Championships Classic Results

March 2, 2024

Day one of the Wisconsin State Meet distance championships in the books as athletes endured soaring temperatures while hammering out two laps of classic skiing on the snowmaking loops at the Birkie Trailhead. Iola's Charlie Vater posted the top time but three others are all within 10 seconds: Nathan Burke, Peak Nordic, Kristian Hudacek, CVN, and Eric Anderson, Red Wing. Paige Beining, ANST, had the best time for the Wisconsin girls, over 10 seconds ahead of Josephine Kwasny, Iola, and ANST teammate Lauren Carlton in third. LNR's Helen Townley, skiing as guest Great Lakes JNQ, had the fastest time in the girls field. Sunday will feature freestyle races, with the overall champion determined from the combined weekend times plus scoring from the earlier sprint championships.

World Cup Lahti: Classic Distance

March 2, 2024

The festivities in Finland continued on Saturday as athletes queued up for a grinding individual-start classic race covering 20K. Battling back to her first win in nearly five years, Krista Parmakowski held off Germany's Victoria Carl by less than two seconds in the women's race to the celebration of the home crowd, while her teammate Kerttu Niskanen emphasized the importance of home field advantage with her third place finish. It looked as though Finland would claim the men's title as well through Iivo Niskanen who lead much of the earlier portions of the men's race, but game recognized game at the finish line when Norway's Johannes Klaebo pulled in ahead of Niskanen with 24 seconds to spare. Niskanen's time would still be good enough to secure second however as over a half a minute would separate him and the third fastest finisher, Martin Loewstroem Nyenget of Norway. A top-10 result by Rosie Brennan in 9th was the standout for US skiers as they weathered the tough conditions in Lahti. Sunday will bring a back another bout of sprinting as an individual freestyle competition takes center stage.

MCSA: Birkie Recap

March 1, 2024

Luke Dykowski reports: The 2024 Midwest Collegiate Cup concludes its season on the American Birkebeiner podium, with the St. Olaf Women maintaining their season-long lead to clinch their first ever Midwest Collegiate Cup title, and the University of Minnesota-Duluth narrowly holding off UW Madison and St. Olaf to secure their third consecutive Cup victory.

World Cup Lahti: Team Sprints

March 1, 2024

Back in Finland where the season began, the World Cup returned to action on Friday for the final leg of the circuit. Sweden put up a solidifying statement in the women's race, a classic team sprint, skiing away with the victory by nearly 30 seconds over the first teams from Finland and Germany. Norway would do the same in the men's race, albeit by a smaller margin of victory, besting the second team from Norway by roughly four seconds. Just outstretching France I for third was the Finland I team, a cause for celebration for the Lahti crowd with athletes representing the host nation on both the men's and women's podiums. A disappointing day for the US, neither of the two competing men's teams would qualify for the final, while the lone women's team did make the final, but finished well out of contention in 15th. Tomorrow the focus shifts back to individual performances for a pair of interval-start 20K classic races.

Wisconsin State High School Distance Championship Predictions

February 28, 2024

Ken Schoville is back with his take on the Wisconsin high school Nordic skiing Distance Championship contenders! Rescheduled from mid-February, the big event is this Saturday and Sunday at the Birkie Trailhead in Cable.

Great Bear Chase Cancelled

February 28, 2024
by Bruce Adelsman

Organizers have cancelled the Great Bear Chase due to forecast warm weather and low snow conditions. Registrations can be transferred to the 2025 event.

World Cup Racing: Lahti Schedule

February 28, 2024

Heading into the home stretch, the fifth and final Period of the World Cup kicks off on Friday with a return to Finland for three days of racing in Lahti. Getting the ball rolling is the first and only team sprint of the season, a classic event, which will have athletes compete in a qualifier at 6:45 AM CST leading into the heats at 8:45 AM CST. Athletes' attention then turns to an interval-start 20K classic event on Saturday where the women will race first at 2:00 AM CST, followed by the men at 5:00 AM CST. Closing it all out, Sunday will feature a return to sprinting action as athletes compete individually in the freestyle technique, with qualifiers begining at 2:15 AM CST and the heats shortly after at 4:45 AM CST.

Racing Outlook

February 27, 2024

The only surviving event for the upcoming weekend appears to the Wisconsin State Meet and Great Lakes JNQ, being held at the Birkie Trailhead. And the MYSL team sprints will hold their final event of the season at Wirth on Wednesday evening!

Birkie Week Recap and Mt. Telemark Village Fundraising

February 26, 2024

The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation celebrates the successful Birkie Week events with a recap video, plus makes their fundraising push to achieve a matching grant of $500,000 for Mt. Telemark Village by the end of February (Thursday!).

American Birkebeiner Classic Coverage

February 25, 2024

Capping an improbable week of racing in one of the worst winters on record, the American Birkebeiner held their classic technique events Sunday on the now famous 10K machine-made snow loop in Cable. A group of four elite men broke away early and sprinted it out for the three podium spots with Michigan native Reid Goble taking the victory, German Christian Winker second and David Norris third. On the women's side, Hannah Rudd, a Minnesota native, and Caitlin Patterson made it a two-person race for the title, taking it down to another sprint finish with Rudd pulling ahead for a win. A number of the skiers completed an unofficial Birkie skiathlon, racing the 50K freestyle race the day before, including Rudd, Patterson (Scott and Caitlin), and Norris. Results linked in, photos posted along with a recap video.

American Birkebeiner Freestyle Coverage

February 24, 2024

The snow coverage may have been muted but the crowds were not for the main event of the 50th American Birkebeiner on Saturday. Ever the crowd pleaser, Jessie Diggins put on a show, racing neck and neck with France's Flora Dolci after breaking away early. However, wearing her custom sparkling bib it was Diggins day to shine as she collected her first Birkie win, beating Dolci to the line by nearly 30 seconds and thrilling the fans at the finish. Besting the chase group to secure the final spot on the podium was last year's champion, Alayna Sonnesyn. After spending much of the race in the lead group of about a dozen men, US skiing superstar Gus Schumacher left it late to deliver yet another one for the books, collecting a first Birkie win of his own. A blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, the second, third, and fourth skiers in the men's race came crashing in seconds later, with Sam Hendry decisively taking second, and David Norris just edging out Scott Patterson for third. Results linked in, photos and video recap posted!

Kortelopet Freestyle Coverage

February 23, 2024

After a fresh grooming by the Birkie crew, Kortelopet skiers raced the machine-made snow course in the afternoon in freestyle technique for the 20K event. The podium had a distinctive Minnesota vibe: Recently crowned Minnesota high school champion Logan Drevlow, Golden Valley, sailed away for the boys victory with Jace Haerter, Edina, second and Eric Anderson, Frontenac, third. On the girls side, Wayzata's Audrey Parham collected the title with Sydney Drevlow second, and Cloquet native Anja Maijala third. Results linked in, photos and video recaps now posted.

Kortelopet Classic Coverage

February 23, 2024

Kortelopet classic racing kicked off Friday morning, with the U20/Elite fields starting things off. The field did two laps of a fast 10K machine-made snow course as temperatures were much cooler, running in the mid 20s. Charlie Vater, Iola, was the first to cross the line in taking the mens U20/Elite race, followed by Neel Dums, Hayward, and Henry Brandt, St. Paul. Teammates Lydia Kraker and Greta Hendrickson, Duluth, came in 1-2 for the womens U20/Elite field with St. Paul native Alex Pundsack third. Results linked in, photosets along with recap video posted.

Junior Birkie Coverage

February 22, 2024

Over 400 kids turned out Thursday afternoon for the Junior Birkie races on the snowmaking trails at the Birkie trailhead. Age divisions ranging from under 8 years old to under 14 competed in 1.5K and 3K distances, including some hilly terrain. Results posted along with a selection of photos and a video highlight from the races.

Weekend Racing

February 21, 2024

The huge Birkie Week is here with a unique, first ever snowmaking course event ...
Feb 23 Kortelopet - Elite/U20 and other waves will race classic in the morning, the skaters hit the trail in the afternoon.
Feb 24 Birkie Freestyle - Waves 1 and 2 warm up the course, then SuperTour/Elite racers including Jessie Diggins and Gus Schumacher race 50K!
Feb 25 Birkie Classic - Classic skiers get the course to themselves.

Racing Outlook

February 19, 2024

Birkie Week is here and events are moving forward. The Great Bear Chase is still on as well, but most of the remaining calendar has been decimated.

Birkie Course Preview

February 19, 2024

Birkie has posted a full course preview, with map and interactive point-of-view video.

Loppet Cup Playday Coverage

February 19, 2024

On Monday, the Loppet Cup wrapped up the big week with bunch of activities, indoor and outdoor, celebrating Winter including a chance to ski the World Cup courses, enjoy some winter activities, check out vendors and get autographs from some of the athletes.

World Cup Minneapolis: Freestyle Distance; Sensational Schumacher Takes the Title, Diggins in Third

February 18, 2024

Not since the days of Bill Koch, over four decades ago, has an American man stood atop the podium in a World Cup distance race, but history was made on Sunday as Gus Schumacher became only the third to win a World Cup competition. Leading in a stacked field in the men's interval-start race, Schumacher posted the fastest time on the 10K freestyle course by just a handful of seconds, taking the victory over the current overall World Cup leader, Harald Oestberg Amundsen of Norway, and his teammate, Paal Golberg. The women's race was just as much of a thriller, with Jessie Diggins pushing her body to the limit and a third place finish on the back of a chorus of cheering from the home crowd at Theodore Wirth Park. Seemingly untouchable in Minneapolis, Sweden's Jonna Sundling claimed another victory with over 15 seconds to spare, while her teammate, Frida Karlsson, held down second place on the podium. A wrap for Period IV of the World Cup, athletes will next head back overseas for the final leg of the circuit which kicks off in Lahti, Finland.

Biathlon: US Makes History Once Again In World Championships Men’s Relay

February 17, 2024

The U.S. men’s relay team makes it two historic finishes for Team USA at the 2024 IBU World Championships in Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic. The team of Vincent Bonacci, Sean Doherty, Campbell Wright and Minnesotan Jake Brown raced to fifth place, marking an historic World Championships finish in the discipline and the best U.S. relay finish since 2016.

World Cup Minneapolis: Freestyle Sprints

February 17, 2024

There was no shortage of excitement on Saturday for the first of two World Cup races being held just outside of downtown Minneapolis at Theodore Wirth Park. With thousands of spectators lining the trails, skiers were elevated to stardom as they competed for one of the coveted top-30 spots in the morning's freestyle sprints qualifier. Four men and four women would make that mark for the US team, with the most celebrated of the bunch being the hometown hero Jessie Diggins who twice drew a roar from the crowd on her way to the final in the heats. Despite Diggins' determination it was a Swede, Jonna Sundling, that would take all the glory, gliding away with the victory in dominant fashion after prevailing over teammate Linn Svahn and her Norwegian competitor Kristen Stavaas Skistad, with Diggins in tow for fourth. Equally as dominant was the 'king' of Norway, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, who put on a show for the fans, leading in a resurgent Federico Pellegrino of Italy and another Norwegian, Haavard Solaas Taugboel, on his way to a decisive victory. While none of the American men would break out of the quarterfinals, it wasn't for lack of trying with Gus Schumacher coming the closest in 17th. Tomorrow the excitement continues with athletes taking part in an interval-start 10K freestyle event.

Biathlon: Irwin and Wright Clinch Historic Mixed Relay Result at World Championships

February 16, 2024

Wisconsin native Deedra Irwin along with Campbell Wright teamed up for the second time this season to race in the 2024 World Championships single mixed relay event, claiming a historic 7th place finish, the best U.S. result at a World Championship single mixed relay event since the discipline was introduced.

Loppet Cup Friday Preparations Coverage

February 16, 2024

Friday was practice day at Theodore Wirth for the athletes, coaches and techs in final preparation for World Cup races this weekend. Jessie Diggins, Rosie Brennan, Julia Kern and JC Schoonmaker were part of a press conference in the historic Wirth chalet, with a full room of media covering the event.

Minnesota State Meet Day 2 Coverage

February 15, 2024

Cooler temps and bright sunshine Thursday for the team sprint events of the Minnesota High School Nordic Skiing Championships. Brainerd boys put on a strong performance to win the classic team sprint over Duluth East with Orono/Delano third. In the girls final, Duluth East pulled away from St. Paul Academy with Mpls Washburn taking third. Wayzata secured the boys team title by just six points over Duluth East as Hopkins dropped back to third. Duluth East girls won the team title, 12 points ahead of rising Washburn, as St Paul Highland Park earned third. Results linked in, along with video recaps of the finals.

Great Bear Chase Still On

February 15, 2024

Organizers report the Great Bear Chase is still ready for racing on March 9th! Get your registration in for this natural snow race, as divisions are filling fast.

World Cup Racing: Minneapolis Schedule

February 14, 2024

The culmination of many year's worth of blood, sweat, and tears, the World Cup touches down in the Twin Cities this weekend for two days of elite-level racing at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis. Whether you'll be catching the action trailside or tuning in from afar, you won't want to miss this one! Freestyle sprints kick off the festivities on Saturday with athletes competing in a qualifier at 10:00 AM CST which will lead into a knockout round of heats at 12:30 PM CST. Skiers will then be going the distance on Sunday for an interval-start 10K freestyle race that will see the men's field out first at 10:30 AM CST, followed by the women's field at 12:45 PM CST.

Minnesota State Meet Day 1 Coverage

February 14, 2024

A beautiful day of racing Wednesday as the Minnesota High School Nordic Skiing Championships kicked off with classic and freestyle pursuit events. After the morning classic races, Wayzata boys had posted a commanding lead over Hopkins, with Duluth East just a few points back. Duluth East girls were in front by 18 points, but the battle for second was extremely close as six teams were separated by a total of eight points! Hopkin's Logan Drevlow will start first in the boys pursuit, with St. Paul Highland Park's Hanna Koch leading off for the girls. Drevlow held his lead in the afternoon pursuit, taking the boys title with McCollor moving past Minnehaha Academy's Finn Christiansen for second. The girls pursuit turned into an exciting battle as Linnea Ousdigian, Mounds View, starting in 4th, reeled in and overtook Koch to take the victory as a freshman. Koch finished in second, just five seconds back, with Wayzata's Lila Golomb third. After the first day of racing, Wayzata boys and Duluth East girls hold the lead in the team standings. Results linked in, and many, many photos posted.

Changes to Birkie Week 2024: Lapped Courses and Race Distance Changes

February 13, 2024

As anticipation builds for Birkie Week 2024, the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation has announced several updates to this year's 50th Slumberland American Birkebeiner anniversary celebration event. Birkie Week promises an unforgettable experience for participants and spectators alike, with the introduction of lapped courses, shortened distances, and the excitement of World Cup athletes competing on the course.

