Zanden McMullen – FasterSkier.com

Amundesen Protects Big Lead Going Into TDS Finale

Ken RothJanuary 6, 2024

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. The men’s Tour de Ski (TDS) began last week with team Norway back on its heels as France and the USA challenged Norway’s domination; that seems a lifetime ago. Ever since the third...

Feature News Tour de Ski World Cup

Tour de Ski Classic Pursuit: Amundsen Takes Control

John TeafordJanuary 4, 2024

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. Winter endurance sports represent a quandary: training for endurance events requires that athletes push themselves repeatedly toward exhaustion . . . a condition that makes them especially susceptible to transferable illnesses. Influenza caught...

Feature News World Cup

Amundsen Captures World Cup Lead, Hagenbuch 13th in Oestersund 10 k

John TeafordDecember 10, 2023

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. Week after week, the final standings of World Cup distance races are a list of Norwegian names, and the bibs of World Cup leaders continue to pass from Norwegian to Norwegian. Oestersund Sweden’s World...

Feature News World Cup

Norway’s Jan Thomas Jenssen Wins in First World Cup Start in Three Years

Ben TheyerlNovember 26, 2023

Jan Thomas Jenssen (NOR) hadn’t been entered in a World Cup race since 2020. On Sunday in Ruka, the highlight to Jenssen’s weekend of racing was expected to be his start in the 20 k, not his finish. But something strange was swirling in the chill Arctic air, and Sunday was one for the dark horses. In the final stretch of Sunday’s race that bent two unlikely skiers—Michal Novak (CZE), and the 27 year-old Jenssen—emerged...

News US Nationals

Swirbul Three-Peats, Jager Triumphant in U.S. Nationals

Ken RothJanuary 6, 2023

HOUGHTON, MICHIGAN: Welcome to FasterSkier’s on-location coverage of the United States National Cross-Country Ski Championships from Houghton, Michigan. This week, Houghton hosts the U.S. National Cross-Country Championships on the Michigan Technological University’s trails system. Today’s event is the 20-kilometer classic mass start. There were several questions to be answered at the beginning of the day: the women’s side has been dominated by Hailey Swirbul. Swirbul has won the two previous races, the 10-kilometer individual start...

Juniors News Racing

World Juniors: Zanden McMullen leads the way for the Americans in 10/15 k classic with 14th; Abigail Jarzin top female athlete in 36th

Gavin KentchFebruary 24, 2022

The 2022 FIS Junior/U23 World Ski Championships trip has been made possible through support from the National Nordic Foundation (NNF), which has identified this invaluable opportunity for developing athletes as one of its “Pillar Projects”. You can support the NNF and the next generations of America’s top skiers by making a donation here. Thursday marked the third day of 2022 FIS Junior World Ski Championships in Lygna, Norway, but the first day of competition for...

Community News Team nominations

(Press Release) 2022 Junior, U23 World Championships Cross Country Teams Announced

FasterSkierJanuary 25, 2022

By U.S. Ski & Snowboard January 25, 2022 U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced 24 athletes to represent the United States at the FIS Junior & U23 World Cross Country Championships Feb. 22-27 in Lygna, Norway. “Following a year filled with constant changes, I am so pleased to see a team fielded with such depth among our roster,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Head Cross Country Development Coach Greta Anderson. “We have several spots on...

Racing World Cup

Norway Takes the Relay Win at Home in a Close Match; United States I Team Races to 9th, Canada 10th

Ian TovellDecember 5, 2021

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and the 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. Most-often the champions of the event, the Norwegian men’s program has been waiting for another crack at the 4 x 7.5-kilometer relay on home turf for the last two...

News Racing World Cup

A Russian Sweep on Day 3 in Ruka; Schumacher Advances to 11th

FasterSkierNovember 28, 2021

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and the 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. By Ryan Sederquist It was another very cold day in Ruka, Finland. Temperatures hovered between -19 and -23.2 degrees Celsius around the course, rising to -18.6C by the start...

