Here on the other side of winter—snow not yet fully melted, grass not yet fully green—I’ve spent the week sleeping in. It’s been kind of awesome: lolling happily under a fluffy comforter, flipping the pillow to the cool side again and again, dozing luxuriantly, secure in the knowledge that I’m not missing a race, not late on a deadline, not overlooking details that might make a story better or more informative. These spring mornings are...
The FIS Cross Country World Cup season is long and exhausting, and the performers in the World Cup circus are always at risk of illness, injury, overtraining, fatigue. They travel in planes, they live in hotel rooms, they eat in restaurants: all the worst ways to preserve health and wellness. And the world continues to be inundated with lingering pandemic viruses that take advantage of our now-maskless society. It’s no wonder so many of them...
SMST2, a globally elite cross-country ski club, announced today that Colin Rodgers will join the team as Program Director and Head Coach. SMST2 board chair Sverre Caldwell said, “Colin’s experience and proven success as a leader will be tremendous assets for both the athletes individually and the team as a whole. Most importantly, he understands how quickly both the world and our sport are changing. He brings the vision, energy, and focus necessary to evolve...
Sorry, we’re late. We know. But we haven’t forgotten about you. Devon and Nat are back to wrap up the 2025 season and recap Oslo, Tallinn and Lahti. We do really think we’ll be back for a couple of postseason episodes. Sorry we haven’t answered many of your questions but we’ve got a list and plan to tackle ’em soon. Thanks so much for following along this season — more soon. Reach us at devon@fasterskier.com...
Jessie Diggins’ victory in securing her third FIS Overall Crystal Globe marks a historic milestone, not only for her career but also for the representation of North American athletes in cross-country skiing, a sport traditionally dominated by European nations. Her achievements signify a shift in the landscape, challenging preconceived notions about the sport and setting a precedent for future generations of skiers. Historically, cross-country skiing has been overwhelmingly dominated by athletes from Scandinavia and other...
This coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award, or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage, please contact info@fasterskier.com. Therese Johaug (NOR) was going to retire two weeks ago, but things didn’t work out as planned. She had intended to go out after the 50 k at World Championships—to be honest, Johaug...
This coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award, or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage, please contact info@fasterskier.com. A few weeks ago, Norwegian commentator (and Ski Hall of Famer) Petter Northug criticized his countrymen for failing to attack Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (NOR) more aggressively in a mass start distance race. Northug...
This coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award, or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage, please contact info@fasterskier.com. Just how do these athletes keep doing this? There have been 32 World Cup races so far this winter—plus an exhausting week of World Championships—and we ski fans get in the habit of...
This coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award, or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage, please contact info@fasterskier.com. Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (NOR) had business to attend to, and a Crystal Globe to claim. He couldn’t afford to waste time worrying about races to come. He had today’s race to deal with...
This coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award, or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage, please contact info@fasterskier.com. Back in 2021-2022, Slovenia’s Annamarija Lampic won the Sprint World Cup while having stepped onto a World Cup Sprint podium only three times that season (2 x third, 1 x second). No victories...
This coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award, or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage, please contact info@fasterskier.com. Today’s nighttime mid-week Freestyle city Sprint in Tallinn, Estonia is an unique event. It’s one day of individual Sprint racing coming at the tail end of the season leading into the final weekend...
This coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award, or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage, please contact info@fasterskier.com. As the FIS World Cup makes a popular stop in Talinn, Estonia, a bit of a geography review might be in order . . . Talinn is the capital of Estonia, situated directly south...
TRONDHEIM, NORWAY — On the eve of the first race at the Nordic World Ski Championships, an anonymous source told Swedish national broadcaster SVT that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has urged both the International Ski Federation (FIS) and the International Biathlon Union (IBU) to allow Russian and Belarussian athletes to return to international competition in time for the 2026 Olympic Games in Italy. IBU President Olle Dahlin confirmed to SVT that the IOC is...
This coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award, or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage, please contact info@fasterskier.com. Cross country skiing is a winter sport, but it’s the spring season in which we see it in all it’s glory: sunny skies, blue horizons, fields of purest white. A venue like Holmenkollen offers...
This coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award, or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage, please contact info@fasterskier.com. Holmenkollen has traditionally been the site of the season’s most significant 50 k race, and many in Norway are fairly grumpy to have it removed from the schedule. For the racers in today’s substitute...
This coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award, or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage, please contact info@fasterskier.com. Holmenkollen is the home of Norwegian cross country skiing. It’s their Yankee Stadium, their Churchill Downs, their Wimbledon Centre Court, their Indianapolis Speedway. It’s the place where the Kingdom of Norway would usually crown...
This coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award, or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage, please contact info@fasterskier.com. In the weeks closely following the conclusion of each year’s Tour de France (the world’s preeminent bicycle stage race), the winners and contenders undertake a tour of “criterium” events, races staged in those European...
Dear Cross Country Community, We are pleased to announce the Team for Period 4 of the 2024-25 World Cup season: Oslo 20 km C Individual Men John Hagenbuch Objective 24-25 Overall SuperTour Leader Gus Schumacher Objective 13th World Cup Distance Standings Ben Ogden Objective 24th World Cup Distance Standings Zanden McMullen Objective 27th World Cup Distance Standings Luke Jager Discretion 21st Les Rousses 20 km C JC Schoonmaker Discretion 23rd Falun 10 km C...
This article was made possible through the generous support of our voluntary subscribers. If you would like to see more articles like this one, please support FasterSkier with a voluntary subscription. The Norwegian men are in a league of their own—but when a league is contested by just one team, will fans still watch? TRONDHEIM, NORWAY – As the morning gales gave way during last Thursday’s men’s 4×7.5 kilometre relay, the crowds at the Trondheim World...
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