World Cup Canmore: Classic Sprints

February 13, 2024

A whirlwind weekend (and then some) of racing in Alberta, Canada concluded on Tuesday with athletes focused on the day's event: classic sprints. A group of two dozen US athletes once again lined up for the qualifiers with seven of them advancing to the heats. JC Schoonmaker and Julia Kern were the ones to make it the furthest, both sneaking into the semifinals as lucky losers, but that is ultimately where their runs would end with the two finishing 7th and 11th respectively. A packed women's final produced a Swedish response to Saturday's showboating as Linn Svahn comfortably took the title over her contentious competitor, Kristen Stavaas Skistad of Norway, with another Swede, Jonna Sundling, just falling to third in a last minute lunge with the later. The men's final was an even closer affair as France's Richard Jouve put Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo to work in the final hundred meters, but it was not meant to be for Jouve as Klaebo managed to outmuscle the Frenchman for the win. Now athletes will make their way across the boarder for what has to be the most anticipated event of the season: the World Cup in Minneapolis!

Minnesota State Meet Preview

February 12, 2024

The Minnesota High School League Nordic Skiing Championships (aka. the State Meet) are this Wednesday and Thursday at Giants Ridge in Biwabik. We provide a brief breakdown on the action, along with some of the favorites and our picks.

World Cup Canmore: Classic Distance

February 11, 2024

Capping off a string of three days of racing in Alberta, Canada, athletes took to the trails at the Canmore Nordic Center on Sunday to compete in a mass-start 20K classic event. Sticking near the front of the field was crucial for both the men's and women's winners, including Frida Karlsson of Sweden who overtook Finland's Kerttu Niskanen in the final few meters of the women's race to earn her victory. Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo would attempt to do the same in the men's race, dropping the hammer on teammate Paal Goldberg coming into the finish, but Goldberg showed a surprising burst of speed to hold off yesterday's sprint champion and earn his own victory. Claiming the final podium spot in the respective races were Heidi Weng and newcomer Mattis Stenshagen, both of Norway. A dogged display by Jessie Diggins led her to the top American result in 10th, while Rosie Brennan, Sophia Laukli, and Gus Schumacher also cracked the top-20 in 13th, 14th, and 20th respectively. A break from the action tomorrow will lead into one final day of racing in Canada on Tuesday which is reserved for classic sprints.

Minnesota High School Rankings - Final Round

February 11, 2024

The Minnesota Coaches Association has published their final round of high school Nordic Skiing rankings. Della Bettendorf, Protocor/Hermantown and Logan Drevlow, Hopkins, take over the number one rankings and Duluth East owns the team rankings, going into the State Meet next week.

Birkie: Final Q&A Session, Birkie Week Plans

February 10, 2024

The American Birkebeiner will be hosting their final live question and answer session this Monday, Feb 12th, at 7 pm CST. Tune in to hear the plans for events and races courses for the 50th anniversary event.

World Cup Canmore: Freestyle Sprints

February 10, 2024

The second day of racing in Canmore saw the US well represented with two dozen athletes in the starting lineup for Saturday's freestyle sprints. Nearly half of those athletes would go on to qualify for the heats, including Jessie Diggins who progressed the furthest, making it to the women's final. A tough test greeted her there, and despite her best efforts the podium would be shared by a Norwegian, Kristen Stavaas Skistad, and two Swede's, Maja Dahlqvist and Linn Svahn, while Diggins finished 5th. Norway would also take the top spot in the men's final through a resurgent Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo who held off teammate Erik Valnes as well as Sweden's Edvin Anger for the title. Just missing out on making the final himself, Ben Ogden led the US men with a 7th place finish. Another mass-start race is on deck for tomorrow which will have athletes racing 20K in the classic technique.

Vasabeiner Coverage

February 10, 2024

Well over 200 skiers turned out Saturday morning for a rare marathon training race, the Vasabeiner, put on by Pioneer Midwest. The mass start field did four laps of the 5K snowmaking loop, including the tricky, lightning fast descent of Boulder Ridge. Matt Liebsch (racing in his old Univ of Minnesota suit) took the men's victory with Brian Gregg second, Jakob Ellingson third. Sophia Tsu Velicer (Taipei) topped the women's field with Laura Cattaneo second and Sarah Widder third. Results posted, along with big photosets.

World Cup Canmore: Freestyle Distance; Diggins Decisive in Win

February 9, 2024

Kicking off the North American World Cup tour in style, Jessie Diggins gave American fans a reason to be loud and proud on Friday as she delivered yet another masterclass performance in the event she has become so dominant in. Racing 15 kilometers at the Canmore Nordic Center in Alberta, Canada, the women's freestyle race started en mass with relatively little commotion. That would change roughly midway through the race however when the pace started to quicken, in no small part due to Diggins' teammate, Sophia Laukli. Biding her time and putting herself in the right position, Diggins waited out several attacks until the time was right, then went with France's Delphine Claudel as she broke away up the final climb, easing past her on the ensuing downhill to confidently take the victory. Leading in the rest of the chase group, Norway's Heidi Weng would wrap up the final podium spot in third, while Laukli's strong showing saw her finish in 8th. Indecisiveness in the men's race led to little action early on with Austria's Mika Vermeulen the only athlete to attempt to separate from the rest of the field until Norway's Simon Hegstad Krueger decided to take the reins, overtaking Vermeulen to ski uncontested to the finish. Vermeulen would still be rewarded for his heroics however, earning his first World Cup podium in third behind another Norwegian, Harald Oestberg Amundsen. In the mix throughout the race, Scott Patterson was the star of the show for the US men, equalling Laukli's top-10 finish in 8th. The second of four races in five days takes place tomorrow with freestyle sprints the occasion. (Photo: Leann Bentley)

WJC/U23 Championships: Brewster Makes it Three in Four for the US

February 8, 2024

Continuing an impressive string of results at this year's Junior and U23 World Championships, Haley Brewster made it three podiums in four races for US skiers on Thursday after taking second in the U23 women's 20K freestyle race. Equally as impressive was fellow American Novie McCabe's performance which saw her finish just off the podium in 4th.

Weekend Racing

February 7, 2024

What -- a race this weekend!?
Feb 10 Vasabeiner - Get in some final marathon training with four laps around Hyland's 5K snowmaking loop.
Keep an eye on Racing Outlook for any late changes.

Minnesota Section 7 Championship Coverage

February 7, 2024

Test driving the 2024 State Meet course layout, Minnesota High School Section 7 raced on primarily machine-made snow at Giants Ridge on Wednesday. Duluth East nearly had the perfect score, sweeping the boys freestyle podium with James Kyes, Paavo Rova, and Carl Morse, and taking second in the team sprints final. The Duluth East girls duplicated the boys near perfect score, Proctor/Hermantown's Della Bettendorf besting a pack of Duluth East girls for the pursuit title as Lydia Kraker was second, Rowan Bixler third, Liesl Cope-Schareffe fourth. Duluth East girls and Ely boys won the team sprint titles, with the Ely girls joining the boys next week in taking second place. Proctor/Hermantown girls and Ely boys teams advance to State, as well as the Mora boys sprint team. Results linked in, along with photos from Erik Riker-Coleman and Jake Richards.

Minnesota Section 5 Championship Coverage

February 7, 2024

Holding the last metro area championship, Minnesota High School Section 5 competed on Hyland Lake's snowmaking loop Wednesday. Elk River/Zimmerman girls claimed the team title by winning the team sprints and then watching Emily Baker move up from third in classic to take the pursuit title with teammate Claire Swanson coming in second. Champlin Park's Abby Hibbs finished third in the girls pursuit. In the boys freestyle pursuit, Park Center/Totino's Reid Binsfeld claimed victory with Blaine's Nathan Taylor second, Rogers' Will Campbell third. Blaine boys scored the team title, with Rogers advancing as well. Fighting over the second girls team spot was Blaine and Coon Rapids in a tie, Blaine going to State based on their top three pursuit times. Coon Rapids boys won the team sprint, and Maple Grove girls sprint team earned a spot at State with their second place finish. Results linked in, photos from the pursuit races are posted.

World Cup Racing: Canmore Schedule

February 6, 2024

And just like that, the World Cup has touched down in North America! Kicking off the much anticipated Period IV of the circuit is an extended stay in Alberta, Canada for four days of racing at the Canmore Nordic Centre, with a distance race getting things started on Friday. The women's field will race first for the 15K mass-start freestyle event at 11:40 AM CST, while the men's field will get the second shift at 1:45 PM CST. Saturday will then be devoted to freestyle sprints with athletes vying for a qualifying spot in the heats at 11:30 AM CST, while the knockout rounds themselves will take place later in the day at 2:00 PM CST. Wrapping up the weekend is a 20K mass-start classic event on Sunday where the women's field will once again get the go-ahead, racing at 11:00 AM CST, while the men's field will have to wait until 1:15 PM CST to compete. The action doesn't end there though as a final day of racing, classic sprints, will take place on Tuesday following a rest day. Qualifiers and heats for that final event are scheduled for 10:00 AM CST and 12:30 PM CST respectively.

Tour de Finn: City of Lakes Loppet Recap

February 6, 2024

Despite a season in which it seems as though every other race has been rescheduled, postponed, or just cancelled outright, the Tour de Finn is making lemonade out of lemons and celebrated the third stop in their Series this weekend at the City of Lake Loppet. Catch up with their latest race recap to get the latest updates and find out what's next for the Tour.

Minnesota Section 8 Championship Coverage

February 6, 2024

The Minnesota High School Section 8 moved to the snowmaking venue of Mt Itasca for their championships on Tuesday. Fergus Falls' David Ronnenik winning performance in the boys pursuit, along with a second place finish by their sprint team, earned Fergus a place at the State Meet. Gabe Hallgren and Eli Knapp of Brainerd finished second and third in the pursuit, and when combined with their sprint team victory, easily locked up the team title. Bemidji boys scored third in the team sprint, providing a State Meet berth. The Brainerd girls had similar results to the boys, with Annelise Baird taking the girls pursuit title, and their sprint team finishing first in the final, to collect the team trophy. Alexandria's Jaelyn Miller was second in the pursuit, followed by Bemidji's Mia Hoffman. Sartell/Cathedral finished second in team scoring, and Moorhead was third in the team sprints, allowing both to advance. Results posted, along with photos from Becky Robertson.

Minnesota Section 3 Championship Coverage

February 6, 2024

The snowmaking venue at Battle Creek provided the courses for the Minnesota High School Section 3 Championships on Tuesday. The battle for the girls title proved extremely close as three teams finished within two points! Coming out on top yet again was the St. Paul Highland Park squad at 384 points, with St. Paul Central and St. Paul Academy tieing in second at 382 points -- Central winning the tiebreaker on top three pursuit times. On the boys side, St. Paul Central took the team title, just three points ahead of Mpls South/Roosevelt. Helping to secure that Central victory, the boys won the team sprint title, with Blake earning a trip to State as well. St. Paul Academy's girls won the team sprint final. Star Hanna Koch, Highland Park, dominated the girls pursuit, winning by nearly two minutes in front of teammate Alex Pundsack, with Central's Elsa Lindfors taking third. Minnehaha Academy's Finn Christiansen won the boys pursuit, Tim Tzeutschler, Highland Park, second and Henry Brandt, Central, in third. Results linked in, photos from the classic races posted.

Minnesota Section 2 Championship Coverage

February 6, 2024

Elm Creek was host to the Minnesota High School Section 2 Championships Tuesday, as temperatures soared into the 50s by the afternoon events. The Minnetonka duo of Evie Malec and Nina Fedje went 1-2 in the girls freestyle pursuit, helping to secure a spot for their team at the State Meet. Washburn's Chloe Angerman took third with teammate Zoe Wagner in fourth, leading Washburn to the team title. In the boys freestyle pursuit, Anders Westanmo, Bloomington Jefferson, and Edina's Jack Haerter put on a close race, with Westanmo pulling ahead in the final 300 meters. Sam Scott, Minneapolis Southwest was third. The Bloomington Jefferson boys won the team title, with Edina also advancing. Team sprint titles were won by Eden Prairie girls and Burnsville/Shakopee boys. Results linked in and photos from the freestyle pursuit posted.

Minnesota Section 1 Championship Coverage

February 6, 2024

Section 1 held their championship event Tuesday at Hyland Lake. Winona/Cotter's Anna Gilmer used a top classic performance to hold off Lakeville's Faye Braun for the girls pursuit title, with Emily Percival, Eastview/Rosemount taking third. Tommy Simmons, Prior Lake/New Prague, logged the fastest classic and skate legs to collect the boys title with Hastings' Josiah Trost using a strong freestyle leg to move up to second, Luke Poppinga, Eagan, finishing third. Team sprint victories were earned by Winona boys and Eastview/Rosemount girls. Overall team titles went to Prior Lake/New Prague boys and Winona/Cotter girls. Also qualifying for state were the Winona/Cotter boys and Eastview/Rosemount girls teams, and the sprint teams of 196 boys and Prior Lake/New Prague girls. Full results linked in, plus photos from the classic distance races.

WJC/U23 Championships: Bronze for Hagenbuch in Freestyle Sprints

February 6, 2024

Just a day after Samantha Smith made the podium respresenting the US in the opening event of the Junior World Championships, John Steel Hagenbuch did the same at the U23 World Championships, taking third in the men's freestyle final.

Wisconsin State Sprint Championships Recap

February 5, 2024

The Wisconsin State Sprint Championships for the Nordic High School League were held over the weekend at Ariens Nordic Center. Cathy Putman provides a full recap on the racing action!

WJC/U23 Championships: Smith Takes Silver in Freestyle Sprints

February 5, 2024

Sammy Smith of the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team started off the 2024 FIS Ski Junior World Championships with a silver medal in the first race of the championships, the skate sprint. The WJC/U23 championships are being held in Planica, Slovenia, this week.

Minnesota Section 6 Championship Coverage

February 5, 2024

The Minnesota High School Sectional competition got underway Monday with Section 6 Championships at Hyland Lake, utilizing their full 5K snowmaking loop. Hopkins' Logan Drevlow took the classic lead by 14 seconds over Wayzata's Daniel McCollor, then pushed it out another nine seconds to win the boys freestyle pursuit title. Josh Frett of Breck was third. Hanna Wilsey, St. Louis Park, held a narrow six second lead going to the skate race and again posted the best time to be crowned the girls champion, Erica Kazin, Orono/Delano was second with Lila Golomb, Wayzata, third. Wayzata swept the classic team sprint titles as the tandem of Matthew Janneke/Charlie Gundale won by just three seconds and the pairing of Margaux House/Carlee Freeman topped the girls field. The St. Louis Park girls won the team title over Wayzata, having to use the first tiebreaker of top three pursuit times to collect the win. Wayzata boys had the best team score. The Hopkins boys and Wayzata girls will join them at State, along with sprint teams from Orono/Delano boys and Hopkins girls. Results linked in, along with photos from the freestyle pursuit races.

Victor C Dunder Ski Equipment Award Nominees Sought

February 5, 2024

Nominations for Victor C. Dunder awards are due by March 31st. The Victor C. Dunder award is designed to get quality equipment to first year skiers in financial need.

MCSA: Mt. Ashwabay Summit Recap

February 4, 2024

Luke Dykowski reports: A rocket-fast day in Bayfield on a shortened, 12k skate course saw close finishes and some surprising upsets, with the Badger Men securing their first MCSA victory since the 2020 Birkie. With the Vasaloppet USA canceled, team and individual regional championships results - and USCSA Nationals qualifiers - are also included.

