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The Biggest Challenge Turns Out to be the Obvious One: Convincing People the Idea Can Work

When the Saba Ski Festival Instagram page launched, there was almost immediate reaction from a variety of ski teams, skiers, and ski clubs from North America and Europe saying the idea was fantastic. Then they tended to ask how the whole idea would work, by which they often meant how the whole idea could possibly work or whether it was, literally, fantastic. Fair question. Former Colby College Nordic Ski team captain and current head groomer...

The Best British Skiers of All Time

Forget Eddie the Eagle, Great Britain has provided skiers who could actually compete at Olympic level. While it may be fair to say that the country has failed to make a mark in the jumping events, there are other disciplines that have yielded a moderate level of success. The biggest prizes continue to elude the British teams, but there have been some groundbreaking athletes on the snow over the years. Here are some of the...

Top 5 Winter Sport-Themed Online Casino Games

Humans have a natural affinity for games and playing from an early age. Playing is the finest way for children to learn, and what’s more? Playing is a great way for adults to pick up new skills and the majority of people might benefit from playing for the sheer joy of it. It’s been shown time and time again that everyone, regardless of age, may benefit from playing video games. Online gaming has grown exponentially...

Ketterson and Ogden Take Classic Sprint Win on New Tracks at Mt Van Hoevenberg

By Rachel Bachman Perkins and Ben Theyerl After a brief break, the SuperTour picked up in Lake Placid this weekend, with a fluoro-free Period III kicking off with a 1.5-kilometer classic sprint. The frigid forecast called for overnight lows of -5 Fahrenheit, with a wind chill as low as -23F. Highs during the day were only predicted to climb into the low single digits. Qualifiers were scheduled for 10/10:45 am, with quarterfinals for the open...

(Press Release) U.S. Ski & Snowboard Nominates Cross Country Team Roster For Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022

PARK CITY, UTAH (January 20, 2022) — U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced today its nominations for the U.S. Olympic Cross Country Team to represent Team USA at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 from February 4-19, 2022. Nominations are to be confirmed by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee when it formally announces the U.S. Olympic Team. Fourteen athletes were nominated to Team USA, including the 2018 Olympic gold medalist and defending World Cup overall and...

In-Depth Race Coverage: Slow Heats with Tight Finishes in the SoHo SuperTour Classic Sprint

By Rachel Bachman Perkins and Ben Theyerl  Precipitation was no longer a threat for the final day of racing in Soldier Hollow on Friday, a 1.5-kilometer classic sprint offered alongside the 2022 U.S. Cross Country Championships, yet classified as SuperTour only. However, athletes still faced unseasonably warm weather as blazing sun brought temperatures into the low 50’s on course during the midday heats.  Howling wind and rippling bibs could be heard as background noise as...

(JOB POSTING) FasterSkier Part-Time Contributing Reporter

  PAID CONTRACT: November 15th – March 31st HIGHLIGHTS:  Work from home in a dynamic environment to cover the sport of cross country skiing from the World Cup to recreational level.  Support North American coverage of prestigious international events including the 2022 Olympic Winter Games and the FIS Tour de Ski.  Feature and share the lifestyle of cross country skiing through product reviews, analysis of sport science, and interviews with key athletes, coaches, and professionals...

Big Sky Seeks Program Director and Assistant Director

Big Sky Ski Education Foundation, located in Big Sky, Montana and based out of Lone Mountain Ranch, is currently accepting applications for our Nordic Program Director/Head Coach. With access to some of the most beautiful groomed kilometers in North America, a rapidly growing Nordic program, and many community opportunities, we look forward to welcoming a leader with vision and a deep love for Nordic skiing. Visit BSSEF to view a more detailed description of this...

Gian-Franco Kasper, Former FIS President Dies at 77

Over the weekend, it was reported that Gian-Franco Kasper, the former president of the International Ski Federation (FIS), died. Kasper stepped down from his role at FIS after serving the organization as president for 23 years. In total, Kasper worked 46 years for the organization. Newly elected FIS president, Johan Eliasch, memorialized Kasper in a press release. “Gian Franco Kasper was unique in the international sports community,” Eliasch said. “He built FIS from a small...

National Nordic Foundation Athlete Support Grant (Press Release)

National Nordic Foundation Athlete Support Grant Athletic excellence emerges through rigors of training, unwavering commitment, and often subsequent successes, setbacks, and revisions, that athletes experience along the way.  We recognize in our past and current champions the attitudes, drive, commitment, work ethic and determination that got them there.  While one athlete may be enjoying a rising trajectory, simultaneously an equally committed and talented athlete may be facing adversity on their pathway to the top. Our...

