The U-23 Championships starts at the Soldier Hollow Olympic venue in Heber, Utah – USA on Wednesday February 11.
Fourteen nations have sent their best skiers to compete in this unofficial World Championship for skiers under age 23. U-23 is intended to be a steppingstone and motivation for young skiers in their quest to become successful at the World Cup – often dominated by “older” skiers.
The week’s events include:
Double Pursuit on Wednesday (5+5 for Women, 10+10 for Men)
Individual Sprint, Free Technique on Thursday
Team Sprint, Classical Technique on Saturday
Mass-start, Free Technique on Sunday (15 for Women, 30 for Men)
American Kris Freeman won the 30-kilometer mass-start race at last year’s U-23 in Italy, and went on to have a very successful “regular” World Ski Championship only a couple weeks later.
The US team is among the largest while some nations have sent much smaller teams.
US Development team Coach Chris Grover noted that it will be nice to have a bigger wax crew and overall staff than the other teams for a change.
 of University of Anchorage, Alaska was excited about getting going with the races. She was the 4th best American in the 15 k classic and 8th in the 5-kilometer skate at last month US Nationals in Rumford, Maine. She is planning on doing the Pursuit, the sprint and the sprint relay. She views sprint as a good event for her, but has not been able to do many sprint races while in college.</p>
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