Wisconsin State Meet Postponed

February 4, 2024

In a Birkie trail update this morning, the Birkie announced the Wisconsin State Meet distance races, scheduled for Feb 10-11th, have been postponed in order to preserve the best conditions moving toward the 50th anniversary Birkie. No date/location has been announced for the State Meet. Note that the Birkie snowmaking trails are closed for the foreseeable future.

City of Lakes Loppet Freestyle Coverage

February 4, 2024

With temperatures dipping into the low 20s overnight, the course conditions were very firm and fast for the City of Lakes Loppet freestyle races Sunday morning. After a chaotic start that saw a sizeable group crash in the opening 200 meters, the Best of Loppet/wave 1 race settled into a fast paced two laps around the snowmaking trails at Wirth. The men's race split into a trio of skiers at the front by lap 2, who then brought it down to a tight sprint finish, jostling for lanes resulting in Brian Gregg crashing with Matt Liebsch taking the another win, Caden Albrecht slipping into second. Caitlin Gregg also repeated as the women's champion, with Julie Ensrud holding off a pack of chasers for second as junior Helen Townley was the best of that pack, earning third. Results linked in, photos and video recap are up!

NNF: World Cup Fan Bibs Fundraiser - Final Day

February 4, 2024

NNF has teamed up with Midwest manufacturers Borah Teamwear and Podiumwear to offer exclusive World Cup fan bibs! Make your $50 donation to NNF and receive one of these collector bibs, and show your support for US Nordic skiing development. Today, Feb 4th, is the last day for ordering them online!

Minnesota High School Sections Preview

February 3, 2024

This coming week is the Minnesota High School Sectional competition, with individuals and teams competing under some very difficult conditions for entry into the big dance: The Minnesota State Meet. We've got a breakdown on the section changes (many), locations and schedules.

City of Lakes Loppet Classic Coverage

February 3, 2024

Pulling out a fast 5K course, the Loppet Foundation kicked off their City of Lakes Loppet Festival weekend with classic races Saturday morning. From the Best of the Loppet/wave 1, Matt Liebsch and Brian Gregg powered away from the field early, with Liebsch eventually moving ahead to take the victory, Gregg second, and David Joda taking third in a sprint over Caden Albrecht. Caitlin Gregg strided to the womens title with Laura Cattaneo second and Vivian Johnson third. Blake Weiss and Julie Garretson took the slightly shorter Puoli loppet titles. Results linked in, photos up from the BOTL/wave 1 race, video recap coming later today.

Loppet Cup is a Go!

February 2, 2024

Today the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) officially gave the green light to the local organizing committee during the scheduled snow control meetings, giving the go-ahead for Minneapolis' Wirth Park to host the first World Cup in the United States in more than 23 years.

Short-notice: Vasabeiner Race Added

February 1, 2024

Pioneer Midwest is hoping to salvage part of the racing season by offering a 20K race on Saturday, Feb 10th, on the snowmaking loops at Hyland.

Loppet Volunteer Help

February 1, 2024

The Loppet is seeking additional volunteers to help pull off the City of Lakes Loppet Festival and Luminary Loppet. If can spare a few hours to chip in, please look over the opportunities available.

Vasaloppet USA Cancelled

February 1, 2024

The Vasaloppet USA organizers have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s races. Despite hard effort on snow farming, the warm weather has made it impossible to make new snow and maintain the course. They are planning for a Miniloppet; a casual day of skiing on Saturday, Feb 10th

Wisconsin Nordic High School Sprints Predictions

February 1, 2024

The Wisconsin High School Sprint Championships are this weekend, Feb 3-4, at the Ariens Nordic Center. Ken Schoville attempts to shed some light on possible champions in this snow sparse winter.

Canadian Birkie Cancelled

February 1, 2024

The Canadian Birkebeiner Society Board of Directors was forced to make the difficult decision to call off the in-person Birkie ski events on Saturday, February 10 due to lack of snow. Instead, all 2024 Canadian Birkie registrants and volunteers are receiving a complimentary registration by email for the Virtual Canadian Birkie.

Biathlon: Roster Named for 2024 World Championships

January 31, 2024

The United States Biathlon Association has posted the roster of athletes who will compete for the US at the 2024 IBU World Championships in Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic slated for February 7-18. Making the squad from the Midwest are Deedra Irwin and Jake Brown.

Weekend Racing

January 31, 2024

Feb 3-4 City of Lakes Loppet - All events will be on the snowmaking trails at Wirth, classic Saturday, freestyle on Sunday.
Feb 3 Mt. Ashwabay Summit - Racing on natural snow, now with 12K classic and skate races.
Feb 3 Valley Spur Classic - Old school 10K classic race on natural snow.
Check our Racing Outlook for updates we've collected.

MCSA: Half-Noque Recap

January 30, 2024

Luke Dykowski reports: 12 of 12 Half-Noque podium spots went to MCSA skiers, and 5 of 12 to freshmen. With the University of Minnesota-Duluth Men leading St. Olaf by a single point, and the St. Olaf Women only 14 points ahead of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, the chase for the Collegiate Cup should be even more hotly-contested than usual in this hotter-than-usual winter.

Metro East Conference Championships Coverage

January 30, 2024

Conference Championships are happening all across the state as teams prepare for sections next week. Metro East held theirs at Battle Creek on Tuesday, packing in a big day with classic and freestyle pursuit events. Ethan Albrecht, Mahtomedi, and Abigail Lindquist, Simley, won the pursuit races with the Hastings boys and Two Rivers girls topping the team pursuit scoring. Photographer Shannon Brault captured the action in the afternoon freestyle pursuit races.

Racing Outlook

January 29, 2024

Still early in the week, but so far, the three remaining events are still on track to race this weekend: City of Lakes Loppet, Mt. Ashwabay Summit and Valley Spur Classic.

Web Roundup

January 29, 2024

No Time Like Snow Time - After nearly oversleeping, Jessie Diggins recaps her win in Sunday's race along with quotes from the rest of the podium.
A Super SuperTour - Earning her first SuperTour victory and meeting a season goal, Renae Anderson reflects on her races in Lake Placid, New York.
Tour Talk - As a guest on the Hear Her Sports podcast, Jessie Diggins breaks down what led up to her title-winning Tour de Ski, on and off the snow.
Skiing in Sweden - Part of the US team overseas for the U18 Nordic Nations Cup, Daniel McCollor looks back on the first few days of training and racing in Falun.
Game On - Jessie Diggins joins France's Richard Jouve to play a game of "guess the year" hosted by Salomon.
Lantern Lighters - Minnesota Bound covers cross-country skiing and bright ideas at the Golden Eagle Lodge on the Gunflint Trail.
A Stonegrinder at Heart - Digging into what he does best, Tom Novak of Finn Sisu divulges his latest findings after testing grinds during this winter of 'none'.
Sexual Harassment Hits Ski Team - Findings by the U.S. Center for SafeSport illustrate a pattern of sexualized behavior over the course of years by a wax tech for the US biathlon team.
The Warmest Winter - With the snow melting and ice thawing it's not hard to believe that this is a record setting winter, but is it the warmest we've ever had?
Snowmaking in Spain - A new technique being tested in Spain is shaping up to be a breakthrough for making snow in warmer conditions using fewer resources.
Breaking the Mold - Mold builds up quickly in moist environments, so the New York Times is putting out a friendly reminder to clean your reusable bottles regularly.

Birkie Q&A Tonight

January 29, 2024

The Birkie staff will host an update on this year’s low snow winter and what that means for the 50th American Birkebeiner. The video conference will be live tonight, Jan 29th, at 7 am CST.

Price Hikes: City of Lakes Loppet,

January 28, 2024

Two price hikes coming around the end of this month:
Feb 3-4 City of Lakes Loppet - Snowmaking should provide for a course at Theodore Wirth.
Mar 9 Great Bear Chase - One of the big March events, running on the Swedetown trails.
The Loppet's final increase comes on Wednesday (register by Tuesday night), and the Great Bear Chase has a jump in fees starting Thursday (register by Wednesday night).

Iola Norseman Challenge Results

January 28, 2024

Iola Winter Sports Club squeaked out another natural snow race, hosting a 20K freestyle race on Sunday morning. Tristan Schouten took the men's victory with Olivia Dreger posted the top women's time.

World Cup Goms: Freestyle Distance; Determined Diggins Takes Win

January 28, 2024

Ending Period III of the World Cup on a high note, Sunday's mass-start freestyle race in Goms, Switzerland was yet another high point for US athletes in a season chalk full of them. The women's race started conservatively with the field resembling one long conga line through a majority of the 20K race as Jessie Diggins led the bunch. It would remain that way up until the final few kilometers when Frida Karlsson of Sweden made a move to break away and to which Diggins calmly responded to. Staying glued to her through the final turn, Diggins slingshotted around her into the final straightaway, comfortably taking the victory. After Karlsson came the Swiss crowd favorite, Nadine Faehndrich, completing the women's podium, and not long after her came two more American skiers, Sophia Laukli in 5th and Rosie Brennan in 7th, making it three in the top-10 for the US team. Playing out very similarly, the men's race came down to a late breakaway by two Norwegians, Simen Hegstad Krueger and Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, but there was little hope for Krueger against yesterday's sprint champion. Klaebo would go on to pick up another victory while Krueger was resigned to second, and a Frenchman, Jules Lapierre, led in the rest of the field for third. In the mix at times, Gus Schumacher finished the highest of the US men in 14th, while Scott Patterson also broke into the top-20 in 18th. After a break to rest and recover athletes will be heading overseas to North America for Period IV of the World Cup, making stops in Canmore in Alberta, Canada and in our very own backyard, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Pre-Birkie Cancelled

January 27, 2024

Organizers have announced the cancellation of the Feb 10th Pre-Birkie due to poor snow conditions and a warm forecast.

Noquemanon Results

January 27, 2024

Striking a victory against an anti-snow winter, the Noquemanon pulled off all their citizen races Saturday morning, with some modifications to course and distance. Over 900 skiers participated. Taking the 50K (23K) classic titles were team Gregg, Caitlin and Brian. 50K (23K) freestyle victories were repeats of the First Chance race earlier this season, Julia Harrison and Isaac Wieber. In the original 24K divisions (now 23K), classic titles went to Amea Kam-Magruder and Wes Sumner, freestyle to Hadley Jenson and Benjamin Bauer. And the 12K (now 10K) champions: classic Maija Rourke and Nathan McCaughan, freestyle Mylie Kelly and James Kreag.

World Cup Goms: Freestyle Sprints

January 27, 2024

It was business as usual for the World Cup on Saturday as athletes geared up for freestyle sprints. Six Americans made the heats among the men and women, and of those six three advanced to the semifinals: Jessie Diggins, Ben Ogden, and JC Schoonmaker. Their progress would be stopped short by a determined field however, which included a show of Swedish strength that saw five of their six skiers advance to the women's final. Due in part to those overwhelming odds, Sweden would go on to sweep the women's podium through the likes of an increasingly impressive Linn Svahn who was joined by Maja Dahlqvist and Jonna Sundling. The tightest contest of the day would go to a come-from-behind victory in the men's final by Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo over France's Lucas Chanavat, with Haavard Solaas Taugboel rounding out the top-3. One event remains in Goms, Switzerland, a mass-start 20K freestyle race.

Minnesota Finlandia Cancelled

January 26, 2024

The Minnesota Filandia organizers announced the cancellation of their February 17th race, citing poor snow conditions and warm forecasts.

World Cup Goms: Mixed Team Relay

January 26, 2024

After a team relay closed out last weekend's World Cup in Oberhof, there was a feeling of deja vu on Friday as another relay opened this weekend's competitions in Goms, Switzerland. Changing things up, teams were composed of two men and two women racing alternately over 5K each. Early on the race stayed competitive with much of the field intact, but by the final leg only five teams remained in contention: Sweden I and II, Norway I and II, and Finland I. With strong anchor skiers on both teams, Sweden's teams broke away heading into the home stretch to take the first two podium positions, while Norway I would follow them in for third. A young squad for the US had hoped to make their mark on the field, but a crash during their second leg would see their efforts end early today. Freestyle sprints become the focus for the field as they look towards tomorrow.

Price Hike: Vasaloppet USA

January 25, 2024

The Vasaloppet crew has been hard at work forming a man-made snow loop for the Vasaloppet weekend races. The big Vasaloppet weekend features freestyle races on Saturday, classic events on Sunday. The next price hike is Sunday, Jan 28th, so register by Saturday night to avoid the price increase.

World Cup Racing: Goms Schedule

January 24, 2024

Goms, Switzerland welcomes the World Cup this weekend as Period III of the circuit draws to a close. Picking up where we left off in Oberhof, a relay will open the occasion on Friday with the men's and women's fields coming together to represent their countries in a mixed team event which starts at 8:30 AM CST. Then freestyle sprints take the spotlight on Saturday, with athletes competing in a qualifier and elimination bracket at 6:00 AM CST and 8:30 AM CST respectively. A mass-start 20K freestyle race finishes things off on Sunday which will be led out by the women's field at 2:30 AM CST, and brought in by the men's field at 6:30 AM CST.

Racing Outlook

January 23, 2024

With the poor snowfall and warm weather, number of events have been cancelled or rescheduled heading into this weekend. Cancelled include Snowjourn and Marine/O'Brien; rescheduled include Lumberjack Jaunt and SMU (Winona) races. Noque making changes.

Coleraine JNQ Classic Results

January 21, 2024

Under warming temperatures, the JNA/CCSA racing picked up again Sunday with classic mass start races on the snowmaking trails at Mt Itasca in Coleraine. Canada continued to reign this weekend, with Cedric Martel, U18, taking mens 10K and Clara Hegan, U20, the women's. Alexander Bertonneau, CSS, U20, was second overall in the 10K with U16 star Logan Drevlow racing up take third! Hanna Koch, U18, was best of the Americans taking second with another Canadian, Mya Marshall, third. Winners of the 5K U16 races were Peter Hackney and Linnea Ousdigian. The CCSA 15K races were being held this afternoon.

Ariens King of Snow Festival Results

January 21, 2024

Ariens Nordic Center celebrated winter with King of Snow Festival, hosting their first citizen ski race on Sunday morning. Collecting a pair of premium Ariens snowblowers, Brian and Caitlin Gregg took the men's and women's victories in the inaugural 10K event. The 5K champions were N Penn and Chloe Koller.

MCSA Midwest Collegiate Cup: Season Preview

January 21, 2024

Luke Dykowski reports: With the Half-Noquemanon next Saturday marking the start of the chase for the MCSA Collegiate Cup, this bad boy has it all - a reflection on five years of the MCSA, a breakdown of this year's scoring and schedule, infallible predictions for Team Standings, and, per usual, color commentary from our athletes themselves.

World Cup Oberhof: Team Relays

January 21, 2024

Closing out the World Cup races in Oberhof, Germany, teams of four lined up to represent their nations in a 4x7.5K event on Sunday. Two very different sets of tactics came into play over the course of the men's and women's races: one showing restraint, and the other dominance. The women's victors, Sweden I, took the latter, establishing an early lead that would see them comfortably glide to another team title. Finishing second, the Germany I team put in a valiant effort, making up substantial time on the Swedish leaders in their final leg to make the women's race appear closer than it was and excite the home crowd. And following them a short while later was the Finland I team who crossed the in third. The men's victors, Norway I, waited up until the final hundred meters of the race to make a decisive move and secure their win. Also skiing a strong last leg, Italy I would sneak onto the men's podium in second, with the Norway II team taking the last podium spot just behind them. With several athletes sitting out the race to recover, the US women did not field a relay team, but the US men did. Consisting of Zak Ketterson, Scott Patterson, Ben Ogden, and Gus Schumacher, together they finished 13th. Next weekend the World Cup moves to Goms, Switzerland for the second half of Period III.

