With the completion of World Championships, the distance Red Group for the final World Cup period has been announced. The Red Group consists of the top 30 men and women in distance and sprint by World Cup points. Red Group athletes receive full travel and living expenses from race organizers. It is not used for seeding purposes.
Devon Kershaw and Ivan Babikov both made the distance Red Group for Canada. Kershaw is ranked 20th with 244 points, and Babikov 25th with 179 points. Kershaw also made the Sprint Red Group.
No US athletes made the top-30. Kris Freeman is the closest, ranked 40th with 106 points, 47 points out of 30th. Because he is having season ending surgery, Kris will not have an opportunity to continue moving up the list over the final weeks of the season.
Sara Renner (CAN) is the lone North American woman to crack the top-30. She is ranked 17th with 269 points.
Liz Stephen is the top US skier in 46th with 37 points. She is 67 points out of 30th.
![The Red Group mean all expenses are covered!](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/01/_mg_0438.jpg" "The Red Group mean all expenses are covered!")
