There have been, by FasterSkier’s calculation, 37 distinct nations that have seen at least one athlete start a World Cup race this season. The first 22 of them were surveyed following the opening weekend of racing in Ruka, in what now seems like a dispatch from another era in which all Scandinavian countries competed and Jessie Diggins was still rounding into form. This article surveys the next 15 who competed on subsequent World Cup weekends, from more traditional Nordic nations (Canada, Slovakia) to more outré participants on the World Cup (Brazil, Nigeria, Thailand).
All photos in this article are taken and copyrighted by NordicFocus photo agency.
Andorra
Carola Vila Obiols races in the 10-kilometer skate in Davos in December 2020. Photo: NordicFocus.
Armenia
Katya Galstyan races in the 10-kilometer skate in Falun in January 2021. Photo: NordicFocus.
Australia
Kat Paul races in the skate sprint qualifier in Davos in December 2020. Photo: NordicFocus.
Belarus
Polina Seronosova races in the skate sprint qualifier in Dresden in December 2020. Photo: NordicFocus.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Strahinja Erić races in the skate sprint qualifier in Dresden in December 2020. Photo: NordicFocus.
Brazil
Steve Hiestand races in the skate sprint qualifier in Davos in December 2020. Photo: NordicFocus.
Bulgaria
Daniel Peshkov, 17 years old, races in the 15-kilometer skate in Davos in December 2020. Photo: NordicFocus.
Canada
Cendrine Browne races in the skiathlon in Lahti, Finland, in January 2021. Photo: NordicFocus.
China
Dinigeer Yilamujiang races in the skate sprint qualifier in Davos in December 2020. Photo: NordicFocus.
Greece
Maria Ntanou races in the skate sprint qualifier in Davos in December 2020. Photo: NordicFocus.
Nigeria
Samuel Uduigowme Ikpefan races in the 10-kilometer skate in Falun in January 2021. Photo: NordicFocus.
Romania
Petrică Hogiu races in the skate sprint qualifier in Davos in December 2020. Photo: NordicFocus.
Slovakia
Alena Procházková races in the skate sprint qualifier in Davos in December 2020. Photo: NordicFocus.
Spain
Jaume Pueyo races in the skate sprint qualifier in Davos in December 2020. Photo: NordicFocus.
Thailand (his and hers suits edition)
Karen Chanloung, who has had Italian–Thai dual citizenship since birth and is Mark Chanloung’s sister but has a different race suit than him, races in the skate sprint qualifier in Davos in December 2020. Photo: NordicFocus.Mark Chanloung, who has had Italian–Thai dual citizenship since birth and is Karen Chanloung’s brother but has a different race suit than her, races in the skate sprint qualifier in Davos in December 2020. Photo: NordicFocus.