Coleraine JNQ Freestyle Results

January 20, 2024

Junior Nationals qualification, along with the collegiate CCSA series, resumed on Saturday with freestyle racing action at Mt. Itasca in Coleraine. In the men's 7.5K, Colin Freed, MTU, bested Matt Liebsch by just eight seconds with NMU's Kristoffer Arm Karsrud only two additional seconds back in third. Top U20 male was Wes Campbell in 5th; Canadian Cedric Martel had the best U18 finish in 12th. Clara Hegan from Thunder Bay won the women's 7.5K race (and was the top U20!), Anabel Needham, MTU, second with Victoria Klevan Dybwad, NMU, third. Top U18 result was claimed by Hanna Koch in 13th. Champions of the 5K U16 races were Anders Decker and Linnea Ousdigian. Sunday will feature classic mass start races.

She de Ski Results

January 20, 2024

Well over 300 women participated in the She de Ski events Saturday at the Birkie Trailhead in Cable. The 30K freestyle was a battle of stars, with Annika Landis taking the victory, Caitlin Gregg in second and Holly Brooks third. Maggie Bowman won the women's 20K with Josie Nelson second, Margie Nelson third. Elin Hartmann took the 10K title with Wren Saveraid the best of the 5K field.

Tower Ridge 10K Coverage

January 20, 2024

A small but hardy crew turned out Saturday morning in Eau Claire for the annual Tower Ridge races, hosted by UW-Eau Claire Nordic ski team. Andy Schakel collected the 10K mens title, Rachael Jensen the win for the women. Results along with photos and a highlight video are up now.

World Cup Oberhof: Classic Distance

January 20, 2024

Saturday's 20K classic race was an odds-on occasion for the favorites as athletes turned out for the mass-start event. In what has become a recurring theme and surprise to no one, a trio from Norway—Erik Valnes, Martin Loewstroem Nyenget, and Paal Golberg—swept the podium in the men's race, with Valnes picking up his second consecutive victory. Meanwhile, the women's podium was composed of three go-to classic specialists, Frida Karlsson of Sweden, hometown hero Katharina Hennig, and Kerttu Niskanen of Finland. The highlight of the day among the US athletes was a pair of top-10 finishes by Jessie Diggins (6th) and Rosie Brennan (10th), while Zak Ketterson (40th) was the fastest to finish of the men. Athletes will team up to ski four legs at 7.5K each in a relay format tomorrow, the final day of racing in Oberhof.

Moose Nordic Junior Nationals Scholarships

January 19, 2024

Moose Nordic will be giving out two scholarships for Team Midwest athletes attending Junior Nationals in Lake Placid this year. The application deadline is January 31st.

World Cup Oberhof: Classic Sprints

January 19, 2024

Returning to action with classic sprints, the World Cup entered the third of five periods of racing on Friday. Kicking things off in Oberhof, Germany, eight Americans qualified for the heats, a season high, although it would be one of the seemingly rare occasions where none would make the podium. Ben Ogden made it the furthest, advancing all the way to the men's final where he finished 6th, while Jessie Diggins again led the women's team, making it to the semifinals and finishing 9th overall. Both the men's and women's podiums were a point of national pride, with the Norwegian team sweeping the men's podium via Erik Valnes, Ansgar Evensen, and Even Northug, while the Swedish team would do the same for the women's podium via Linn Svahn, Frida Karlsson, and Jonna Sundling. Tomorrow the classic racing action continues with a mass-start 20K race planned for both the men's and women's fields.

Ring of Snow Challenge Coming Next Weekend

January 18, 2024

Replacing the Badger State Games, the Ring of Snow Challenge is scheduled for Jan 27th in Wausau. The event features three and six hour race divisions -- ski solo and form a team!

Ariens: King of Snow Festival this Weekend

January 18, 2024

Ariens Nordic Center will host a King of Snow festival this weekend, Jan 20-21, with fat bike races on Saturday and freestyle ski races on Sunday. Top male and female finishers in the 10K Freestyle ski race and the fat bike Elite Category race will win an Ariens 90th Anniversary Limited Edition Sno-Thro! Plus join them for a Packers viewing party Saturday evening.

NNF: World Cup Fan Bibs Fundraiser

January 17, 2024

NNF has teamed up with Midwest manufacturers Borah Teamwear and Podiumwear to offer exclusive World Cup fan bibs! Make your $50 donation to NNF and receive one of these collector bibs, and show your support for US Nordic skiing development.

World Cup Racing: Oberhof Schedule

January 16, 2024

Period III of the World Cup starts up in just a matter of days, the last batch of racing before the circuit heads overseas. Spending a weekend each in Germany and Switzerland, the first stop is in Oberhof, this Friday, where classic sprints will be the opening event. Qualifiers for those sprints will be held at 5:50 AM CST, while the heats will take place a couple hours later at 8:20 AM CST. Athletes then turn their attention to a mass-start 20K classic race on Saturday where the men will compete first at 3:25 AM CST, and the women afterward at 6:30 AM CST. Finally, national pride is on the line on Sunday with teams of four dueling it out in the women's and men's team relays, taking place at 3:50 AM CST and 6:10 AM CST respectively.

Racing Outlook

January 16, 2024

A number of changes to the calendar, but several races are still on including the Tower Ridge 10K, Tour de She, and Coleraine JNQs.

Web Roundup

January 16, 2024

New Heights - The Washington Post recognizes the new levels the US cross-country team is achieving this season.
Freed Heat - Finn Sisu has a blog post from Margie Freed on her early season biathlon experience and use of saunas.
US Nats Recap - Renae Anderson recaps her US Nationals experiences out at Soldier Hollow, Utah.
Seeley Hills - The big races at the Seeley Hills Classic are covered in this latest post from Pioneer Midwest.
Hear Her Sports - A new podcast to dig into -- this episode from last fall features Jessie Diggins.
New Chapter - The Star Tribune featured Maplelag's new chapter in their recovery from the lodge fire in 2022.
In Season Training - New Moon has a reprint of a Silent Sports article they did on in-season preparation for upcoming races.
Inside the Wax Truck - Threshold podcast hosted by Chad Salmela features a look into the US ski teams wax tech with Chris Hecker  (Apple podcast).
Power Ups - Gear West posted five tips on keeping a positive attitude when things aren't going so well.
Prophecy of the Nimrods - The Nimrods have won five giant ski events and now plan for their sixth...
Silver Star - Endurance Adventures give their top 10 reasons to hit the trails at Silver Star, in British Columbia.

Minnesota High School Rankings - Round 3

January 16, 2024

The Minnesota Coaches Association has released their third round of high school Nordic Skiing rankings. Wayzata's Daniel McCollor and St. Paul Highland Park's Hannah Koch remain the top ranked skiers. Brainerd boys take over of the top of the team rankings, with Duluth East girls continuing as number 1.

Birkie Q&A Monday Night, Event Updates Deadline Tuesday

January 15, 2024

The Birkie is just over a month away and tonight, Jan 15th, organizers will be hosting a Facebook Live meeting with a Q&A session. Plus, if you need to make any event updates or wave changes, you need to get them in by Tuesday night, Jan 16th!

ABC Relays Coverage

January 13, 2024

Nearly 250 high school skiers hit the trails at the Vasaloppet Nordic Center in Mora for the always exciting ABC Relays on Saturday. The Sartell girls squad shined brightest on the day, not only coming in first but second as well (A and B teams!), with Minneapolis Washburn (A) best of the rest. The Blaine boys (A team) stood a top of the podium with Minneapolis Washburn (A) just three seconds ahead of Minnehaha Academy (A). Top splits on the day: Emma Jamison, Sartell, classic; Lily Jamison, Sartell, freestyle; Edward Sobiech, Little Falls, classic; Jack Jendro, Andover, freestyle. Full results linked in, photos from Shannon Brault posted!

Lapham Loppet Results

January 13, 2024

As a major winter storm was exiting the region, over 120 skiers came out to Lapham Peak for the annual Lapham Loppet Saturday morning. Thomas Stuber skied away from the field, taking the win a minute and half ahead of Tristan Schouten with Danny Sonnentag third. Lindsey Kriete skated to the women's victory, only 47 seconds ahead of Anne Straka (the top classic female!), with Ellie Schouten third. Nathan Burke the top men's classic time.

Saint Paul JNQ Classic Sprints Coverage

January 13, 2024

Battle Creek hosted classic sprint races Saturday as part of the Junior National Qualification series. The sprint course utilized much of the Prairie loop, including the infamous A climb. Miles Miner collected the U20/U18 title, just ahead of Anders Westanmo and Josh Frett. Sydney Drevlow dominated the girls final, finishing a full 10 seconds ahead of the field as Hanna Wilsey took second and Lydia Kraker third. The U16 champions were Logan Drevlow and Elsa Lindfors. Results linked in, video recaps from the U20/U18 races posted.

Seeley Hills Classic Results

January 13, 2024

Racing at the Birkie Trailhead in Cable, the Seeley Hills Classic drew in over 300 skiers for races on Saturday. In the 32K division, Brian Gregg edged out David Joda for victory with Matt Liebsch third. Caitlin Gregg made it a household sweep, Ingrid Thyr taking second and Josie Nelson third. The shorter 20K event was won by Leif Hanson with Kai Ludwig second and Norbert Koenigsfeld third. Katie Milligan Susong had the top women's time, Emily Fjorden second and Julie Garretson third. Jack Dahlby and Stella Meza won the 6K high school races.

Price Hike: Seeley Hills Classic

January 10, 2024

Seeley Hills Classic this year is racing at the Birkie Trailhead, taking advantage of the snowmaking operations for good skiing conditions. A price hike is coming late Thursday night, Jan 11th, so get your register in before midnight!

Tour de Finn: First Chance Race Recap

January 9, 2024

After a quieter than usual start to the season, racing action throughout the Midwest is getting back underway. Mora, MN hosted the First Chance Race this past weekend which was the second opportunity to score points in the newly minted Tour de Finn Series. With the next scoring event already on the horizon, get up to date on the latest in the Series with their most recent recap.

Loppet Foundation: All Things Loppet Cup

January 8, 2024

With the World Cup races at Theodore Wirth just over a month away, the Loppet is highlighting their new Loppet Cup poster, watch parties, merchandise and lodging options.

US Nationals: Classic Sprints Results

January 7, 2024

The 2024 US Cross-Country Ski Championships drew to a close on Sunday with classic sprints as the final event. The Midwest was well represented once again among the senior women, with Alayna Sonnesyn showing her sprinting prowess as the second overall finisher and first American. She would finish just behind Karianne Olsvik Dengerud of Norway who had won the freestyle sprints earlier in the week, while another Midwesterner, Merle Richter, would finish just behind the two of them in third. All together nearly a third of the women who qualified for the heats had some tie to the Midwest, including Margie Freed who also reached the final, finishing 6th, and Erin Bianco and Renae Anderson who both reached the semifinals, finishing 10th and 11th respectively. Luke Jager was the top American in the men's final, winning outright over Tom Mancini of France and another American, Michael Earnhart. And picking up another nod as the best of the Midwest senior men, John Schwinghamer ended his day in the quarterfinals, finishing 16th, while Reid Goble also broke into the top-20, finishing 18th. Finally, the winners among the junior crowd included Finegan Bailey and Maeve Ingelfinger, with Ingelfinger also mirroring her result in the freestyle sprints.

Tour de Ski: Stage 7 Freestyle Distance; Diggins Take the Tour, Laukli Takes the Stage

January 7, 2024

The culmination of a week's worth of racing was on the line for the final stage of the Tour de Ski on Sunday. On a grueling 10K freestyle course leading to, and up, Alpe Cermis in Val di Fiemme, Italy, athletes were competing for the final podium of Period II of the World Cup, and more importantly, the overall Tour de Ski title. Jessie Diggins was the star of the show for the US squad, pushing her body to the limit up the alpine climb to finish 6th, enough to secure her second career Tour de Ski title. Not to be overshadowed by her teammate, Sophia Laukli also shown bright for the US, skiing a tactically sound race to take the stage win, her first World Cup victory. She would best Norway's Heidi Weng by over 15 seconds, with France's Delphine Claudel another 20 seconds back in third. Weng could take solace in a second place finish in the overall standings however, and Finland's Kerttu Niskanen would complete that podium, finishing third. While it seemed unlikely that anyone would be able to overtake Norway's Harald Oestberg Amundsen for the men's title, a few would try including Jules Lapierre of France and Friedrich Moch of Germany. The two would break away late, finishing in that order, with Lapierre's countryman, Hugo Laplaus, also finding the space necessary to make a third place finish. Their lead would not be enough to stop Amundsen from taking the overall title, although Moch and Laplaus would be rewarded for the efforts with a promotion to second and third place on the overall podium. Zanden McMullen and Scott Patterson finished their tour of duty for the US men's team with 36th and 42nd place finishes respectively, and additional notable performances from the women's team included a 12th place finish by Rosie Brennan and a 23rd place finish by Samantha Smith. Period III of the World Cup will get underway in just under two week's time on Jan 19th. (Photo: Leann Bentley)

Marshall Holiday Ski Camp Set for Jan 13-15

January 6, 2024

The Marshall School Holiday Ski Camp will be held, on snow, the weekend of Jan 13-15 at Spirit Mountain Nordic Center. The camp is open to all skiers ages 5-12, with rental equipment, sledding, and treats all included. Registration is now open.

Mesabi East Invite Coverage

January 6, 2024

Nearly 900 skiers hit a custom course along the downhill basin at Giants Ridge Saturday in the Mesabi East/Giants Ridge Invite. Starting off with classic racing, Fergus Falls' David Ronnevik notched the best time for the boys with Lance Hastings, Brained, second and Daniel Gladkov, Wayzata, third. Erica Kazin, Orono, strided to the girls classic title, Della Bettendorf, Proctor/Hermantown, second and St. Paul Central's Elsa Lindfors third. Freestyle racing was in the afternoon with Mounds Park Academy's Eddie Snider having the best skate time, Time Tzeutschler, St. Paul Highland Park, second and Eli Knapp, Brainerd, third. For the girls, Mounds Views Linnea Ousdigian bested last season's State champion Lydia Kraker of Duluth East, with Greta Henderickson, Duluth East, third. The Brainerd boys won the team title (just 3 points ahead of Wayzata), Duluth East the best girls team, and Duluth East having the best combined team score as well. Full results linked in, photos by Shannon Brault posted.

First Chance Races Coverage

January 6, 2024

Vasaloppet organizers pulled together a 1K man-made snow trail to allow for racing action Saturday afternoon at the Nordic Center in Mora. Isaac Wieber took the men's 10K race after Alex Reich took a stumble in the final 250m, with Paul Olson, Mora native, finishing third. Julia Harrison topped the women's field, Lisa Garretson second and Allie Rykken third. Results linked in, photos up from both 10K and 5K events along with a video recap of the 10K.

