Spanning 11 days, our U.S. Cross Country athletes will compete in 10 races and you can watch them all live, with commentary, on skiandsnowboard.live. 

Bonus, the commentary for every single race will be called by Olympic gold medalist and World Champion Kikkan Randall, as well as NBC’s Chad Salmela – Salmela is known for the infamous “HERE COMES DIGGINS” call at the 2018 Winter Olympics. You will not want to miss this years’ World Champs.

How to Watch Cross Country World Championships - Skiandsnowboard.live

Cross Country World Championships Schedule

All times EST
Check local listings, subject to change

Thursday, Feb. 23 – skiandsnowboard.live

6:00 a.m. ET - Sprint Qualification, Classic, Men’s and Women’s

8:30 a.m. ET - Sprint Finals, Classic, Men’s and Women’s

Friday, Feb. 24 - skiandsnowboard.live

9:30 a.m. ET - 30k Skiathlon, Classic/Skate, Men’s

Saturday, Feb. 25 - skiandsnowboard.live

8:00 a.m. ET - 15k Skiathlon, Classic/Skate, Women’s

Sunday, Feb. 26 - skiandsnowboard.live

5:30 a.m. ET - Team Sprint, Skate, Men’s and Women’s 

Tuesday, Feb. 28 - skiandsnowboard.live

6:30 a.m. ET - 10k, Skate, Women’s 

Wednesday, March 1  - skiandsnowboard.live

6:30 a.m. ET - 15k, Skate, Men’s 

Thursday, March 2 - skiandsnowboard.live

6:30 a.m. ET - 4x5k Relay, Classic/Skate, Women’s

Friday, March 3 - skiandsnowboard.live

6:30 a.m. ET - 4x10k Relay, Classic/Skate, Men’s

Saturday, March 4 - skiandsnowboard.live

6:00 a.m. ET - 30k, Classic, Women’s

Sunday, March 5 -  skiandsnowboard.live

6:00 a.m. ET - 50k, Classic, Men’s 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced the 18 athletes of the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team that will compete at the 2023 FIS Cross Country World Ski Championships in Planica, Slovenia, Feb. 22 - March 6, 2023.

The 2023 World Championships will take place in the Julian Alps at the Planica Festival Arena, a venue that features both cross country and ski jumping venues. Throughout the 12 days of competition, more than 2,500 athletes and staff members from more than 60 countries will be present.

“We are very excited to bring this group of talented athletes to the World Championships in Planica,” said U.S. Cross Country Program Director, Chris Grover. “We will be arriving at the World Championships with a lot of momentum after finishing the previous period of World Cup with multiple podiums and a ranking of third overall in the World Cup Nation’s Cup. We also will be bringing a very experienced and knowledgeable staff that is dedicated to helping these athletes achieve peak performances at the Championships. Planica has been one of our favorite venues over the years and we are really looking forward to coming back to the Julian Alps.”

For the women, three-time Olympic medalist and four-time World Championship medalist Jessie Diggins, who has landed on the podium seven times in the 2022-23 season alone, leads the women’s team. Along with Diggins are veteran Rosie Brennan, who had a career-best Tour de Ski finish in fourth place overall and several top-10 results; Julia Kern who has nine top-10 finishes this season alone; and Olympians Hailey Swirbul, Novie McCabe, and Sophia Laukli. New to the World Championship roster is young but talented athletes Alayna Sonnesyn and Sydney Palmer-Leger. 

On the men’s side, Ben Ogden leads the charge. Ogden has found abundant success in the 2022-23 season, highlighted by a 13th-place finish at the Tour de Ski - the best-ever finish by a U.S. male. 2022 Winter Olympians Scott Patterson, JC Schoonmaker, Kevin Bolger, Luke Jager, and Gus Schumacher made the roster after finding their speed among the strong World Cup field. Zak Ketterson, Hunter Wonders, Johnny Hagenbuch, and David Norris will also travel to Slovenia; Patterson, Schumacher, and Wonders have consistently scored World Cup points throughout the 2022-23 season.

Planica will host six races, each playing to the various individual strengths of the U.S. team. The classic sprint on Feb. 23 will kick it off, followed by the men’s and women’s skiathlon on the 24th and 25th, the team sprint on Feb. 26, women’s 10k freestyle on Feb 28, men’s 15k on March 1, women’s 4x5k team relay on March 2, and the men’s 4x10k relay March 3. The World Champs will culminate with the 30k and 50k classic mass start on March 4 and 5. 

