Yesterday’s announcement of changes to next year’s World Cup schedule came as a dramatic surprise to the cross-country skiing community. But the story behind those changes is just as interesting as the changes themselves. Lars Johansen, the Swedish delegate to the FIS (International Ski Federation) competition committee described how the historic changes came about. “I was sitting glumly in my Cortina hotel room. In nine days, I was due to give my final report to...
By Kevin Brooker Increasing the value of a product is important. Consumers are drawn to the idea of high tech being better than run of the mill technology. To catch the attention and dollars of consumers, the marketing team will often use terms like “Aircraft Grade” or “Medical Grade” to make the ski manufacturers’ offerings more attractive. The idea being, if some material is good enough for the high tech and safety conscious aviation industry, it...
With an incredibly elaborate hoax from the Chinese now in full swing, winter athletes from all over the world continue to struggle with our planet’s changing climate. Snow sports have been particularly hard hit, as rising temperatures and increasingly erratic weather patterns have resulted in less predictable snowfall, mid-winter rain storms, rapidly abating trail conditions, and thusly greatly shortened training and racing seasons. This fallout from these changing climactic conditions is far-reaching and appears to...
Evel Knievel devotee — note Schafer’s race suit. (To subscribe to the Nordic Nation podcast channel, download the iTunes app. If you have iTunes, subscribe to Nordic Nation here.) Have a podcast idea? Please email Is this for real?)
In 2022, Beijing will become the only city that has hosted both Summer and Winter Olympic Games. But sooner than expected another unlikely city might join that rank: Los Angeles. L.A. is currently one of only two remaining candidate cities to host the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, the other one being Paris. The winner will be determined at the next International Olympic Committee (IOC) general session in Lima, Peru, in September of this...
With Kuusamo’s sudden cancellation of the season-opening Ruka Triple in November, FIS formally announced a schedule change for the start of the 2017/2018 World Cup season. The season’s first event will be a mini tour in Thailand. Yup, Thailand. A dedicated committee of ski enthusiasts recently committed to organizing a three-stage mini tour on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand, in late November 2017. “I bought a Snow Factory in 2015. At first, we thought people would be interested...
Ever an equality advocate, Kikkan Randall is spearheading an effort to allow Fido and friends to accompany their World Cup pet owners on the circuit. “I was just blown away by the level of support myself and other new parents had on the circuit this year, thanks to FIS’s new updates as they become available.
Liz Stephen has made a name for herself as one of the best uphill climbers in the world on the cross-country World Cup circuit, frequently achieving her best performances of the season in the final stage of the Tour de Ski up the grueling Alpe Cermis climb on a ski slope in Italy. She placed second for the time of day up the climb again this year, her fourth time to do so. “I want...
Liz ‘Hill’ Stephen Plans Switch to Skimo World Cup Skiing Comes to Thailand 17 Questions with Fast Big Dog
We know it’s a bit maddening, but everything posted in the main column of FasterSkier today, April 1, is a joke.
A number of nordic skiers, including Marit Bjørgen and Kikkan Randall, will face off in New York City this spring for the city's premiere Stroll-a-thon, an event designed for racers sporting strollers and covers the same 26.2-mile course as the NYC running marathon.
Cross Country Canada is serious about developing its coaching pipeline and hiring in-house, as evidenced by its decision to hire athlete Kevin Sandau as head coach of the Canadian National Ski Team. "I don’t have much experience coaching at this sort of level but I feel like my practical experience on the domestic circuit and top-50ish on the World Cup is what really sets me apart from the rest," Sandau said.
Caitlin and Brian Gregg are taking a giant leap for cross-country ski racers around the world and heading to space in June to test the effects of super-high altitude (more specifically, zero gravity) on endurance performance.
With the Ski Tour Canada drawing record TV audiences in Norway and a problematic lack of snow throughout central Europe this winter, FIS has decided to relocate the entire 2016/2017 World Cup season to Canada and the U.S.
Jessie Diggins and Simi Hamilton are trading their skis for dance shoes, at least for the start of the 2016/2017 season. The two both signed six-week contracts with the popular TV series, Dancing with the Stars, with filming starting in September in Los Angeles.
The U.S. Nordic Ski Team is in shambles after several unusual injuries struck during the first recovery week of the season. Jessie Diggins is bedridden with a knee injury caused by repeated jumping, and the men's team has been bitten as well, with an infection stemming from a paper cut and public restroom, as well as torn ligaments from an arm-wrestling match.
The International Ski Federation (FIS) announced Friday that wooden skis and pine tar will be requirements for two World Cup stops this upcoming season. An insider says its part of an effort to stop the double-poling trend, but what are the implications and what could the future look like?
We know it’s a bit maddening, but the two stories posted in the main column of FasterSkier on April 1 were in jest: "USSA to Shutter Center of Excellence, Enlist Prancercise Methods" and "Larger-Than-Life Statues of Diggins, Gregg Unveiled at Mall of America."
The Twin Cities honored their World Championships medalists with the unveiling of a pair of 20-foot "silver and bronze" statues on Wednesday morning at the Mall of America, Minnesota's No. 1 tourist destination.
In a surprise move, USSA President Tiger Shaw announced Wednesday that the state-of-the-art Center of Excellence in will be put up for sale and rhythmic movements, known as Prancercise, will replace traditional strength training for all USSA athletes.