Tour de Ski: Stage 6 Classic Distance

January 6, 2024

A mix of rain, sleet, and snow in Toblach, Italy made for difficult racing conditions on Saturday for the penultimate event of the Tour de Ski, a mass-start 15K classic race. Due to the weather, both the men's and women's event largely became a group ski, resulting in each race being decided by whatever sprinters remained in contention. For the men's race it was the Norwegian Erik Valnes who took the helm heading into the home stretch, beating William Poromaa of Sweden and Cyril Faehndrich of Switzerland at the line. Similarly, Sweden's Linn Svahn would overtake her teammate, Frida Karlsson, in the final moments of the women's race as Germany's Katharina Hennig would cross the line in third. Right on the heels of the lead women, Jessie Diggins reached the finish in 8th, doing enough to secure a 43 second lead heading into the final stage tomorrow. Following Diggins was Rosie Brennan who finished 12th, and Sophia Laukli would also have a top-20 finish in 17th. Scott Patterson and Zanden McMullen were again the sole representatives of the US men and finished 27th and 31st respectively. Closing out the Tour de Ski and Period II of the World Cup is the 10K freestyle accent up Alpe Cermis which will start en masse for each gender Sunday.

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

January 5, 2024

The end of the Tour de Ski is in sight with just two stages remaining. Moving to Val di Fiemme, Italy for the final leg, the World Cup program for Saturday and Sunday calls for mass-start events on both days, with a 15K classic race on the former and a 10K freestyle race on the latter. The women will lead off on Saturday at 4:30 AM CST, followed by the men at 8:25 AM CST, and then the order will reverse for the infamous climb up Alpe Cermis on Sunday, with the men out first at 7:30 AM CST, followed by the women at 8:45 AM CST.

US Nationals: Freestyle Distance Coverage

January 5, 2024

Friday marked the second distance competition of the 2024 US Cross-Country Ski Championships, a mass-start freestyle race with the senior athletes racing 20K and the junior athletes 10K. The senior women's race would only be decided by a handful of seconds with Haley Brewster taking the victory, and with it the title of national champion. Kendall Kramer and Margie Freed would finish behind her, completing the all-American podium, which landed Margie Freed her second all-American podium finish of these Championships, a fantastic showing by the Midwesterner. Also representing the Midwest well were Erin Bianco, Renae Anderson, and Alayna Sonnesyn who each broke into the top-20 with 12th, 16th, and 17th place finishes respectively. In contrast to the senior women's competition, the top finisher in the men's race, John Steel Hagenbuch, would do so by a healthy margin of 40 seconds over the next fastest skier, Tom Mancini of France. Rounding out the senior men's overall podium was Great Britain's Joe Davies, and the next two skiers, Peter Wolter in 4th and Elijah Weenig in 5th, would complete the all-American podium with Hagenbuch as the national champion. A 21st place finish by Reid Goble was the highlight of the Midwest senior men, while junior titles in today's distance event went to Neve Gerard and Jack Lange, with Lange claiming his second title of these Championships. One final event, classic sprints, awaits athletes on Sunday.

US Nationals: Freestyle Sprints Coverage

January 4, 2024

The 2024 US Cross-Country Ski Championships continued on Thursday with the crowning of the national champions in freestyle sprints. A strong day for the Midwest women, a third of the qualifiers for the heats had some tie to Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Michigan. In the senior women's final the Midwest's own Alayna Sonnesyn earned the title of national champion as the first American to finish, placing second overall to Karianne Olsvik Dengerud of Norway. The third and fourth skiers in the final, Hayley Brewster and Alexandra Lawson, joined Sonnesyn on the all-American podium. Two other Midwesterners also made it as far as the semifinals: Erin Bianco, who finished 7th, and Merle Richter, who finished 10th. There was no foreign influence on the overall podium in the men's final, with the top three finishers comprising the all-American podium of Will Koch, the national champion, and Logan Diekmann and John Steel Hagenbuch. Two Midwest representatives qualified for the heats in the senior men's competition, with John Schwinghamer making it as far as the semifinals, finishing 11th, and Kristoffer Alm Karsrud advancing to the final, finishing 6th. Lastly, top results in the junior sprints came from Maeve Ingelfinger and a Michigan Tech skier, Wes Campbell. Another set of national champions will be crowned on Friday following mass-start freestyle races.

Tour de Ski: Stage 5 Classic Distance; Brennan and Diggins Share Podium Again

January 4, 2024

A decisive day for athletes heading into the final two races of the Tour de Ski, Thursday's pursuit-start 20K classic race would turn out to be one of the highest of high points in a season full of them for the US women. Rosie Brennan led an inspired performance, dueling with the Finnish great Kerttu Niskanen late on to take second on the day. And needing to maintain her advantage over the rest of the competition in the overall standings, Jessie Diggins overcame an early nosedive to stick with the bulk of the women's field, staying strong to the end to put her stamp on third place. With Ben Ogden bowing out of the Tour de Ski earlier in the week, and Gus Schumacher taking his leave today, only two remained for the US men, Scott Patterson and Zanden McMullen, who finished 24th and 28th respectively. On the podium for the men's race were Harald Oestberg Amundsen, Henrik Doennestad, and Martin Loewstroem Nyenget, all hailing from Norway. Following a day off on Friday, the final stages of the Tour de Ski will be held in Val di Fiemme, Italy on Saturday and Sunday.

Tour de Ski: Stage 4 Freestyle Sprints; Three in Three for Diggins, Success for Schumacher

January 3, 2024

Lining up under the lights in Davos, Switzerland, athletes competed in freestyle sprints on Wednesday as they crossed the halfway point of the Tour de Ski. Another productive outing for the US team, Kevin Bolger, Zanden McMullen, Gus Schumacher, Rosie Brennan, Jessie Diggins, Julia Kern, and Samantha Smith were among the 30 men and 30 women who qualified for the heats, a first for McMullen and Smith. Making it all the way to the women's final, Jessie Diggins held on for her third podium in as many races, finishing third behind Norway's Kristen Stavaas Skistad and the winner of the event, Linn Svahn of Sweden. Of the US men, Gus Schumacher would go on to have a career best day, not only advancing to the semifinals for the first time, but also making it to the final where he would finish in 4th. That final would be won by the resurgent Lucas Chanavat of France, followed shortly after by Sweden's Edvin Anger and Italy's Federico Pellegrino. With one more race in Davos before they hit the road again, Stage 5 tomorrow will see athletes compete in a pursuit-start 20K classic race.

US Nationals: Classic Distance Coverage

January 2, 2024

The skies were clear and the weather comfortably warm for the start of the 2024 Cross-Country Ski Championships on Tuesday. The opening event of the competition in Midway, Utah was a 10K classic race which saw the women's field take to the trails first. Tilde Baangman of Sweden crossed the line with the fastest time in the individual-start event, while Sydney Palmer-Leger posted the next fastest time as the top American and national champion. Third overall went to Karianne Olsvik Dengerud of Norway, and just behind her was Margie Freed who proudly represented the Midwest as the runner-up to the national champion. Completing the all-American podium was Nina Schaumburger who finished 7th overall as the top junior. Additional standout results by skiers with ties to the Midwest included Renae Anderson in 14th, Hannah Rudd in 16th, Alayna Sonnesyn in 19th, and Sarah Goble in 20th. For the men's race, the overall podium consisted of Andreas Kirkeng of Norway, Joe Davies of Great Britain, and Luke Jager who was the top American and national champion. Joining Jager on the all-American podium where Peter Walter and David Norris who finished 4th and 7th overall, while Jack Lange was the top junior in 15th. Skylar Patten would claim the best result for the Midwest men, finishing 29th. Freestyle sprints will be the focus on Wednesday and Thursday for the second event of the 2024 US Cross-Country Ski Championships. Results posted, along with a selection of photos by Tryg Solberg.

Loppet Cup Trivia Night Monday Jan 8th

January 1, 2024

Gather your friends and celebrate the Loppet Cup with a trivia night at Utepils Brewing on Monday, Jan 8th. RSVP to register to team today!

World Cup Racing: Tour de Ski Stages 4 and 5 Schedule

January 1, 2024

It's on to Davos, Switzerland for the second set of World Cup races in the Tour de Ski. Stage 4 on Wednesday features freestyle sprints which will get underway with a qualifying round at 7:30 AM CST, leading into the elimination bracket at 10:00 AM CST. A pursuit-start 20K classic race then takes center stage on Thursday with the women's and men's fields on course at 3:45 AM CST and 6:00 AM CST respectively.

Biathlon: 12 Athletes to Compete at 2024 Youth/Junior World Championships in Estonia

January 1, 2024

The World Junior and Youth Trials wrapped up on Sunday at Mt Itasca in Coleraine with athletes earning the right to represent the US in upcoming championships overseas. From the Midwest, Alexandra Rud and Matej Cervenka will be competing at the Youth and Junior World Championships in Otepää, Estonia beginning in late February and Evelyn Hurdrik headed to the Junior IBU Cup and Junior Open European Championships in Jakuszyce, Poland at the start of February.

Tour de Ski: Stage 3 Freestyle Distance; Diggins Remains Dominant

January 1, 2024

Looking to start the new year on the right foot, athletes wrapped up the first block of Tour de Ski races with a 20K freestyle event. Starting the pursuit format race with a six second lead, Jessie Diggins did what she does best: go all out from start to finish. Putting time in to the rest of the field time check after time check, Diggins confidentiality collected the stage win with a 45-second lead in the overall standings to boot. Leading in the rest of the women's field, Victoria Carl of Germany would cross the line in second, with Linn Svahn of Sweden behind her in third. The men's race would play out a little differently as Norway's Harald Oestberg Amundsen and Erik Valnes would both start the race with over a minute lead. The two would remain uncontested for the entirety of the race, with Amundsen pulling away late on to take the stage win. A group sprint for third saw a third Norwegian, Jan Thomas Jenssen, reach the podium, while the ever improving Gus Schumacher would cross the line a few seconds back in 10th, the top finisher for the US men. After a much deserved day off, the Tour de Ski will continue on Wednesday in Davos, Switzerland for Stages 4 and 5.

Tour de Ski: Stage 2 Classic Distance; Diggins Returns to Podium

December 31, 2023

Capitalizing on their strong start yesterday, Stage 2 of the Tour de Ski was a chance for US athletes to secure their footing in the race for the title. Leading the way for the team in Sunday's interval-start 10K classic race were Jessie Diggins and Ben Ogden who both had strong results once again, with Diggins putting in a gutsy performance to stand in third on women's podium, while Ogden would fight his way into the top-10 in the men's race, finishing 9th. Rosie Brennan would also lay it all out in her race, finishing just off the podium in a 4th, and Gus Schumacher maintained his hot start to the Tour de Ski, earning a top-20 placement in 15th. No country would be happier with their teams performance than Finland however, as two of their athletes would take the top honors on the day, Kerttu Niskanen and Perttu Hyvarinen. Joining Niskanen and Diggins on the women's podium was Germany's Victoria Carl, while Norway's Erik Valnes and Harald Oestberg Amundsen accompanied Hyvarinen on the men's podium. The last day of competitions in Toblach, Italy, taking place tomorrow, is reserved for a pursuit-start 20K freestyle race.

Tour de Ski: Stage 1 Freestyle Sprints; Podium Debut for Ogden

December 30, 2023

The Tour de Ski got off to raucous start on Saturday for one of the most grueling campaigns of the World Cup season encompassing seven races in nine days. Toblach, Italy is the site of the first three races, with freestyle sprints the task at hand for Stage 1. Taking to the challenging, multi-lap course, new faces were welcomed to the podium in both the men's and women's events, including a breakthrough third place finish by American Ben Ogden, his first podium appearance. Of the rest of the podium, Sweden's Linn Svahn would make a statement securing the top spot in the women's final, followed by teammate Jonna Sundling and Norwegian Kristen Stavaas Skistad. France's Lucas Chanavat would take advantage of the absence of Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo in the men's final, and would be join by his fellow countryman and podium debutant, Jules Chappaz. All together, six made the heats for the US—Rosie Brennan, Jessie Diggins, Julia Kern, Kevin Bolger, Ben Ogden, and Gus Schumacher—with Diggins and Kern both making it as far as the semifinals. The Tour de Ski continues tomorrow with an interval-start 10K classic race for Stage 2.

Sisu Ski Fest Cancelled

December 29, 2023

Bare ground and wet conditions have forced organizers to cancel the Sisu Ski Fest races, but they plan to host a party complete with lunch, expo and race swag.

Biathlon: World Junior and Youth Trials - Day 1

December 29, 2023

Hard work, including a lot of snow hauling, allowed Mt Itasca to salvage their snowmaking course and host the first day of competition for World Junior and Youth qualifications on Friday in Coleraine. Top Midwest results: Matej Cervenka 6th MJ; Eric Anderson 4th MY; Kasia Bosek 3rd WJ; Evelyn Hudrlik 2nd WY.

NNF: World Cup Fan Bibs Fundraiser

December 28, 2023

NNF has teamed up with Midwest manufacturers Borah Teamwear and Podiumwear to offer exclusive World Cup fan bibs! Make your $50 donation to NNF and receive one of these collector bibs, and show your support for US Nordic skiing development.

World Cup Racing: Tour de Ski Stages 1, 2, and 3 Schedule

December 27, 2023

World Cup racing returns this weekend for the start of Period II and the opening stages of the Tour de Ski. The venue for the first three stages is Toblach, Italy, where freestyle sprints will kick off the competitions on Saturday with a qualifying round set for 5:00 AM CST, and the elimination heats set for 7:30 AM CST. Athletes then have an interval-start 10K classic race to look forward to the following day, led-out by the women's field at 5:15 AM CST, followed by the the men's field at 8:00 AM CST. Lastly, a pursuit-start 20K freestyle race will ring in the new year on Monday with the men's field getting the 'go' first at 3:00 AM CST, and the women's field following suit at 5:30 AM CST. A more condensed US squad is taking to the trails for Period II of the World Cup, meaning all eyes from the Midwest will have to be on Jessie Diggins and Kevin Bolger as our representatives.

Racing Outlook

December 25, 2023

The warm weather and rain has played havoc with even the snowmaking venues. Spooner and Hayward Holiday Dash events cancelled, other races in assessment mode.

Winter Warmup Coverage

December 23, 2023

The usually warm winter seemed almost fitting on Saturday morning for the Winter Warmup races. Dense fog, mash potato snow, and big fields led to some tight racing, along with a few crashes, for both the 10K and 5K races. Olympian and NCAA champion Magnus Boee dominated the race, pulling away from Brian Gregg in the final 500m to take the men's 10K title, Gregg second and Cooper Camp moving up to third. Caitlin Gregg topped the women's field with Lauren McCollor second, Cheresa Bouley in third. Wayzata HS brought nearly their full squad out for some fun in the 5K, taking the boys and girls victories: Hudson McMillan and Lila Golomb. Full results posted, full photosets up now.