All events will stream LIVE on the skiandsnowboard.live platform, with live commentary from five-time Winter Olympian Kikkan Randall and Chad Samela, who is known for his “HERE COMES DIGGINS” call at the 2018 Winter Olympics. 

2023 FIS CROSS COUNTRY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM

(Name, hometown, ski club/school, birthday, past World Championship teams)

*Denotes first World Championships team

Women

• Rosie Brennan (Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Pacific University Ski Nordic Center; 12/21/88; 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021)
• Jessie Diggins (Afton, Minn.; Stratton Mountain School Elite Team; 8/26/91; 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021)
• Julia Kern (Waltham, Mass.; Stratton Mountain School Elite Team; 9/12/97; 2019, 2021)
• Sophia Laukli (Yarmouth, Maine; University of Utah; 6/8/00; 2021)
• Hailey Swirbul (Aspen, Colo.; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center; 7/10/98; 2021)
• *Novie McCabe (Winthrop, Wash.; Methow Valley Nordic Team/University of Utah; 12/15/01)
• *Alayna Sonnesyn (Stratton, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School, 6/22/96)
• *Sydney Palmer-Leger (Park City, Utah; Stratton Mountain School/University of Utah; 2/4/2002)

Men

• Ben Ogden (Landgrove, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School Elite Team/University of Vermont; 2/13/00; 2021)
• Scott Patterson (Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center; 1/28/92; 2019, 2021)
• JC Schoonmaker (Tahoe City, Calif; Sugar Bowl Ski Team and Academy; 8/12/00; 2021)

• Kevin Bolger (Minocqua, Wisc.; Sun Valley Gold Team; 4/11/93; 2019, 2021)
• Hunter Wonders (Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center; 8/7/98; 2021)
• David Norris (Fairbanks, Alaska; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 12/12/90; 2019, 2021)
• Gus Schumacher (Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Winter Stars; 7/25/00; 2021)
• *Luke Jager (Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center/University of Utah; 1/17/00)
• *Zak Ketterson (Bloomington, Minn; Team Birkie 4/2/97)
• *Johnny Hagenbuch (Ketchum, ID.; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, 10/1/01)

COMPETITION SCHEDULE

2023 FIS Cross Country Ski World Championships

Planica, Slovenia
 

Thursday, Feb. 23

6:00 a.m. ET - Sprint Qualification, Classic, Men’s and Women’s

8:30 a.m. ET - Sprint Finals, Classic, Men’s and Women’s

Friday, Feb. 24

9:30 a.m. ET - 30k Skiathlon, Classic/Skate, Men’s

Saturday, Feb. 25

8:00 a.m. ET - 15k Skiathlon, Classic/Skate, Women’s

Sunday, Feb. 26

5:30 a.m. ET - Team Sprint, Skate, Men’s and Women’s 

Tuesday, Feb. 28

6:30 a.m. ET - 10k, Skate, Women’s 

Wednesday, March 1 

6:30 a.m. ET - 15k, Skate, Men’s 

Thursday, March 2

6:30 a.m. ET - 4x5k Relay, Classic/Skate, Women’s

Friday, March 3

6:30 a.m. ET - 4x10k Relay, Classic/Skate, Men’s

Saturday, March 4

6:00 a.m. ET - 30k, Classic, Women’s

Sunday, March 5 

6:00 a.m. ET - 50k, Classic, Men’s 

Another race weekend wraps up for the U.S. Cross Country team with the ever-so-exciting team relay. In the 4x7.5k relay format, both the men and women landed their teams in the top ten with the women leading the team on the podium in third.

It was another sunny day in Toblach, with fans lining the entire course, the vibes were high as they always are on team relay days. “We love relay days, we really do," said Diggins.

The U.S. Cross Country athletes Jessie Diggins, Julia Kern, Hailey Swirbul and Rosie Brennan skied a smart and fast race to end the day in third, while Alayna Sonnesyn, Lauren Jortberg, Sarah Goble and Alex Lawson were seventh. For the men, Finn O’Connell, Kevin Bolger, Hunter Wonders and Scott Patterson put the pieces together to land within the top ten in ninth place.

