30 k freestyle mass start – FasterSkier.com

Sophia Laukli was crushing her Olympic debut. Then she went the wrong way. She still finished 15th.

Rachel PerkinsFebruary 21, 2022

It had been more than a month since Sophia Laukli last wore a race bib. Her last competitions took place on January 15th and 16th during the 2022 Sun Valley Nordic Invitational, where she was second to Rosie Brennan in the 5 k individual start skate, racing at altitude on a tough course. Eleven days prior, she was the fifth woman, and the first American, to the top of the Alpe Cermis in Val di...

Continental Cup News Racing

SuperTour Finals Distance National Championship Race Rundown

FasterSkierApril 2, 2019

US Ski & Snowboard SuperTour Finals Presque Isles, Maine 30k/50k Mass Start Freestyle Tuesday marked the last day of SuperTour Finals and with it, the women raced a 30-kilometer mass start freestyle. Sadie Bjornsen (APU/USST) won in 1:21:29.4. Bjornsen was the pacesetter for much of the day. By the 10 k checkpoint, the potential podium challengers had been winnowed down to Bjornsen, Rosie Brennan (APU), Julia Kern (SMS T2/USST), Jessica Yeaton (APU), Katherine Stewart-Jones (NTDC...

Continental Cup News Racing Results US Nationals

Sunday Rundown: U.S. Distance Nationals 30/50 k Skate Mass Start

Gabby NaranjaApril 2, 2017

U.S. Distance Nationals (Fairbanks, Alaska): 30/50 k freestyle mass starts On Sunday in Fairbanks, Alaska U.S. Distance Nationals came to a conclusion for the women as they contested a 30-kilometer skate mass start. Spoiler alert: Diggins swept the week. Marked from the start was Jessie Diggins of the Stratton Mountain School (SMS) Elite Team and the U.S. Ski Team (USST). Diggins is coming off a World Cup campaign where she placed sixth overall and won a sprint...

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Saturday Rundown: Lahti & PyeongChang (Updated x2)

FasterSkierMarch 4, 2017

FIS Nordic World Championships (Lahti, Finland): Women’s 30 k freestyle mass start Marit Bjørgen made it a four-peat on Saturday with her fourth gold and third individual win over the last week at 2017 Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland. (She previously won the 15-kilometer skiathlon, 10 k classic, and 4 x 5 k relay.) The 36-year-old Norwegian closed out the championships with a 1.9-second victory in the women’s 30-kilometer freestyle mass start, finishing in 1:08:36.8...

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Setting the Scene: Pre-Competition Day at Lahti World Championships

FasterSkierFebruary 21, 2017

LAHTI, Finland — Tuesday at Lahti’s venue for the 2017 Nordic World Ski Championships, the sun sets early. Although technically sunset was 5:22 p.m., the sun on this clear-sky day was still wintertime reluctant. It seemed too short a time for the sun’s transect to thaw Lahti. Temps were in the mid-to-low 20 degrees Fahrenheit. But a brisk wind called for down coats and insulated pants for those not actively skiing — in the shade, it...

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Photos From U.S. Nationals: 20/30 k Mass Start

BrainspiralJanuary 8, 2016

An assortment of photos featuring some of the top moment's from Thursday's 20 and 30 k freestyle mass starts at 2016 U.S. nationals in Houghton, Mich.

News Racing US Nationals

Elliott’s Still Got It, Wins Fourth National Title in 30 k Freestyle

Kaitlyn PattersonJanuary 7, 2016

Although Tad Elliott’s name may have been missing from the top of U.S. results recently, at U.S. nationals on Thursday, the former U.S. Ski Team member showed he has what it takes to win races: and did so by nearly 10 seconds in the men's 30 k freestyle mass start.

Continental Cup News Racing

Photo Gallery: U.S. Distance Nationals

BrainspiralMarch 30, 2015

Relive the action at the 2015 U.S. Distance Nationals with our photo gallery of the 30- and 50-kilomter freestyle mass starts that took place at Galena Lodge in Sun Valley, Idaho as part of the 2015 SuperTour Finals.

