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FasterSkier Awards

FasterSkier’s 2017 Performances of the Year

This is it — the final award in our 2016/2017 awards series. Votes stemmed from the FS staff, scattered across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and while not scientific, they’re intended to reflect a broader sense of the season in review. This honor goes to outstanding North American performances of the year across various nordic sports. Previous categories: Collegiate | U.S. Continental | Biathletes | U.S. Breakthroughs | International | won the 20-kilometer individual at 2017 IBU World Championships, it was by about a slim margin as he...

FasterSkier’s Cross-Country Skiers of the Year: Alex Harvey & Jessie Diggins

With the 2016/2017 season officially in the rearview, FasterSkier is excited to unveil its annual award winners for this past winter. Votes stem from the FS staff, scattered across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and while not scientific, they are intended to reflect a broader sense of the season in review. This honor goes to two outstanding North American skiers of the year.  Previous categories: Collegiate | U.S. Continental | Biathletes | U.S. Breakthroughs | International *** Alex Harvey and Jessie Diggins are FasterSkier’s North...

FasterSkier’s Canadian Breakthroughs of the Year: Megan Bankes & Jess Cockney

With the 2016/2017 season officially in the rearview, FasterSkier is excited to unveil its annual award winners for this past winter. Votes stem from the FS staff, scattered across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and while not scientific, they are intended to reflect a broader sense of the season in review. This set of honors goes to outstanding athletes across the nordic disciplines who had a major breakthrough at any level of racing.  Previous categories:...

FasterSkier’s Para-Nordic Skiers of the Year: Oksana Masters and Brian McKeever

With the 2016/2017 season officially in the rearview, FasterSkier is excited to unveil its annual award winners for this past winter. Votes stem from the FS staff, scattered across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and while not scientific, they are intended to reflect a broader sense of the season in review. This set of honors goes to outstanding Para-Nordic skiers on the IPC World Cup circuit.  Previous categories: Collegiate Skiers of the Year | U.S....

FasterSkier’s Cross Country Performances of 2015: Jessie Diggins, Caitlin Gregg and Alex Harvey

FasterSkier's cross country performances of the year come from Alex Harvey at the 2015 World Championships where he won silver and bronze medals in the sprint and skiathlon. Jessie Diggins and Caitlin Gregg are co-recipients of the women's award for their historic 2-3 finish in the 10 k freestyle at Worlds.

Randall, Kershaw Repeat as FS XC Skiers of the Year, Harvey Joins the Party

FasterSkier Cross-Country Skier of the Year Cross-Country Skier of the Year (women): Kikkan Randall (USA/USST) Randall has now won the FasterSkier Cross-Country Skier of the Year Award every season since its inception, and 2011 is no different. The choice is easy, as Randall just keeps getting better. She is not just the best woman in North America, she is one of the best skiers in the world. At this point in her career Randall is...

FasterSkier Performances of the Year The FasterSkier Performance of the Year Award is presented in three categories – cross-country, biathlon and nordic combined, with men’s and women’s in the first two. We will start with cross-country. XC Performance of the Year (women): Kikkan Randall (USA/USST) In some ways this is the easiest of the Performance of the Year awards – there is no question that it will go to Kikkan Randall. The challenge is picking...

Bailey, Studebaker Lead US Biathlon, Gain FS Biathlete of the Year Honors

FasterSkier Biathlete of the Year Biathlete of the Year (men): Lowell Bailey (USA/USBA) Bailey was one of several bright spots in a somewhat rocky year for the US men’s biathlon team. Coming off a run of several seasons where expectations continued to rise for the program, what with Tim Burke leading the overall World Cup for a time in 2010, Jeremy Teela reaching the World Cup podium in 2009, and a number of strong relay...

US and Canada Share FS Continental Skier of the Year Awards

FasterSkier Continental Skier of the Year With two different continental cup series and two sets of national championships, determining the top domestic racers can be challenging. Head-to-head match ups are usually limited, and it can be difficult to compare field strength. Such was the case this year. A strong argument can be made for both the overall SuperTour winner and the NorAm Cup. Champions. As is sometimes the case, we felt there was no better...

McKeever, Barber Lead Canadian Sweep of FS Adaptive Skier of the Year

FasterSkier Adaptive Skier of the Year Adaptive Skier of the Year (men): Brian McKeever (CAN) McKeever continued his dominance of the adaptive skiing circuit, collecting three cross-country golds at the IPC World Championships and a silver in biathlon. All this hardware came without longtime guide, brother Robin McKeever, who suffered an injury not long before the start of the Championships. Long-time friend, and Erik Carleton took over, and McKeever did not miss a beat. McKeever,...

Graefnings, Tarling Win FS Collegiate Skier of the Year

FasterSkier Collegiate Skier of the Year Collegiate Skier of the Year (women): Maria Graefnings (SWE/University of Utah) A senior at the University of Utah, and a native of Falun, Sweden, Graefnings dominated the RMISA circuit during the regular season, winning seven of eight starts. Graefnings transferred to Utah from the University of Nevada when that program was cut. In addition to her success in the western region, Graefnings won the NCAA national title in the...

Fitzgerald and Sandau Break Through in FS Awards

FasterSkier Breakthrough Skier of the Year For the first time we are naming a Breakthrough Skier of the Year. The award is even less defined than the Rookie of the Year. Any skier who took a significant step forward is eligible. Though not limited to domestic skiers, we will lean toward such athletes, as the Rookie of the Year has generally gone to the World Cup level. Breakthrough Skier of the Year (women): Kate Fitzgerald...

Diggins, Valjas Earn FasterSkier Rookie of the Year Honors

FasterSkier Rookie of the Year It is hard to define a “rookie” in cross-country skiing.  First year on the World Cup?  First season as a senior?  First year in college?  First year skiing?  We keep it loose and give the award to skiers who take a major step forward while moving up to a new level of competition. Rookie of the Year (women): Jessie Diggins (USA/CXC Elite) The choice for the female Rookie of the...