Minnesota High School Rankings - Round 2

December 20, 2023

The Minnesota Coaches Association has released their second round of high school Nordic Skiing rankings. Perhaps the biggest change is Hopkin's Sydney Drevlow has been dropped as she will be competing internationally and will miss the State Meet. Wayzata's Daniel McCollor takes over the number 1 ranking after some blazing JNQ events and St. Paul Highland Park's Hannah Koch moves to the top of the girls list. Duluth East remains the top ranked boys and girls teams.

Holiday Relays Coverage

December 20, 2023

Holiday Relays, one the old school events on the high school calendar, returned to the lineup Wednesday afternoon with relay races on the snowmaking trails at Battle Creek. The St. Paul Central boys started things off cruising to a victory over Stillwater with Irondale just passing Mounds View for third. The girls race provided a lot of fireworks as St. Paul Central took the early lead with Stillwater overtaking them in the later legs to collect the title. St. Louis Park moved up to take second and Stillwater finished third. Results posted along with big photosets and video recaps of the varsity races.

Register your Team for Loppet Cut Trivia Night

December 18, 2023

Celebrating the Loppet Cup, which will bring the world to Theodore Wirth in February, come out to Utepils Brewing on Jan 8th and bring your friends for an evening of trivia competition. RSVP to register to team today!

SuperTour Anchorage: Classic Sprints, Freestyle Distance Highlights

December 17, 2023

SuperTour racing in Anchorage, Alaska wrapped up over the weekend with athletes competing in classic sprints and a mass-start 10K freestyle race. Saturday's sprints were won by the same pair that had won the sprints just a few days prior, Samantha Smith and Julien Locke, but that trend did not carry through to Sunday's mass-start race as Sonjaa Schmidt and Michael Earnhart instead got their first wins of the season. For top performers from the Midwest, Erin Bianco and Reid Goble earned the best results on both days, with Goble reaching the podium twice through 3rd and 2nd place finishes, and Bianco breaking into the top-10 twice through 7th and 6th place finishes. Other notable standouts included Renae Anderson, who finished 10th on Saturday and 13th on Sunday, along with another three who finished inside the top-20 in the mass-start race: Margie Freed, 7th; Sarah Goble, 12th; and Michaela Keller-Miller, 18th. US Nationals are the next stop for the SuperTour, taking place just after the New Year at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah.

Cable JNQ/CCSA Freestyle Results

December 17, 2023

With slightly drier conditions on Sunday, skiers hit a challenging 2.5K man-made snow loop at the Birkie Trailhead for day 2 of JNQ/CCSA competition. In the women's 10K, NMU's Merle Richter scored a weekend sweep with the victory with Anabell Needham, MTU, second and Olivia Laven, MTU, third. Audrey Parham had the top U20 time in 11th, and Sydney Drevlow was best of the U18 women at 12th. Skylar Patten, MTU, skied to the men's 10K title with NMU's Kristoffer Karsrud second and MTU's Wes Campbell third (and top U20 skier). Daniel McCollor cruised to the U18 best time, finishing 12th. In the 5K U16 races, Linnea Ousdigian and Logan Drevlow both had dominating wins, completing their own weekend sweep. Results linked in, photos posted, video clips coming Monday.

World Cup Trondheim: Classic Distance; Second for Brennan

December 17, 2023

Trondheim saved some of the best skiing for last as old favorites renewed their status and new ones found their footing in the final races of Period I. Having just made her first World Cup podium appearance the day before, Germany's Victoria Carl would take it a stride further in Sunday's interval-start 10K classic race, earning her first World Cup victory by a hearty 20 seconds over the rest of the field. The next closest skier behind her was the American Rosie Brennan who earned her second individual podium of the season, finishing just seconds ahead of Sweden's Ebba Andersson. And while it wouldn't be a podium day for Jessie Diggins, she would still put in a performance to be proud of with a 4th place finish. After getting off to what could be considered a rocky start, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo sealed his sweep of the weekend's races in his hometown, standing atop a podium that was also swept by Norway as Paal Golberg took 2nd beside a new face, Henrik Doennestad, in 3rd. Ben Ogden again led the US men, securing an impressive top-10 finish in 8th. Athletes will now have a well earned two week break from World Cup racing action before reconvening in Toblach, Italy for the start of Period II and the Tour de Ski.

Cable JNQ/CCSA Classic Sprints Results

December 16, 2023

While rain and warm weather melted any remaining natural snow, the Birkie Trailhead still provided a good man-made snow base for classic sprint races Saturday in Cable. In the women's division, NMU's Merle Richter repeated as sprint champion with teammate Henriette Nilssen second and St. Scholastica's Mia Case third. For the men, Kristoffer Karsrud kept it locked up for NMU with Michigan Tech's Axel Aflodal second followed by Ivar Dragerengen, St. Scholastica. Top junior results: FU20 Greta Hansen, semifinal 6th; FU18 Helen Townley, semifinal 5th; MU20 Cooper Camp, 5th final; MU18 Anders Westanmo, semifinal 5th. In the U16 sprints, Linnea Ousdigian and Logan Drevlow earned victories. Full results linked in.

Hoigaards Relays Coverage

December 16, 2023

Some very competitive two-person team relays Saturday morning under damp, warm conditions at Elm Creek for the Hoigaards Relays. In the masters race, the pairing of Andy Brown and Brian Gregg (Team Dad Bod) had the best time with Chris Queitzsch / Jakob Ellingson edging out Spencer Davis / McEwan Rodefeld by a second for second place. Julie Lavenger and Katrin O'Grady (J.K.) had the top women's time. And the daughter/father pairing of Siri and Craig Stolen (Race it Like it's Stolen) won the mixed relay. Siri once again pulled a double shift, racing in the high school division and winning the girls field with teammate Mia Nordberg (Suns Out Guns Out). The boys combo of Franklin Doncavage and Luke O'Rourke (Team Schiesty) claimed the boys high school victory. Full results posted, along with photos by Shannon Brault.

World Cup Trondheim: Skiathlon; Diggins Skis to Second

December 16, 2023

A once-in-a-season event, Saturday's skiathlon was a chance for World Cup athletes to show their fitness in both classic and freestyle techniques over the course of 20K. Races got off to a fast start in Trondheim, and by the halfway point only a handful of athletes were left in contention, including Americans Jessie Diggins and Rosie Brennan. While Sweden's Ebba Andersson would be long gone by that point, Diggins would still put it all on the line as she led the remaining women in with a second place finish. Claiming the last podium spot was Heidi Weng of Norway, and Brennan would finish shortly after in 8th. To the delight of the the home crowd, Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo dominated the men's field for the second day in a row. However, his victory would be partially overshadowed by a breakthrough performance by a Brit, Andrew Musgrave, who bested the rest of the field, with another Norwegian, Didrik Toenseth, in tow for third. A 17th place finish by Ben Ogden would be the top finish for the US men on the day. A final day of racing in Trondheim awaits athletes on Sunday, with an interval-start 10K classic race closing out Period I of the World Cup.

World Cup Trondheim: Freestyle Sprints

December 15, 2023

It was homefield advantage for the Norwegian crowd as a weekend of World Cup races kicked off in Trondheim. Freestyle sprints were the occasion on Friday, and the favorites were out in force with Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo cooly collecting the title in the men's final, and Kristen Stavaas Skistad showing signs of the form she had last season with a victory in the women's final. Accompanying Skistad on the women's podium were Sweden's Linn Svahn and Emma Ribom, while Klaebo was joined by France's Lucas Chanavat and a fellow Norwegian, Harald Oestberg Amundsen. Six made the heats for the US team—Kevin Bolger, Ben Ogden, JC Schoonmaker, Rosie Brennan, Jessie Diggins, and Julia Kern—and three would advance to the semifinals—Bolger, Diggins, and Kern. Of those three, Diggins would be the only one to make the final, but the US streak of six races with an athlete on the podium would come to end there as she would finish the day in 4th. Another opportunity presents itself on Saturday, with a 20K skiathlon on deck for all athletes.

Price Hike: City of Lakes Loppet

December 14, 2023

The City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival is Feb 3-4, with cornerstone event ski races featuring classic technique on Saturday and freestyle Sunday. If you register by Saturday night, Dec 16th, you'll beat out the next price hike!

New Moon: Tour by Day, New Moon Night Race

December 14, 2023

New Moon shares the experience of the inaugural Birkie Tour Night Race last year and highlights this year's edition coming up on Jan 27th. Plus get tips on skiing at night!

Tour de Finn: Skadi's Chase Recap

December 14, 2023

Last weekend's Minnesota Nordic Ski Opener marked the start of the racing season in the Twin Cities, and also the start of the new Tour de Finn. With the first round of points officially in the books, check out their recap up to hear about how the first stop went, and about what's up next in the series.

Biathlon: Irwin Finishes 8th in Lenzerheide World Cup

December 14, 2023

Wisconsin native Deedra Irwin raced to a World Cup-best eighth place in the women’s 7.5km sprint, kicking off the first-ever World Cup in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. She landed just one spot off her career-best seventh place from the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, an historic finish for U.S. Biathlon.

SuperTour Anchorage: Freestyle Sprints, Classic Distance Highlights

December 13, 2023

The 2023-2024 SuperTour started off on Tuesday for a week of racing at Kincaid Park in Anchorage, Alaska. Freestyle sprints were the focus of the first day, with the first win of the season going to an American, Samantha Smith, in the women's heats, and a Canadian, Julien Lock, in the men's heats. Of the Midwest crowd, Erin Bianco would make the final in 6th, and another three the semifinals: Margie Freed, 8th; Michaela Keller-Miller, 10th; Hannah Rudd, 12th, while John Schwinghamer would post the best result of the men with a 26th place finish. The following day was reserved for an interval-start 10K classic race which would also be won by an American and a Canadian, with Samantha Smith completing her sweep, and Maximillian Hollmann earning his first win of the season. Midwest standouts for Wednesday's race included Margie Freed, 4th, Erin Bianco, 11th, and Michaela Keller-Miller, 20th, of the women's field; and Reid Goble 21st in the men's. After a two day break, racing will resume this weekend with classic sprints on Saturday, and a mass-start 10K freestyle race on Sunday.

World Cup Racing: Trondheim Schedule

December 12, 2023

Marking the end of Period I of the World Cup, this weekend's races in Trondheim, Norway will be the final opportunity for athletes to test their fitness before heading into Period II of the circuit, the Tour de Ski, which starts just before the new year. The action in Trondheim begins with freestyle sprints on Friday, with qualifying slated for 3:00 AM CST, and the heats for 5:30 AM CST. Then a 20K skiathlon is the subject of Saturday, with the women competing first at 4:10 AM CST, and the men getting their turn afterward at 6:15 AM CST. Finally, to close out the weekend, Sunday will feature an interval-start 10K classic race for which the men's field will get the go-ahead at 4:00 AM CST, with the women's field following suit at 6:15 AM CST.

Lake Conference Meet Results

December 12, 2023

Posting the first high school results of the season, Lake Conference held a 4K freestyle meet at Elm Creek on Tuesday. Hopkins Logan Drevlow won the boys race, Nina Fedje of Minnetonka the girls event. Wayzata posted both the boys and girls top team scores.

Racing Outlook

December 12, 2023

Duluth's Wednesday night series starts this Wednesday! Hoigaards Relays and Cable JNQ/CCSA races are looking to be in good shape, even with the warmer weather. And the Winter Warm-up race will return for the calendar later this month.

Duluth JNQ/CCSA Classic Coverage

December 10, 2023

A great day of classic racing on a man-made snow loop at Spirit Mountain Sunday for the JNQ and CCSA events. In the mens 7.5K race, NMU swept the podium with Adrik Kraftson double-poling to victory (and the top U20 to boot), Mathias Haugen taking second (top senior), and Luke Fricker, third (top U23). Eddie Snider lead the U18 field, finishing 24th overall. A similar story for the womens 7.5K race as NMU again collected all the podium positions: Lauren McCollor the victor (top U23), Merle Richter second, and Henriette Nilssen third. Jordan Parent was the best of the U20 division, taking 8th overall, Emma Stertz was the top senior at 12th, and Hanna Koch was champion of the U18 skiers and 13th overall. Results linked in and big photosets posted. Video recaps have been uploaded as well.

World Cup Ostersund: Freestyle Distance; Domination by Diggins

December 10, 2023

Sunday's interval-start 10K freestyle races in Ostersund, Sweden were another opportunity for Jessie Diggins to put on a dominating display, and put on a dominating display she did. Laying 23 seconds into the rest of the field, Diggins would pick up yet another World Cup win, with the next closest athletes in the women's field being Heidi Weng of Norway and Victoria Carl of Germany. The rest of the US women's team remained on form as well, with Rosie Brennan securing a 5th place finish, and Sophia Laukli an 8th place finish. Unsurprisingly, Norway's athletes were once again the one's to beat in the men's race, and none could best today's top performers: Harald Oestberg Amundsen, Simen Hegstad Krueger, and Didrik Toenseth. For the US men, their top performance came from John Steel Hagenbuch who was the latest to have a breakthrough result through a 13th place finish. Next weekend the World Cup tour of Scandinavia concludes with a trip to Trondheim, Norway for freestyle sprints, a 20K skiathlon, and a 10K classic race.

Duluth JNQ/CCSA Freestyle Sprints Results

December 9, 2023

Competition for spots on the Junior National team, along with collegiate racing, began Saturday with freestyle sprint races at Spirit Mountain Nordic Center in Duluth. In the top event, the NRL sprint finals, MTU's Alex Aflodal bested NMU's Kristoffer Karsrud and Mathias Haugen, while NMU's Merle Richter had the top time over St. Scholastica's Mia Case followed by NMU's Lauren McCollor. Best of the U20: Adrik Kraftson, 4th, and Greta Hansen, 7th. Top U18 finishers were Carl Morse, 24th, and Helen Townley, 16th. U16 victories were earned by Connor Reckinger and Elsa Lindfors. Results linked in, along with the livestream video.

Skadi's Chase Coverage

December 9, 2023

Temperatures around freezing with a few snowflakes did little to slow things down for the opening races of the season, Skadi's Chase, at Elm Creek on Saturday morning. In the citizen 8K, the duo of Matt Liebsch and Brian Gregg broke away by the mid-point and crossed the line together, finishing 1-2. Andrew Brown collected third. Caitlin Gregg (starting with the men's field) powered to the women's victory and 8th overall. Gabby Vandendries was the best of the women's starting field, with Siri Stolen finishing third. Irondale's Stolen did double duty, racing in the high school 4K race minutes later and taking the girls victory as St. Paul Central's Henry Brandt lead throughout for the boys win. Big photosets up, video recaps posted and results linked in.

World Cup Ostersund: Classic Sprints; Third Place for Schoonmaker

December 9, 2023

It was on to a new venue and new opportunities for World Cup athletes as they geared up for classic sprints on Saturday. A blockbuster day in Ostersund for the US, four would make the finals across the men's and women's teams, with James Schoonmaker extending the American podium streak via a third place finish in his first finals appearance. Just off the steps, Ben Ogden would cross the line in 4th, as would Rosie Brennan, while Jessie Diggins would finish in 5th. It was a return to form for all other athletes as Sweden's Emma Ribom would claim her second sprint victory of the season, and Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo would retake the throne after taking the previous weekend off. To round out the women's podium Linn Svahn of Sweden completed her return from injury with a second place finish, while the Norwegian newcomer Kristine Stavaas Skistad took third. Finishing just ahead of Schoonmaker, Erik Valnes of Norway finalized the men's podium in second. Tomorrow athletes will be on course again for another interval-start 10K freestyle race.

