The Best Destinations for Cross-Country Skiing in Switzerland

Switzerland is synonymous with breathtaking alpine scenery and world-class winter sports, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that it’s considered one of the world’s best destinations for cross-country skiing. While downhill skiing often steals the spotlight, the country’s extensive and meticulously maintained cross-country skiing trails are a more serene yet equally exhilarating way to explore its stunning landscapes.  Whether you’re an avid cross-country skier or a curious beginner, here are the best destinations for...

The Best Destinations for Cross-Country Skiing in Scotland

Scotland is known for its rugged highlands, enchanting lochs, and rich history. It transforms into a winter wonderland during the colder months, luring winter sports enthusiasts into its dramatic landscapes. Cross-country skiing in Scotland takes you on a thrilling adventure of gliding through Scotland’s pristine snow-covered terrain, allowing you to soak up the country’s serene beauty. Here are the best destinations for cross-country skiing in Scotland. Ben Nevis Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in...

CU Ski Team Visits White House For College Champions Day

The Colorado Ski team was one of several NCAA Championship teams at the White House Monday that were celebrated at the College Champions Day. About 20 members of the 2024 NCAA Championship Ski team were in attendance for the Buffaloes along with six coaches and staff members.  The day began with a tour of the White House and culminated with speeches from NCAA Senior Vice President of Championships Lynda Taeler and Vice President Kamala Harris....

Running From Injury

For better or worse the old cliche, ski racers are made in the summer still applies. Cross country runners are made in the summer too. Conveniently, running is excellent training for skiers and obviously runners. Inconveniently, there tend to be a lot of injuries associated with running. And even more inconveniently, we don’t have a ton of research to tell us why or what to do about it.  The clearest correlation to running related injury...

Clarkson Nordic and Cross Country Seeks Grad Assistant

Clarkson University is the nationally ranked research institution of choice for more than 3,400 enterprising, high-ability undergraduate and graduate students who launch remarkably successful careers.  The Department of Athletics, a Division III member of the Liberty League and USCSA, is seeking a graduate assistant for Cross Country and Nordic Ski; This graduate position includes a $10,000 stipend plus tuition (employment is contingent upon proof of acceptance into graduate school at Clarkson University). Responsibilities include but...

The Best Destinations for Cross-Country Skiing in France

France is one of the most beautiful countries for cross-country skiing, blessed with breathtaking landscapes that attract winter sports enthusiasts. The country caters to skiers of all levels, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned one looking to discover the scenic beauty of the French Alps.  From the extensive trails of Courchevel to the picturesque routes in Morzine, here are the best destinations for cross-country skiing in France. Courchevel At the heart of the French...

The Man Who Wants to Change How You Think About Skiing. Part II

In Part I of our interview with Andy Gerlach we talked about how he got into the ski business, the Factory Team, and the products he carries. We continue our interview with a broader view of Gerlach’s mission to change the mindset of cross-country skiers in America and the way you think about skiing, buying skis, and racing. FasterSkier: Your backstory is interesting. You’re a mechanical engineer and have a master’s in economics. You wrote...

The History of Cross-Country Skiing

Cross-country skiing has come a long way from a necessary travel method to an activity that millions of people worldwide enjoy. In the last century, the competitive nature of cross-country skiing has brought international recognition to athletes who traverse challenging terrain and cold weather to push themselves to the limit and connect with nature. This article explores the history of cross-country skiing and its development. Norwegian Origins There are some debates about the origins of...

“Like Riding a Bicycle”: American Birkebeiner’s Popp to Push Worldloppet Forward

“If you’re not pedaling, you’re going to fall over.”   Last month, the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation sprang into registrants’ inboxes with a summer announcement: Ben Popp, Wisconsin native and ABSF Executive Director since 2013, had been elected President of the Worldloppet International Ski Federation. Replacing Finland’s Juho Viljamaa, Popp will serve a four year term, effective immediately. He already has the regalia to prove it. The Federation’s gavel, a relic of the Tony Wise...

