U.S. Ski Team News - Cross Country

National Training Group Works at Center

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MST

PARK CITY, UT (June 26) - Inspired by the new Center of Excellence, U.S. Cross Country Ski Team Coaches Peter Vordenberg, Matt Whitcomb and Pat Casey are spearheading a select development training program this summer for young cross country skiers. The National Training Group (NTG), which is comprised of a group of rising athletes, allows the cross country coaches to use these exceptional resources to provide real exposure and superior training to the next group of future Olympians.

Randall Empowers Through Sport

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MST

Though World Championship silver medalist Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) is best known for carving out the history of her sport for U.S. Women, Randall has an equally large passion in building up the future of the sport through the organization Fast and Female.

2010 XC Team Named

Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 MST

PARK CITY, UT (May 26) - World Championship silver medalist Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, AK), along with World Cup sprint medalist Andy Newell (Shaftsburry, VT), Kris Freeman (Andover, NH) and three-time U.S. champion Liz Stephen (East Montelier, VT) are among the athletes headlining the newly named 2010 U.S. Cross Country Ski Team.

XC Trains On Snow in Oregon

Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 MST

BEND, OR (May 20) - Following a season of incredible success, including Kikkan Randall's (Anchorage, AK) World Championship silver medal, the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team reunited this week in Oregon to begin its training season in the lead up to the 2010 Olympics.

Vordenberg Reflects on the XC Season

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 MST

Two-time Olympian Pete Vordenberg has been a member of the U.S. cross country coaching staff since 2002. After a successful season, the highlight of which was a World Championship silver medal, Vordenberg reflects on what it took to get to this point, and what it will take to make it to the top.

USSA Launches Level 100 XC Coaches Certification

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 00:00:00 MST

PARK CITY, UT (April 2) - The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) has launched a cross country coaches level 100 certification program, the first level of a multi-level cross country-specific coaches education certification system. The curriculum is based on up-to-date practices used by the U.S. Ski Team in the quest for Olympic medals. The course material comes directly from the Team's coaches and several of their key partners. The rollout of the certification system will occur throughout the next several seasons, and once completely launched, course content will continue to evolve with the sport.

Stephen Takes Third Win

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

FAIRBANKS, AK (March 29) - Liz Stephen (East Montpelier, VT) and James Southam (Anchorage) each notched off one final U.S title as Stephen won the women's 30K and Southam finished third in the men's 50K classic race at the close of the 2009 U.S. Cross Country Distance Championships on Sunday. It was Stephen's third and Southam's second title of the 2009 Championships.

Stephen Defends Pursuit Title

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

FAIRBANKS, AK (March 27) - Liz Stephen (East Montpelier, VT) made it back to back titles as she won the women's 15K pursuit for the second year at the 2009 U.S. Distance Cross Country Championships in Fairbanks Friday. Ivan Babikov of Canada won the men's 30K and Leif Zimmermann (Bozeman, MT) took the title as the top U.S. finisher in second.

Smyth, Stephen Take Team Sprint Titles

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

FAIRBANKS, AK (March 25) - Morgan Smyth (Vernon, VT), alongside teammate Liz Stephen (East Montpelier, VT), took her second U.S. title in as many days as the duo finished first in the team sprint at the 2009 U.S. Cross Country Championships in Fairbanks Wednesday night. Chris Cook (Rhinelander, WI) and Torin Koos (Leavenworth, WI) won the men's team event.

Smyth, Southam Take Classic Titles

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (March 25) - Kristina Strandberg of Sweden and James Southam of Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Club Kicked off the 2009 U.S. Distance Cross Country Championships by winning the women's 5K and men's 10K classic races in Fairbanks Tuesday. Southam won the men's U.S. title and, as the highest placing U.S. athlete, second-place finisher Morgan Smyth (Vernon, VT) won the women's title.

XC Championship Info Available Online

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

FAIRBANKS, AK (March 25) - Fans can keep up to date with the newest information out of Fairbanks during the 2009 U.S. Distance Cross Country Championships with start lists, competition schedules and results available at http://www.usdistancenationals.org. To see the action unfold live in Alaska visit http://www.summittiming.com/races/

ALERT: Cross Country Champs Continue as Planned

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

FAIRBANKS, AK (March 24) - Athletes, coaches and fans are advised that the schedule for the U.S. Cross Country Distance Championships has not changed in response to the volanic eruption of Alaska's Mt. Redoubt. Those traveling to Fairbanks for the are advised to check with airlines on possible flight cancelations and delays. While Fairbanks is over 350 miles from Anchorage, airlines, including Alaska Airlines, have canceled flights based on possible impact of volcanic ash.

ALERT: Alaska Air Travel Alert

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

FAIRBANKS, AK (March 23) - Athletes, coaches and fans traveling to Fairbanks for the U.S. Cross Country Distance Championships are advised to check with airlines on possible flight cancelations and delays due to the volcanic eruption of Alaska's Mt. Redoubt, which is west of Anchorage on the Kenai Peninsula. While Fairbanks is over 350 miles from Anchorage, airlines, including Alaska Airlines, have canceled flights based on possible impact of volcanic ash. At the present time, no changes were anticipated to the schedule of events.

Distance Nationals Head To Fairbanks

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (March 23) - With the World Cup tour wrapped up for 2009, U.S. cross country skiers are getting ready to close out the season as they head to Fairbanks for the second time in as many years for the 2009 U.S. Distance Cross Country Championships March 24-29.

Cologna, Kowalczyk Take Top Honors

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

FALUN, Sweden (March 22) - Dario Cologna of Italy and Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland finished atop the podium after the final freestyle race of the cross country season Sunday in Sweden. The pursuit race placed athletes in a start order according to their standings from the past three days of competitions with the first person to cross the finish line getting the prize.

Cologna Wins XC in Sweden

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

FALUN, Sweden (March 21) - Italy's Dario Cologna bested the field Saturday in a 10K pursuit in Sweden. He skied the total 20K race in 54:59.5 seconds, nearly two seconds faster than second-place finisher Marcus Hellner of Sweden. German Tobias Angerer finished third, 2.4 seconds off the pace.

Germans Win In Sweden WC

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

FALUN, Sweden (March 20) - Germans Axel Teichmann and Claudia Nystad each took the win Friday during the men's 3.3 and women's 2.5K prologue at World Cup finals in Sweden. Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) was the top U.S. finisher, taking 31st.

Newell Ninth in Stockholm

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (March 18) - The U.S. Ski Team's Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT) finished ninth during the last sprint World Cup of the 2009 season Wednesday in Stockholm.

Norway Sweeps Men's XC in Norway

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

TRONDHEIM, Norway (March 12) - It was a day for the home crowd as Norway swept the men's World Cup podium with Ola Vigen Hattestad winning the classic sprint in Trondheim. Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT) took the lead for the U.S. finishing 23rd.

DeBold Wins JO Sprint

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 00:00:00 MST

AUBURN, CA (March 9) – The cross country Junior Olympics commenced Monday with the 1k sprint, which was won by Doug DeBold (Wayzata, MN) with a time of 2:00.09.