Community News Regional / Local

Elite Team Preview: APU

Gavin KentchNovember 25, 2021

Team name and location: Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center (APU, or APUNSC); Anchorage, Alaska Coaches: Erik Flora (head coach/director), Jack Novak (assistant coach) Current roster: Penny Smyth, APUNSC Marketing & Communications, writes: “Women’s Team: Rosie Brennan (USSS A Team), Hailey Swirbul (USSS A Team), Hannah Halvorsen (USSS D Team), Rosie Frankowski (World Cup Alternate), Becca Rorabaugh, Anna Darnell, Annie Gonzales, Marit Flora, Lily Pannkuk, Zoe Noble “Men’s Team: Logan Hanneman (USSS B Team), Scott Patterson (USSS B Team), David Norris...

Racing Regional / Local

Maubet Bjornsen Repeats, Wonders Leads Men in Distance Skate in Anchorage

Gavin KentchDecember 22, 2020

This article has been updated with additional information about the history of the Kincaid Hairpin FIS course, and with a link to an article compiling national club time trial results. ANCHORAGE — Sunday, the second day of FIS races in Anchorage, saw, at some level, more of the same: fresh snow (though much less than the day before), soft and slow conditions, and Sadie Maubet Bjornsen at the top of the results sheet. There were...

Racing Regional / Local

Maubet Bjornsen, Jager Take Wins in Snowy Classic Sprint in Anchorage FIS Races

Gavin KentchDecember 22, 2020

ANCHORAGE — Sadie Maubet Bjornsen, Luke Jager, and Hunter Wonders won FIS races at Kincaid Park over the weekend against strong fields, in what would typically be statewide races used for Junior Nationals qualification but were this year held as a mostly Anchorage-based weekend after a state sponsoring body declined to host. This race writeup covers Saturday’s classic sprint qualifier, which along with Sunday’s freestyle distance races were the first FIS races held on this...

Juniors News Racing

Mass Start day at World Juniors: Remi Drolet 4th, Schumacher 5th…Laukli 5th, McCabe 9th (Includes Audio Interview with USST Coach Bernie Nelson)

Jason AlbertMarch 4, 2020

Wednesday in Oberwiesenthal, Germany World Juniors continued with a 15 k mass start skate for the women. Junior Women’s 15 k Mass Start Skate Norway’s Helene Marie Fossesholm (18) won her second race of these championships by taking the mass start skate in 35:55.6 minutes. Fossesholm also won the 5 k interval start classic race on Monday. Poland’s Izabela Marcisz placed second 1:09.3 back. Marcisz also won a bronze in the 5 k classic. Switzerland’s...

General Juniors News Racing

Tuesday Race Rundown: Lahti Junior Worlds U20 5 k/10k Individual Skate (Updated 2x)

FasterSkierJanuary 22, 2019

FIS Junior World Ski Championships Lahti, Finland 5 k/10k Freestyle Interval Start Tuesday in Lahti, Finland was as Finland should be: squeaky-snow-cold and cross-country ski racing on offer. Eighteen-year-old Gus Schumacher broke through for the U.S. and placed sixth overall in the U20 men’s 10-kilometer freestyle. Schumacher was the 95th starter of 102 finishers on the day. His sixth place finish was consistent with his 1.1k, 5k, and 6.6k splits where he was ranked 5th,...

General Juniors News Racing

Gus Schumacher Leads the Way in First Besh Cup Weekend

Gavin KentchDecember 18, 2018

Note: FasterSkier is accepting submissions for regional race reports, including for juniors racing. If you would like to see a particular race circuit covered and have the writer with the will to do it, please have them email info@fasterskier.com. Be sure to include a link to results, and preferably a few original race photos with proper credits. GOVERNMENT PEAK RECREATION AREA, outside Palmer, Alaska — On a day that had a decidedly old school feel,...

General Juniors News Racing Regional / Local

Besh Cup Series Wraps up in Fairbanks as Team Alaska is Named

Gavin KentchFebruary 8, 2017

When is a race-time temperature of 2 above not so bad? When it's 16 below at the airport. Team Alaska was named as the Besh Cup series wrapped up in Fairbanks over the weekend, in conditions that one local skier described as "not too cold."

Juniors News Racing Regional / Local

APU Prevails While Schumacher Turns Heads at Besh Cup 1 & 2

Gavin KentchDecember 20, 2016

Note: FasterSkier is accepting submissions for regional race reports. If you would like to see a particular race circuit covered and have the writer with the will to do it, please have them email last eight domestic 15 k races, dating back to West Yellowstone in November 2015, he has eight podium finishes, including five wins. But he is quick with an answer when asked about the last 15 k skate he did not win:...