World Cup Racing: Ostersund Schedule

December 6, 2023

It's another weekend in Sweden for the World Cup circuit as athletes migrate south for two days of racing in Ostersund. Classic sprints are on the docket for Saturday, with qualifiers taking place at 3:30 AM CST, followed by the heats themselves at 6:00 AM CST. An interval start 10K freestyle race will then close out the weekend on Sunday, with the men's field leading it out at 3:15 AM CST, and the women's afterward at 5:45 AM CST.

Weekend Racing

December 6, 2023

The opening weekend of racing is here!
Dec 9 Skadi's Chase - Citizen race at Elm Creek as part of the Nordic Opener. And opening race of the Tour de Finn series!
Dec 9-10 Duluth JNQ/CCSA - Freestyle sprints Saturday, classic distance Sunday -- at Spirit Mountain Nordic center.
Our Racing Outlook will have any event updates we've received.

Loppet World Cup Offers VIP Tickets

December 6, 2023

If you missed out on general admission and grandstand tickets, or are a super supporter of the World Cup, there is still a chance to score access: The Loppet Cup is offering VIP Tickets at $500 per person, per day. VIP tickets include complimentary food and beverage, grandstand seating, and general admission access.

Mesabi East Invite Details Posted

December 5, 2023

The huge Mesabi East Invite meet is scheduled for January 6th! Registration is now open with a deadline of Jan 1st. Full details on the event in the press release.

Racing Outlook

December 5, 2023

With the low snow conditions and warmer weather, expect some changes on the racing calendar: The Season Opener in Calumet has been cancelled; the Duluth JNQ will feature laps on a 1.5K loop for the distance races.

Tour de Finn: One Week to Go

December 4, 2023

With just a few days left until some of the first races of the season here in the Midwest, the Tour de Finn is putting out the call to jump on the bandwagon and join in for their inaugural season. The first chance to earn some points will be at the Minnesota Nordic Ski Opener this weekend, so be sure to sign up ahead of time if you're planning to score as a team.

Midwest Racing Season Preview

December 3, 2023

A new racing season is on our doorstep here in the Midwest and to get us ready for it we're going over what's new for this season. Follow along with us as we go through it all—from major competitions and racing updates, to event arrivals and departures—and get excited for what winter has in store for 2023/2024.

World Cup Gallivare: Team Relays; A Podium and Progress for Team USA

December 3, 2023

The good times kept on rolling for the US squad on Sunday as teams toed the line for a 4x7.5K relay in Gallivare, Sweden. Both the men's and women's races started fast, with the US contingent sticking right up front with the leaders. For the women's race it would stay that way until late on when Sweden and Germany pulled away from the American team of Jessie Diggins, Rosie Brennan, Sophia Laukli, and Julia Kern, who eventually earned a third place finish. The men's race played out similarly, with Norway and Sweden ultimately breaking away on the final leg to take the top two places, while Germany would round out the podium in third. Triumph for the US men's team came in the form of 5th and 8th place finishes by their two teams. The 5th place finish by the team of Ben Ogden, Gus Schumacher, Scott Patterson, and Zanden McMullen the best performance by a US men's team in 20 years. Shifting south, next weekend's round of World Cup competitions brings the circuit to Ostersund for classic sprints and freestyle distance races outside the Swedish city.

Why We're Supporting the Mt. Telemark Village Campaign

December 2, 2023

John Munger highlights the major development effort Mt Telemark Village, all the benefits this project will provide the community, and why it deserves your support.

World Cup Gallivare: Freestyle Distance; Win Number Fifteen for Diggins

December 2, 2023

It would be Jessie Diggins' day to shine as World Cup athletes lined up for a 10K freestyle race in Gallivare, Sweden on Saturday. Laying down a blistering pace in the individual-start event, the American would cruise to a comfortable 23-second victory over a trio from the host nation which included Ebba Andersson in second, and Moa Ilar in third. Of her now fifteen World Cup victories, six have come in this exact discipline and distance. The rest of the US women's team were not to be left out either as three more would finish in the top-20: Rosie Brennan (6th), Sophia Laukli (13th), and Julia Kern (18th). In the men's race it was another testament to the depth of the Norwegian team, with all seven of their starters finishing inside the top-10, including a podium sweep by Paul Goldberg, Harald Oestberg Amundsen, and Iver Tildheim Andersen. And of the US men, Gus Schumacher was once again the standout for the team, finishing inside the top-20 in 16th. Tomorrow athletes will get their first taste of a team event this season with a 4x7.5K relay on deck.

World 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.

Price Hikes: Vasaloppet USA, Great Bear Chase

November 28, 2023

A number of December price hikes are looming...
Feb 10-11 Vasaloppet USA - Epic downtown finishes - times two; skate and classic on separate days now.
Mar 9 Great Bear Chase - A great way to extend your race fitness with a wide range of races.
Register by Thursday night to avoid the fee increase!

Racing 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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

World Cup Streaming Discount

November 17, 2023

Live streaming of the World Cup season will once again be handled through US Ski and Snowboard Live. The prices are up from last year, but they are offering a 15% until Nov 24th, when you use the code EARLYBIRD2023. The first races are Thanksgiving weekend at Ruka, Finland!

Price Hike: City of Lakes Loppet

November 16, 2023

The City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival is Feb 3-4, with classical races on Saturday and freestyle Sunday. If you register by Saturday night, Nov 18th, you'll beat out the first price hike!

Spotlight: Washburn Nordic

November 13, 2023

The Minnesota High School Nordic Skiing season kicked off on Monday under above average temperatures for Nov 13th. Skinnyski photographer Shannon Brault was out in south Minneapolis to capture the first day of practice at Minneapolis Washburn. The group started the afternoon with general updates from coach Jacob Polland then went outdoors for a warm up run, ski drills in the bleachers, speed drills on the field, along with some strength/fitness workouts under coach Beckie Alexander.

Round Up: Harvard Physics Professor Sets New Record for Run Across America

November 12, 2023

Averaging over 60 miles a day, Jenny Hoffman, a Harvard physics professor, set a new record for the fastest time running across the United States (3000 miles), besting the previous time by over a week!

Price Hike: Fat Bike Birkie

November 8, 2023

Set for early March, the Fat Bike Birkie provides the one-day unique experience of racing Fat Bikes on the famous American Birkebeiner trail. The event offers a wide range of categories and distance -- something for everyone. The next price hike is midnight Thursday, Nov 9th, so get your registration in by Thursday night!

Biathlon: Season Preview 2023-24

November 8, 2023

US Biathlon has released a preview of the upcoming World Cup season, highlighting the selection process, key athletes, and important events including a World Cup race at Soldier Hollow in March!

Loppet Cup Lead Up This Saturday

November 6, 2023

The Loppet Foundation invites you to put your pre-season training to the test and join them this Saturday, Nov 11th, for the Loppet Cup Lead Up presented by Concept2. Try out their new SkiErgs and learn about preparation for hosting a COOP FIS Cross Country World Cup! Register today.

Event Closing: Birkie Open Track, Prince Haakon

November 6, 2023

The 50th anniversary American Birkebeiner is rapidly filling up their Birkie Week events -- Tuesday night the Open Track and Prince Haakon events close. Get your registrations in by Tuesday night, Nov 7th!

Minnesota High School Rankings Return

November 6, 2023

After a few years off, the Minnesota High School Nordic Skiing rankings return as the Coaches Association takes up the helm. The first set, a preseason ranking, has been posted. Hopkins' Sydney Drevlow and Prior Lake/New Prague's Tommy Simmonds are the early favorites, with Duluth East teams (girls and boys) starting out the season on top. Minnesota's high school season kicks off official on Monday, Nov 13th!

Tour de Finn Race Series Announced

November 5, 2023

A new race series, Tour de Finn, fires up this winter featuring races across the Midwest, including a number of smaller field events. Individual and team competitions along with weekly recaps and scoring updates.

Turkey Birkie Festival Just Weeks Away!

November 3, 2023

Get ready to gear up and embrace a laid-back, enjoyable experience at Turkey Birkie from Nov 24-26! Enjoy the Thanksgiving weekend with some early-season skiing, reconnect with nature, and savor the holiday spirit!

Birkie Seeks Birkebeiner Warriors, Inga and Prince Haakon

November 1, 2023

The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) seeks a trio of cross country skiers to represent two Birkebeiner warriors and Inga, mother of Prince Haakon, in the 50th American Birkebeiner Ski Marathon this February. Toss your ring in the hat -- register by Nov 30th!

Biathlon: Athletes Named for European Pre-Season Camp

October 31, 2023

After an exciting weekend of trials in Utah mid-October, U.S. Biathlon has announced the roster for the European pre-season camp to take place in Vuokatti, Finland. A large number of Midwest athletes have been selected for the camp: Deedra Irwin, Margie Freed, Cheresa Bouley, Michaela Keller-Miller, Anna French, Paul Schommer, Vaclav Cervenka, Jake Brown and Luke Brown.

American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation Schwartz Miller Scholarships Available for High School Cross Country Skiers

October 30, 2023

Applications are now open for the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation Schwartz Miller Scholarship, a new program for high school seniors established in honor of the late Andy Schwartz. Schwartz was a long-time Birkie skier who passed away in 2021. Registration for the American Birkebeiner Skate/Classic race is closed, but this scholarship provides up to 20 high school seniors the opportunity to experience the 50th event.

Race Closing: Kortelopet

October 30, 2023

More of the Birkie week events are filling up and closing registration. Tuesday night, Oct 31st at midnight, registration closes for the Kortelopet. Register by Tuesday night if you want to still get in!

Price Hike: Sisu Ski Fest

October 29, 2023

Registration for the Sisu Ski Fest, Jan 6th in Ironwood, MI, is already half full! The first price hike is coming Nov 1st, so register by Tuesday evening for the best pricing.

Midwest MTB Report

October 26, 2023

Wetter weather and an increasing chance of a certain something in the forecast can only mean one thing: winter is coming. For his final Midwest MTB report of the season, Jay Richards caught up with Jenna Reinhart and Joel LaFrance who were both in Bentonville, AR for the Big Sugar Classic, and who both earned podiums in their respective races. Then, to close out the report, we turn to a preview of this year's final big mountain bike race in the Midwest, followed by a nod to the Minnesota Cycling Association announcing their awards, and an upcoming ribbon cutting for Phase 2 of the Trek Trails at Mt. Telemark.

Minnesota High School Nordic Coaches Association Fall Minutes

October 25, 2023

Minutes from the October 14th fall coaches meeting at the Vasaloppet Center have been posted. Highlights include changes to the technique and order of events at the State Meet, proposals on season dates and winter coaching waivers, and formation of a committee on the State Meet venue.

CXC Rollerski Championships Coverage

October 21, 2023

A very soggy morning Saturday as a mix of mist and rain kept the course wet for the women's and men's 10K individual start freestyle rollerski races on the dedicated asphalt trails at the Birkie Trailhead in Cable. Caitlin Gregg hammered out the top women's time with St. Scholastica's Mia Case second followed by Team Birkie's Julie Ensrud. Zak Ketterson cruised to the only sub-19 minute time on the course for the men's victory with Kevin Bolger coming in second, Matt Liebsch third. Zoe Wagner and Dylan Little had the top times in the U16 5K events. Photos from the 10K races posted along with full results. Posts from Sunday's classic sprints, by Tryg Solberg, added. New Video from the 10K skate races added.

Marshall Holiday Ski Camp, Dec 27-29

October 19, 2023

Just a few months out, this year's Marshall School Holiday Ski Camp will be taking place Dec 27-29 at the Spirit Mountain Nordic Center in Duluth. Open to children ages 5-12, registration covers three full afternoons of learning and fun, with rental equipment, snacks, bonfires, and crafts all included as well!

CXC Rollerski Championships This Weekend

October 15, 2023

CXC's Rollerski series wraps up in this weekend, Oct 21-22, with two days of racing on the new rollerski loops at the Birkie Trailhead in Cable. Saturday will feature individual start freestyle races, Sunday is classic sprints format.

Vasaloppet Online Auction Live and Social Event

October 12, 2023

Bidding is underway on an assortment of items for the Vasaloppet's online auction. Part of their annual fundraising drive, the auction runs through Oct 18th. There will also be a social event on Wednesday, Oct 18th at the Sapsucker Farms in Mora, with games and kids crafts, raffles, live auction, local music and food truck.

Midwest MTB Report

October 11, 2023

An especially cool turn in the weather is a reminder that the mountain bike season is quickly coming to a end, meaning many of the school circuits are drawing to a close as well. This week's Midwest MTB report from Jay Richards focuses on series riding in the schools, featuring an interview with a rider from the Minnesota Cycling Association, Jacob Olson of the Northwest Composite Mountain Bike Team, who will be competing in his final high school race at the State Championship in Mankato.

US Ski Team: Cross-Country Team Named for 2023-24 Season

October 10, 2023

U.S. Ski & Snowboard formally announced 23 athletes representing the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team for the 2023-24 season. From the Midwest, Jessie Diggins (A team) and Zak Ketterson (B team) were selected, with Kristen Bourne as D team World Cup coach and Bryan Fish continuing as Development director. Plus Chris Hecker, Eli Brown and Paul Choudoir will be working World Cup service.

Additional Loppet World Cup Tickets Available Wednesday

October 10, 2023

The Loppet Foundation has announced a limited number of additional tickets for the World Cup races next February will be released on Wednesday, Oct 11th. You must register on the 'First to Know' list to be notified when the tickets become available at 9 am.

US Ski Team: Soldier Hollow Rollerski Races Coming Up

October 7, 2023

The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation is set to host the annual Schutzenski Festival Oct. 12-15, 2023 at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, home of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Unique to this year, nearly the entire Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team roster is slated to compete in the sprint and distance rollerski races, including three-time Olympic medalist Jessie Diggins

Sisu Ski Fest Registration Now Open

October 6, 2023

The Sisu Ski Fest keeps growing in popularity as the premiere season opener event, January 6, 2024. They've brought back cloth bibs this season as well as new five year age groups, ski hats, and course improvements. Registration is open now but act quickly as this race filled within weeks last year!

College of St. Scholastica Nordic Ski Team Week of Giving

October 6, 2023

The College of St. Scholastica Nordic ski team is running their annual Athletics Week of Giving, with contributions helping to fund team uniforms and warmups. Help support the team, and their new head coach, Jason Kask, by making a contribution today.

Midwest MTB Report

October 5, 2023

After an unusual October heat wave that was felt far and wide throughout the Midwest, we've resumed our normal fall trajectory, tracking the dropping temperatures and winding down of summer actives. This past week hasn't been completely devoid of action though, and nowhere less so than on the big stage where the Life Time Grand Prix and UCI World Cup both shared the limelight stateside. The Midwest had representatives at both events, and race recaps from two of them, Jenna Rinehart and John Wessling, are the main feature of this week's Midwest MTB report from Jay Richards.

