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I’ve been curious for a long time about participation trends in cross-country skiing and what direction the data might point. Ideally, I’d like to see longitudinal data over 10-20 years, but that kind of dataset doesn’t appear to be publicly available. Still, there are several metrics we can look at, participation in popular citizen races, involvement in youth programs, and USSS competitive memberships, that together may paint a picture of where the sport stands.
A 2021 article in FasterSkier noted that the Minnesota Youth Ski League had over 4,000 participants, suggesting growth and enthusiasm at the grassroots level. Yet, that growth doesn’t seem to be carrying over into USSS racing participation. At least from the perspective that there about two times as many youth skiing in the Minnesota Youth Ski program than there are junior members in USSS from the U16-U20 age groups.
The table I compiled, from the USSS website for the 2024–2025 season, includes membership numbers for U16, U18, and U20 competitive skiers. These figures represent registered members, not necessarily those who actually raced. For example, in the Rocky Mountain Division (RMD), there are 192 registered athletes, but actual participation in the eight Junior National Qualifiers (JNQs) ranged between 82 and 115 athletes across those three age groups.
Looking at the big picture, there are 2,119 competitive junior members nationwide in these three age groups. For comparison, the Colorado High School Mountain Bike League reports roughly 1,000 racers, while an estimated 14,000 high school mountain bikers compete nationwide. High school cross country skiing, by contrast, has around 6,500 athletes across the U.S. Clearly, other sports are attracting larger numbers. Comparing participation across sports, particularly at the high school level, can be useful context when we talk about growth, accessibility, and retention.
A region-by-region comparison is also revealing. The East and Central regions have by far the most licensed competitors. Junior Nationals in March of 2025 at Soldier Hollow is reported to have had 434 athletes competing, about 20% of the total registered juniors. Interestingly, Alaska, Intermountain, and New England are the regions regularly in contention for the Alaska Cup. That suggests that team performance isn’t necessarily linked to the total number of licensed athletes in a region. Within those top-performing regions, participation trends also differ: Intermountain shows a steady decline through the age groups, while Alaska and the East see participation increase as athletes move up. Note- the influx of college athletes into eastern schools probably accounts for at least some of that growth.
Taking a closer look at RMN Division where I live and work in the sport, over the past three seasons, we’ve seen about a 5% decrease in participation. I wouldn’t claim that this represents a national trend, since I haven’t been able to access comparable data from other divisions. Still, it’s worth noting that within our region, participation tends to drop as athletes progress through the age groups, and again as the season goes on and qualification for Junior Nationals becomes less likely. Whether or not that trend is statistically significant, it’s meaningful in practical terms.
This kind of data, and more of it, should be used to evaluate our programs and objectives, both regionally and nationally. It can help shape priorities around participation, retention, and opportunity. As I’ve written before in FasterSkier, I believe our greatest opportunity lies in increasing participation, keeping athletes in the sport longer, and expanding access. Not just from a performance perspective but also from a need to address social and cultural values.
Right now, junior cross-country skiing in the U.S. is largely managed at the divisional level by regional affiliates. At least in RMD, the primary focus is on hosting four weekends (eight races) of JNQ competition, selecting the Junior Nationals team, and implementing waxing policies, with almost no attention given to how we might grow participation, reduce costs, or better develop athletes. I believe the data illustrates the potential need and opportunity for substantial growth.
A Norwegian friend and former University of Wyoming athlete recently said something that has stuck with me:
“More inclusion and access will drive social togetherness, and results will follow. In my club, Kjelsås, our profile was: ‘As many as possible, as long as possible.’ We became one of the largest clubs and junior teams in Norway, and in 2023 Kjelsås won both the men’s and women’s relay at the Norwegian Senior Nationals. All eight skiers had been members of Kjelsås since they were six or seven years old. I agree completely. There are many more reasons to promote inclusion and access in cross country skiing than medals or championships — but it’s worth noting that those often follow, too.”
Jim Galanes
Coach, competitor, correspondent, commentator—Jim Galanes has spent a lifetime on cross country skis, always serving as a keen observer of our sport. A three-time Olympian in both Cross-Country and Nordic Combined, Jim has tested the theories, initiated the instruction, assessed the results. Now, FasterSkier is thrilled to announce that Jim joins our staff of writers and contributors, adding his unique and time-tested insights to the editorial offerings of this publication.