Taking Another Look at More Family-Run Ski Wax Companies

We live in an era where product lines are often dominated by several large companies. More and more, small companies are bought up by large corporations as soon as the small company shows an innovation or growth pattern which its lumbering competitor can’t duplicate. Consolidation, just shy of monopoly, is standard practice for many industries.  Fortunately for skiers, this pattern hasn’t held true for cross-country ski wax. There are the big two—which is really the...

The SMST2 Team Announces Gap Grants to Fully Fund World Cup Experience for Athletes

The SMST2 Team is proud to announce this year’s Gap Grant program to support elite World Cup skiers in their pursuit of excellence on the international stage.  This initiative provides financial assistance to unfunded (D Team and non-USST) athletes that qualify to race on the FIS World Cup for any period of time. Gap Grants were made possible by the generous contribution of an anonymous donor and will be available to SMST2 skiers for the...

The Science Behind Skiing: From Innovations in Equipment to Modern Training Methods

Two worlds – science and skiing – may not have common ground in the average fan’s view, but in reality the latter depends on much more than just athletes’ skill and equipment. Years of research and experience made this sport much more advanced than ever, propelling the results to unprecedented heights. Let’s see how skiing became science-centric and why bettors from crickex app, available through the guide at the link, must follow the latest trends...

Betting on Ski Racing

Ski racing is a winter sport, which is why it is popular in the countries of northern Europe, the Alpine region, and North America. In recent years, ski racing has expanded its geography to such an extent that it is no longer surprising to see athletes from Spain or Japan winning international tournaments. As this sport grows in popularity, it’s important for both new and seasoned bettors to consider safe gambling practices to ensure a...

The Man Who Wants to Change How You Think About Skiing. Part I

Ever wonder where and how all of those cool cross-country ski products you may drool over come from? There’s one man who has an outsized role in bringing very ski specific products into the United States. But he’s also on a larger mission. He doesn’t want to just sell cool ski stuff. He wants to change your mindset about skiing, and the way the country buys skis. The man’s name is Andy Gerlach, and he’s...

US Ski and Snowboard Announces World Cup Team for Period 1

Dear Cross Country Community,   We are pleased to announce the XC Team for Period 1 of the 2024-25 World Cup season:   Ruka, FIN Sprint C Men Michael Earnhart                      Objective          23-24 Overall SuperTour Leader JC Schoonmaker                        Objective          10th 23-24 Sprint World Cup Ben Ogden                                Objective          15th 23-24 Sprint World Cup Gus Schumacher                       Objective          27th 23-24 Sprint World Cup Kevin Bolger                             Objective          30th 23-24 Sprint World Cup Zak Ketterson                           Objective          35th 23-24 Sprint World Cup...

Ukrainian XC Family Lands in Bend—Of All Places

  Anhelina Hryhorenko is a typical 14-year-old girl in many ways—she loves art and isn’t a fan of math. And she’s excited to have her freshman year of school over. But she’s got a lot of unique qualities, too. For one, she’s a junior national champion with more medals than she can hold in two hands. She’s also the daughter of a former national cross-country ski team member team and the niece of a three-time...

Jessie Diggins agrees. Yes, that was stupid

This coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award, or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage, please contact info@fasterskier.com. All of us need to take a break from our jobs every now and then and do something a little bit—out there— which challenges us. For many, that’s going for a long ski,...

Tour de France or Tour de Ski? (why not both?!)

On Saturday, June 29, the best cyclists will set off from Florence, Italy for the first stage of the 2024 Tour de France. For the next three weeks, they’ll be riding around 200 km of often hilly or mountainous terrain every day. This devilishly grueling stage race serves as a model for the winter equivalent – Tour de Ski – where cross-country skiers are pushed to their infernal limits day after day. This seems like...

Sprinting Away With Julia Kern. Part II

This coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award, or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage, please contact info@fasterskier.com. In part I of our interview with Julia Kern we talked about her summer training changes, and what was a very challenging winter of racing. Please continue reading for Part II of our...