Vasaloppet Swedish Mile this Saturday

October 4, 2023

The annual Swedish Mile Trail Race and Family Fun Day is this Saturday! The event featuers a 10K timed trail race, 5K fun run/race, kid’s race, and an afternoon of family-friendly activities to raise money for snowmaking and operations at the Vasaloppet Nordic Center.

Midwest Coaches Sought for March Junior Trips

October 1, 2023

CXC is seeking candidates for the March junior trips, including Junior Nationals in Lake Placid, NY, and U18/U16 trip to Canadian Nationals in Nakkertok.

Race Closing: American Birkebeiner

September 27, 2023

Short notice but the Birkie skate and classic races are closing tonight (Wed, Sep 27th)! Get your registration in quickly if you want to race the 50th anniversary event with Jessie Diggins!

Midwest MTB Report

September 20, 2023

September is flying by and so are the leaves as we accelerate into the fall. Some of the best riding conditions lie ahead, and many of this month's biggest events are taking advantage of it including the Chequamegon Mountain Bike Festival and Marji Gesick which both took place over the weekend. Jay Richards lined up for the Chequamegon 40 and recapped his race in this week's Midwest MTB report, alongside a debrief with Jenna Reinhart on her race as part of the Life Time Grand Prix. Also included in this week's report are highlights from the Marji Gesick and the F-M All Trail Enduro, plus a roundup of coverage focused on some of the recent trail building going on throughout the Midwest.

CXC Rollerski Championships Oct 21-22

September 13, 2023

CXC's Rollerski series wraps up in late October with two days of racing on the new rollerski loops at the Birkie Trailhead in Cable. Saturday will feature individual start freestyle races, Sunday is classic sprints format.

Price Hike: Fat Bike Birkie

September 13, 2023

The Fat Bike Birkie is set for March 9th and will be celebrating the Birkie's 50th anniversary, including a 50th anniversary gear bag. Act quickly, bags are limited and the price is going up on Thursday night (Sep 14th)!

Midwest MTB Report

September 7, 2023

It's starting to feel like fall is in the air as we turn our calendars over to September and anxiously await the changing colors and cooler conditions it brings. While it may feel like the season is winding down for some, there's no shortage of goings-on for the month including last weekend's 33rd edition of the Laddies Loppet at Maplelag, and the Chequamegon Mountain Bike Festival happening a little over a week out in Hayward, WI. Covering both of those events and a host of others in-between, this week's Midwest MTB report gets us up to speed for the start of Fall with highlights, recaps, photos, and more put together Jay Richards.

Jessie Diggins to Compete in 2024 American Birkebeiner

September 1, 2023

Making an already big month of February even bigger, Jessie Diggins announced that she will be competing in the 2024 American Birkenbeiner, the 50th anniversary of the event, the weekend after the World Cup races in Minneapolis. With a nearly a two-week break in the World Cup circuit following the races at Wirth, Diggins said that she took the leap after the "stars aligned with [her] race schedule for the first time since [she] turned 18 years old".

NNF: Application for Trail to Gold Fellowship Open Through Sept 5th

August 22, 2023

Coming off of a successful inaugural season that saw the likes of Minnesota natives Annika Martell and Caitlin Gregg make coaching appearances with the US Ski Team, NNF has officially opened the application period for their second class of Trail to Gold Fellows. Providing American women coaches and technicians the opportunity to gain international-level experience through an immersive internship with the US Ski Team, coaches working at any competition level of US skiing are encouraged to apply.

Midwest MTB Report

August 16, 2023

Busy has been a recurring theme for the month of August and busy it was once again on the mountain biking scene this past weekend. Locally, there was the Ore to Shore in the UP and series racing in Minnesota, while a little further out there was the likes of the Leadville Trail 100 MTB in Colorado, and further out yet, the Mountain Bike World Championships overseas in the UK. Find coverage and exclusive interviews from those event in Jay Richards' Midwest MTB report for this week, and be sure to check out the look ahead too as the action doesn't let up there with a plethora of events still on the horizon.

CXC Rollerski Series: Up, Up and Away Set for Aug 12th

August 9, 2023

The next stop in the CXC Rollerski Cup will be August 12th at Blue Mound State Park in southern Wisconsin. There are 6K and 10K classic rollerski divisions, racing to the high point.

Midwest MTB Report

August 9, 2023

A week has already come and gone in the busy month of August which can only mean that it's time to check in with Jay Richards for another Midwest MTB report. Taking place in the span of that week was the Maah Daah Hey 100 in North Dakota which is the first feature of this week's report, highlighted by a race recap from Peder Arneson. There's plenty else to cover too, including additional trail building in Wisconsin, prep for the Leadville 100 Trail MTB by Jenna Rinehart, and a preview of the upcoming UCI Mountain Bike World Championships across the pond in the UK.

NNF: Applications Open for Summer Athlete Support Grants

August 7, 2023

NNF is now accepting applications for its Athlete Support Grants which provide skiers with additional possibilities to pursue summer training opportunities, both within the US and abroad. Athletes who have qualified and participated in NNF Pillar Projects are encouraged to apply, with applications being accepted through August 18th.

Loppet Cup Tickets Sell Out in Less Than 24 Hours

August 3, 2023

As many skiing fans have noticed, the Loppet Cup tickets sold out in less than 24 hours last week. The organization is working to increase capacity and hopes to have additional tickets available this fall.

Midwest MTB Report

August 1, 2023

August has arrived and with it one of the busier months of the mountain bike season. Entering it's fourth consecutive week of racing the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series was in Detroit Lakes over the weekend for the Detroit Mountain Shakedown, while across the boarder in Wausau a full day's worth of racing was happening in the Wausau 24. This week's Midwest MTB report from Jay Richards features in-depth coverage from both events, as well as a look ahead at what's to come in the next few weeks, including the Maah Daah Hey 100, Great Deer Chase, and Ore to Shore.

Minnesota Voyageur 50 Coverage

July 29, 2023

Tryg Solberg reports: Saturday's Voyageur 50 Mile Ultramarathon brought 235 starters that ran from Carleton to the Lake Superior Zoo and back. The well-marked course mostly followed sections of the Superior Hiking Trail and some gravel trail. Justin Stewart (bib 333) had a commanding lead by the turn-around and won with a 45 minute margin in the men's field. Stewart travelled from Illinois to race and completed the 50 miles in 6:38. Jill Wojita (bib 370) held her lead from the turn-around to the finish with nearly 18 minutes on second place. Wojita of Onalaska, Wisconsin finished in 8:14. The race highlighted the vast amount of trails in Duluth, only touching the western portion of the area's trails. Northern Minnesota Track Club puts on the Voyageur and it is organized and operated entirely by volunteers.

Midwest MTB Report

July 26, 2023

July is heating up -- this week's MTB report by Jay Richards includes a first hand recap from the Lumberjack Singletrack, a report from the Miners Revenge, highlights of the Minnesota and Wisconsin series, a Jr MTB camp at WinMan trails, tips on riding in poor air quality and a look ahead as August approaches with an even busier schedule.

Machinery Hill Rollerski Criterium Coverage

July 25, 2023

Giving an added punch to strong ticket sales for the Loppet Cut, the Machinery Hill Criterium featured exciting evening rollerski races on the famed Minnesota State Fairgrounds. In the women's race, Luci Anderson topped the field with Greta Hansen edging out Alice House for second. The men's race saw Norwegian Markus Bryan Groethe pull away for the victory with veterans Brian Gregg and Matt Liebsch rounding out the podium. Photosets and video recaps posted.

Minneapolis World Cup Ticket Sales Start Tuesday, July 25th

July 22, 2023

Tickets for the huge Loppet Cup races, Feb 17-28, 2024, will open for sales this Tuesday, July 25th, beginning at 9 am CST! The Loppet Foundation will be celebrating the launch of the World Cup ticket sales at the Machinery Hill Rollerski Criterium rollerski races on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Tuesday evening. Come out to cheer on local skiers and celebrate the upcoming Loppet Cup! Update: Due to warm weather/air quality, races will begin at 8 pm on Tuesday.

Jessie Diggins Athlete of the Year Awardee: Anabel Needham

July 19, 2023

CXC's Jessie Diggins Athlete of the Year Award is awarded to the outstanding athlete who displayed excellence in the sport of cross-country skiing and whose character serves as a role model for developing skiers throughout the Central region. This year's winner is Anabel Needham of Michigan Tech.

USCSA Announces 2023 Award Recipients and Election Results

July 15, 2023

With the 2022-2023 season in the books, the USCSA recently announced the winners of several awards for the season including Coach of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and the Keystone Award. In addition, several new members were nominated to the Board of Directors for the positions of President, Executive Vice President, and Executive At Large.

Midwest MTB Report

July 13, 2023

The days are flying by as we're now in the month of July and well into the meat of the racing season. In the desert southwest the Life Time Grand Prix wrapped up its third race of the series this past weekend, while on the opposite side of the country the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships were being held in Pennsylvania. Find recaps from both events, as well as a healthy dose of updates from some of the ones back home, all served up in this week's Midwest MTB report from Jay Richards. Plus dont forget to check the Looking Ahead section to stay up to date on a selection of upcoming events.

Shoreline Events Coverage

July 12, 2023

Out There has extensive coverage of their Shoreline rollerski races from last weekend, including full results and big photosets.

Out There: Shoreline Rollerski Races This Weekend

July 6, 2023

The Shoresline Sprints rollerski features two days of racing, including a classic distance race on Friday and then skate sprints on Saturday. Pro, senior and junior athletes are all invited to participate, with spectators encouraged to come out and cheer! Races are this Friday and Saturday, July 7th and 8th.

Loppet Rollerski Criterium at Machinery Hill Scheduled for June 27th, July 25th

June 18, 2023

As part of the CXC Rollerski Cup, The Loppet Foundation will be hosting a pair of rollerski crit events on June 27th and July 25th out at Machinery Hill within the State Fair Grounds. Chip timing will be available for both events, with same-day registration available online for either date as well.

Midwest MTB Report

June 15, 2023

We're only halfway through June and yet it already feels like we're well into the summer. Bigger bike events are starting to pop up with this week's Midwest MTB report from Jay Richard covering one from just this past weekend, the Epic Bike Fest in northwestern Wisconsin, as Jenna Reinhart offers her firsthand thoughts on her two races there and reflections from the Unbound Gravel in Kansas. Accompanying the report are a few series racing recaps, an article touting the toughest races in the world, and an extensive look ahead with plenty of racing action still on the horizon.

NNF: NNF Summer Series Returns

June 12, 2023

With summer training in full swing NNF has announced their series of camps, trips, and training that they will be supporting through the fall. Included in the list of events is a new National U16 Elite Camp in Lake Placid, NY where the best U16 skiers in the country will train together all at once, as well as the currently ongoing NTG Camps in Park City, UT which are being attended by a selection of U20 standouts from the Midwest including Davis Isom, Jasper Johnston, Trey Jones, Lauren McCollor, Anabel Needham, and Tommy Simmonds.

Chippewa Triathlon Results

June 10, 2023

The popular Chippewa Triathlon features paddling, biking and running, and was held Saturday in Cass Lake. Tom Bakke used a dominate paddling opener to take a 19 minute lead, then held on as Alan Christianson chipped away during the bike and run legs, with Bakke winning by a single minute in the six hour solo division victory. The duo of Phil and Kelly Rogers posted the top men's and women's times in the mixed doubles. John Kallemeyn had the fastest time on the day, finishing just under five hours in winning the men's double division. Kerrie Berg topped the women's double field.

Midwest MTB Report

June 2, 2023

Temperatures are rising and so is traffic as more and more riders head to the trails to escape the summer heat. Keeping up with the surge, Jay Richards has the latest on Midwest racing news in addition related links and upcoming events in this week's Midwest MTB report. Included in this edition: a post by John Wessling on his journey to earning his first UCI points; a race recap from Badlands Ramble by John Peter; mountain bike related links; and a preview of the next Life Time Grand Prix event, the Unbound Gravel.

USA Nordic Sport: 2023-24 Team Nominations Announced

May 19, 2023

The 2023-24 selections for the national and junior national nordic combined and ski jumping teams were announced on Thursday by USA Nordic Sport, with a host of athletes from the Midwest earning call-ups in the announcement. Among those named were Ben Lomis (Eau Claire, WI) to the National Nordic combined team; and Andrew Urlaub (Eau Claire, WI), Casey Larson (Barrington, IL), and Anna Hoffmann (Madison, WI) to the national ski jumping team.

US Ski Team: Cross-Country Team Nominated for the 2023-24 Season

May 10, 2023

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has nominated 23 athletes to represent the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team for the 2023-24 season. The nominations include active athletes who qualified based on predetermined selection criteria. From the Midwest, athletes include Jessie Diggins (A team) and Zak Ketterson (B team) along with D Team coach Kristen Bourne and wax techs Chris Hecker and Eli Brown.

Midwest MTB Report

May 9, 2023

Spring has sprung and summer is just around the corner with series racing officially in action throughout the Midwest. With some individual reflections on the season opener in Iola, WI, this week's report from Jay Richards opens with a recap of the first race of the Wisconsin Off-Road Series, followed by coverage of some of the happenings in the Cable area, and an ever important reminder to check for ticks. Closing it out is a look ahead to a handful of upcoming races, including the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series season opener in Rochester, MN.

Team Birkie Announces Chad Salmela as New Head Coach

May 9, 2023

Team Birkie has announced Chad Salmela, a native of Minnesota's Iron Range, as the new head coach of the team. With over two decades of experience in the sport of biathlon and cross country skiing as an athlete and coach, Salmela brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the position.

Snake River Canoe Race Results

May 6, 2023

Overcast skies and crisp conditions were the backdrop for the 2023 edition of the Snake River Canoe Race on Saturday as a field of over 200 individuals took to the waters in Mora, MN. Earning top honors in Pro Boat division were the teams of Allen Limberg/Joe Manns (male), Patricia Bohaty/Jessica Kozarek (female), and Ryan Peterson/Kira Stolen (mixed); while the pairings of Mathew Broderson/Chris Broderson (male), Allie Rykken/Kari Henry (female), and Rebecca Kolstad/Craig Stolen (mixed) were the top finishers in the Open Racing division. Complete results, including a full list of division winners, are linked in.

Midwest MTB Report

May 2, 2023

The wheels are moving across the Midwest and beyond as we head into the month of May. In this week's Midwest MTB report from Jay Richards, coverage begins with a firsthand account of the Whiskey Off-Road in Prescott, AZ by Midwest local Jenny Beckman, followed by a selection of related mountain bike items. Capping it all off is a nod to the Wisconsin Off-Road Series kicking off in Iola, WI later this week, which marks the start of another exciting season of series racing in the Midwest.

2022-23 Season Highlights

May 1, 2023

Catch highlights plus full results and photos from the 2022-2023 collegiate racing season.

2022-23 Season Highlights

May 1, 2023

Catch highlights plus full results and photos from the 2022-2023 high school racing season.

Birkie Registration Now Open

May 1, 2023

Registration for the Slumberland American Birkebeiner, Kortelopet, Prince Haakon, Birkie Tour, and Open Track Birkie opened on May 1st. Secure your wave placement and get in on early pricing by registering now!