Save the Dates: 2014/2015 NorAm and SuperTour Schedules in a Nutshell

NorAm action in Rossland, B.C., last winter: with Dakota Blackhorse-von Jess of the Bend Endurance Academy (101) rounding a corner with Sun Valley's Miles Havlik (110) and Graeme Killick (121) of the Alberta World Cup Academy/CNST in the Black Jack NorAm 1.6 k skate sprint semifinals on Dec. 15. Blackhorse-von Jess won the semifinal and went on to place fifth in the A-final. Fourth in the semi, Havlick ended up second overall, and Killick placed 12th. (Photo: Shelley Peachell/Peachell Photography, http://peachellphotography.com/) — NorAm action in Rossland, B.C., last winter: Dakota Blackhorse-von Jess of the Bend Endurance Academy (101) rounds a corner with Sun Valley’s Miles Havlik (110) and Graeme Killick (121) of the Alberta World Cup Academy/CNST in the Black Jack NorAm 1.6 k skate sprint semifinals on Dec. 15, 2013. (Photo: Shelley Peachell/Peachell Photography)

Note: This article has been updated to reflect the correct U.S. SuperTour schedule, notably West Yellowstone’s individual start.

Here’s what you have to look forward to this fall, domestically speaking. The Canadians are hosting a season-opening tuneup Oct. 24 in Canmore, Alberta, and it’s known as Frozen Thunder. After the classic sprint and freestyle-distance race (Oct. 31) at the Canmore Nordic Centre, North-American skiing attention will turn to Montana for the USSA SuperTour opener at its usual stop in West Yellowstone from Nov. 28-30.

The SuperTour circuit then heads north to Bozeman, Mont., for the second weekend of races Dec. 5-7. Canadians will have a chance to race at home again at Cross Country Canada’s NorAm opener Dec. 13-14 in Rossland, British Columbia, which also serves as its U23/Junior World Championships Trials. Another set of trials takes place the next weekend, Dec. 20-21, at Whistler Olympic Park in Callaghan Valley, British Columbia.

For the last two years, U.S. nationals has been held at Soldier Hollow, the 2002 Olympic venue just outside of Park City, Utah. This winter from Jan. 4-10, they’ll be in Houghton on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The SuperTour circuit ventures to Vermont for back-to-back weekends in Craftsbury from Jan. 30-Feb. 8 before the ultimate American distance race (also part of the SuperTour schedule): the American Birkebeiner Feb. 21 in Hayward, Wis.

Another NorAm and the third-and-final set of Canadian U23/Junior World Trials is scheduled for Jan. 8-11 in Duntroon, Ontario. Western Canadian Championships in Canmore will follow from Jan.15-17, and Jan. 30-Feb. 1, Nakkertok will again host NorAm Easterns in Cantley, Quebec (just before U23 and Junior World Championships Feb. 2-8 in Almaty, Kazakhstan). The Gatineau Loppet will again double as Canadian Long Distance Championships with its 51 k classic mass start in mid-February.

The NorAm season wraps up in Thunder Bay, Ontario, with Canadian Ski Nationals at Lappe Nordic, including the 50 k freestyle mass start.

SuperTour Finals and U.S. Distance Nationals are set for March 20-26 in Sun Valley, Idaho — and the mixed relay is back.

Emily Nishikawa (l) edges Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt (c) and Heidi Widmer (r) in the women's 1.4 k skate sprint final at the Black Jack NorAm on Dec. 14 in Rossland, B.C. Widmer was second and Bouffard-Nesbitt placed third. (Photo: Shelley Peachell/Peachell Photography, http://peachellphotography.com/) — Emily Nishikawa (l) edges Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt (c) and Heidi Widmer (r) in the women’s 1.4 k skate sprint final at the Black Jack NorAm on Dec. 14, 2013 in Rossland, B.C. (Photo: Shelley Peachell/Peachell Photography)

2014/2015 NorAm schedule

Oct. 24: Canmore Frozen Thunder sprint opener: classic sprint*

Oct. 31: Canmore Frozen Thunder distance opener: freestyle distance*

Dec. 13-14: Rossland NorAm opener (and U23/Junior World Trials 1): freestyle sprint & 10/15 k classic

Dec. 20-21: Whistler classic sprint & freestyle interval start at Callaghan Valley (U23/Junior World Trials 2)

Jan. 8-11: Duntroon 15/30 k skiathlon, classic sprint, 10/15 k freestyle (U23/Junior World Trials 3)

Jan. 15-18: Western Canadian Championships in Canmore: 10/10 k classic, freestyle sprint, classic mass start

Jan. 30-Feb. 1: Eastern Canadian Championships in Cantley: freestyle sprint/prologue, 10/15 k freestyle, 15/20 k classic mass start

Feb. 14-15: Gatineau Loppet/Canadian Long Distance Championships: 51 k classic mass start*

March 14-21: Canadian Ski Nationals in Thunder Bay: freestyle team sprint, 5/10 k freestyle, 10/15 k classic, 30/50 k freestyle mass start

*Separate from NorAm series

Tucker McCrerey (Utah) takes the outside corner at the top of Tele Hill. McCrerey went on to place 19th in the 15 k skate at the 2013/2014 West Yellowstone SuperTour opener.

2014/2015 SuperTour schedule

Nov. 28-30: West Yellowstone SuperTour opener: Freestyle sprint & 10/15 k freestyle individual starts

Dec. 5-7: Bozeman 10/15 k classic mass start & classic sprint

Jan. 4-10: U.S. Cross Country Championships in Houghton: 10/15 k freestyle, classic sprint, 20/30 k classic mass start, freestyle sprint

Jan. 30-Feb. 1: Craftsbury 20/30 k classic mass start & classic sprint

Feb. 6-8: Craftsbury freestyle sprint, 10/10 k freestyle, 10/15 k classic mass start

Feb. 21: American Birkebeiner in Hayward: 52 k freestyle mass start

March 20-26: SuperTour Finals & U.S. Distance Nationals in Sun Valley: 10/15 k classic, freestyle sprint, mixed relay, 30/50 k freestyle mass start

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For the 2014/2015 International Ski Federation (FIS) cross-country calendar, click here.