News Racing World Cup

Stephen Ninth as Three Americans Finish in Top 20 of Holmenkollen 30 k

Colin GaiserMarch 15, 2015

A trio of Americans finished in the top 20 of the final women's World Cup race of the season, a 30-kilometer freestyle mass start in Holmenkollen, Norway. Liz Stephen led the U.S. team in ninth, Jessie Diggins took 14th, while Caitlin Gregg capped off an eventful World Cup season with a 19th-place finish.

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Norway’s 10,000-Meter Champ, Steira Taking One Step at a Time

Alex KochonAugust 25, 2014

Kristin Størmer Steira's in the game for another season, but she's not so sure what the next four years hold -- definitely some school and not another Olympics. "I learned from my earlier mistakes saying this is my last year, but I don’t think longer than Falun ... we’ll see," she says in an exclusive interview.

Canadian National Ski Team General News Racing

Canadian Women Stand Together, Reflect on Olympic Experience

Alex KochonFebruary 28, 20147

For Canada, the 30-kilometer freestyle mass start was less about results and more about the emergence of a unified women's team, which finished within places of one another and stuck together even after the race. While one is continuing on the World Cup, national-team veterans Dasha Gaiazova and Chandra Crawford will not be racing this weekend in Lahti, Finland.

General News Olympics Racing

Bjørgen Racks Up Third Gold in Sochi; Norwegian Women Complete 30 k Sweep

Alex KochonFebruary 22, 20141

With three teammates skiing at the front of the women's 30 k freestyle mass start from start to finish, it was no surprise it was Norway, and it wasn't exactly stunning that they dominated the podium. However, the last several hundred meters of the race turned out to be the most exciting, with Marit Bjørgen executing in her usual fashion. The victory made her the most successful woman in Winter Olympics history.

Continental Cup General Racing US Nationals

U.S. Nationals Photo Gallery: Men’s 30 k Freestyle Mass Start

BrainspiralJanuary 10, 2014

Sylvan Ellefson, 26, knew it was going to take some gutsy skiing to win the men's 30-kilometer freestyle mass start Wednesday at the 2014 U.S. Cross Country Championships, but he didn't want to go too crazy, too soon. Here's how he executed to win his first national title by 2.8 seconds.

Continental Cup News Racing US Nationals

With a Fleet of Fans Behind Him, Ellefson Goes Big for First National Title in 30 k (Updated)

Alex KochonJanuary 8, 2014

A crowd favorite, Sylvan Ellefson (SSCV/Team HomeGrown) put down a bold move and broke away with 7.5 k to go in the men's 30 k freestyle mass start at U.S. nationals. “Whether they pick me for the Olympics this year or not, I’m just happy to have a national championship under my belt," he says.

Canadian Nationals Racing

International Couple Top Canadian Nationals Mass Starts; McMurtry Ends Career with Gold (Updated)

Gerry FursethMarch 31, 20132

On the last day of racing at 2013 Canadian Nationals, American Torin Koos and his Swiss girlfriend Bettina Gruber were the big winners in the 50- and 30-kilometer freestyle mass starts, respectively. Brent McMurtry ended his ski career on a high note, and Zina Kocher took the Canadian women's title.

Racing World Cup

Only Hindered by Norwegian Flag, Johaug Cruises to Another Holmenkollen Title

Alex KochonMarch 17, 2013

Therese Johaug knows how to win big at Holmenkollen, but she outdid herself in Sunday's 30 k freestyle mass start, beating Justyna Kowalczyk by 46.6 seconds and skiing alone for nearly 23 k to do so.

Continental Cup General News Racing US Ski Team

The Veteran Sprinter, Randall Defends 30 k Title at Distance Nationals

Alex KochonMarch 30, 2012

CRAFTSBURY, Vt. – Shaking out the legs, clicking into their skis and moving their bodies just before the Friday’s 30-kilometer mass start at U.S. Distance Nationals, about 50 women looked straight ahead, all likely thinking the same thing. This is it. One more and we’re done. Some prepared for 20 times around a 1.5 k loop thinking each was a victory lap. Afterward, they’d be finished for the season. Four to five months of racing...