Team Birkie Launches (Press Release)

  NEWS RELEASE Media Contact: Heidi Ledermann marketing@loppet.org   TEAM BIRKIE LAUNCHES! Three of the largest cross country ski organizations in the Central Region combine forces to start a professional racing team Minneapolis (July 2, 2021) — Central Cross Country Skiing (CXC), the Loppet Foundation, and the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) are teaming up to create a high performance racing team – so that the next Jessie Diggins can stay home to train, inspire...

The Late June News Roundup

  IBU Begins Athlete Ambassador Program The International Biathlon Union has begun an initiative in part to empower athletes and bring change to the sport. Over the past several years the IBU has been a leader amongst sport federations when it comes to reforming governance.  The initiative, billed as the Athlete Ambassador program leverages the public voice of athletes to promote change. “Serving as Athlete Ambassadors, they will be able to use their voice to...

Nordiq Canada Welcomes Return of Eric de Nys as New Next Gen Coach (Press Release)

Press Release CANMORE, Alta.—Experienced cross-country ski coach, Eric de Nys, will return to Nordiq Canada to help develop Canada’s aspiring Olympic athletes into podium performers as the organization’s new NextGen coach, the governing body for cross-country skiing in Canada announced on Friday. De Nys, who was the Senior Development Team and Women’s World Cup coach on the National Ski Team from 2004-2014, will leave his head coach and program director position at Sovereign Lake Nordic...

Global Athlete Announces New Podcast (Press Release)

Press Release 15 June 2021: Global Athlete is pleased to announce an exciting expansion in our efforts toward athlete-driven change across the world of sport- a new athlete-led podcast seeking to broaden the conversation about power, accountability, and athlete rights in international sport. Hosted by 2x Olympian and Global Athlete startup group member Noah Hoffman and featuring guest hosts and Global Athlete members Bree Schaaf and Caradh O’Donovan, the 14-episode first season of our weekly...

USBA Announces New Assistant Coach Dana Hatton (Press Release)

Press Release   New Gloucester, Maine: US Biathlon is pleased to announce the hiring of Dana Hatton as the new National Team Assistant Coach. Dana grew up in Maine and skied with the St. Lawrence Varsity Nordic Ski Team for four years. Most recently, Dana spent two years as the Graduate Assistant Coach for the St. Lawrence Ski Team, where she completed her Masters degree in Leadership. “We are thrilled to have Dana onboard as...

Anderson, Heimdal Join Davis U.S. Cross Country Team Staff (Press Release)

  Press Release The Davis U.S. Cross Country Team welcomes two new staff members, including Greta Anderson as Development Team Coach, and Bjørn Heimdal a member of the World Cup Service staff, for the 2021-22 season. Heimdal joins the World Cup Service staff, replacing fellow Norweigen Per-Erik Bjørnstad. He has been running ski/wax service for Norweigan regional Team Elon Nord-Norge since 2017, and has experience as both a coach and competitor. “He came highly recommended...

The News From FIS: Minneapolis on the Draft Schedule for 2023-2024

  Yesterday the International Biathlon Union announced their modified fluoro ban for the 2021-2022 season. The brief: C8 fluoros are banned, while C6 fluoros are permitted. The International Ski Federation (FIS) announced on Tuesday they too are moving in a similar direction. “FIS has prohibited any products containing C8 fluorocarbons/PFOA at all FIS events from season 2021/2022 onwards, in line with the EU Regulation 2019/1021 (“POP-regulation”) and EC Regulation 1907/2006 („REACH“-regulation), which regulate the handling of fluorinated...

IBU Bans Some Fluorinated Products for the 2021-2022 Season

With time to spare before the 2021-2022 race season, the International Biathlon Union clarified on Monday their fluoro wax policy. In a press release titled “IBU bans harmful fluor products from biathlon events,” the sport governing body banned the use of C8 fluorinated products. C8 compounds, also known as PFOAs, are eight chain fluorocarbons that have historically been used to enhance ski speed in certain conditions. The IBU’s stance brings it into compliance with current...

News from the Recent FIS Meetings

Last week, the International Ski Federation (FIS) held spring meetings to discuss the 2021-2022 cross-country race season. The Cross-Country Committee made several proposals that remain to be approved by the FIS Council. A familiar-looking draft of the 2021-2022 World Cup calendar was proposed. Ruka, Finland will kick off racing with a three-race weekend at the end of November. This series, however, will not be organized as a mini-tour. Period I advances with three races in...

Cross-Country Skiing – Health Benefits and Reasons to Try

Skiing is one of the greatest thrilling sports in the world that is played on the ice. Cross-country skiing is a type of game where the players do not take help from any machine to play the game. In this type, the players use their momentum. Unlike the computer games like online roulette, cross-country skiing helps get better physically. Health Benefits of Cross-Country Skiing The cross-country skiing is a healthy sport, but it is also a...