It was a challenging 7.5k course that allows little rest. With fourteen teams for the men and nine for the women, all athletes were quick out of the start with no signs of slowing down before tagging off their teammate. As the team relay format goes, there were two legs of freestyle and two of classic.

With little room for error, the U.S. teams capitalized on their fast transitions between each racer to post solid results to close out the three day race weekend. “I am so so proud of all of our teams,” said Diggins. “Everyone skied their heart out. It was a really challenging course, especially if you were skiing alone. It was just so much working. Overall, I was really proud of the team today because everyone just pushed the limits.”

Now, everyone will rest before they gear up for the FIS Nordic World Championships in Plancia, Slovenia at the end of February.

RESULTS

Women

Men

Despite taking a fall, Jessie Diggins skied to her second-straight podium, finishing second in the 10k freestyle individual start FIS Cross Country World Cup in Toblach, Italy, on a sun-baked Saturday.

Racing in alternating slushy, and icy conditions due to the warm-spring-like weather, Rosie Brennen just missed the podium by less than five seconds, finishing fifth. Julia Kern was 10th and Hailey Swirbul was 26th. In the men’s 10k race, Scott Patterson was 14th.

Diggins was pacing herself onto the podium throughout the first of two 5k laps. However, at the start of the second lap, while she was skating down an icy shaded section, she caught her left ski tip on snow just off the side of the track and fell.

“I hit my left knee, honestly really hard, spun around and got back up, and kept going as hard as I could,” Diggins said, racing through the pain and numbness, she was able to maintain her podium pace. “I kind of put it behind me, and I was really proud of how I skied the rest of the course.”

Brennen too was pleased with her effort on the fast, challenging course. “The skiing was mostly very fast with a few wet sections and I wanted to do my best to hold an even pace and push a bit on every section,” Brenna said. “I did this to the best of my ability but ended up on the wrong side of a tight battle for third. I am happy with my focus today and felt that I was able to push hard the whole time so with that I am satisfied with the result.”

Up next, Sunday features a 4x7.5k classic/freestyle team relay. “I hope we see some cooler temps and can get back to winter. But most importantly, it's relay day tomorrow!” Brennen said. 

RESULTS
Women’s 10k freestyle individual start
Men’s 10k freestyle individual start

At the place of her first ever podium and first ever win, Jessie Diggins was back in the top three in the Toblach city sprint today, Feb. 3. 

For the final weekend of racing before the World Championships in Plancia, Slovenia, the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team is back in Toblach, Italy for a skate sprint, 10k skate and a 4x7.5k relay. 

Today's sprint course played to the strengths of fast transitions, perfect for Diggins. Diggins initially qualified third to start off the day and then steadily moved her way to the final round. She won her quarterfinal heat and then moved on to take third in her semifinal. Pushing it to the finish, Diggins out-sprinted fourth place finisher Emma Ribom of Sweden. 

"Despite me being very tired, the race went really well, which is a reminder that how you feel doesn't always indicate how you will race." said Diggins. 

Along with Diggins, Rosie Brennan, Julia Kern and Hailey Swirbul were all within the top 30, adding more World Cup points to their resume. Moving on to the next race, Diggins is third overall in the World Cup standings. 

Brennan who finished 26th overall, started off the day by qualifying in the top ten, with Kern qualifying 26th and Swirbul 30th. 

Jonna Sundling and Maja Dahlqvist of Sweden were first and second. 

For the men, Ben Ogden led the team in 17th overall and Logan Diekmann scored World Cup points by finishing in 27th. 

RESULTS

Men

Women

Julia Kern advanced to the finals for the second consecutive weekend, finishing fifth in the FIS Cross Country World Cup classic sprint in Les Rousses, France Saturday.

After struggling to advance through the semifinals earlier this season, Kern seems to have hit her sprinting stride. Last weekend in Livigno, Italy, Kern was sixth in the individual freestyle sprint, then she partnered with Rosie Brennan to finish third in the team sprint. 

Saturday in Les Rousses, Kern was 10th in qualifying, then took commanding wins in her quarterfinal and semifinal heats. In the finals, she was well-placed midway through the race before Norway’s Kristine Stavaas Skistad, the day’s top qualifier, turned on the gas and skied away with the victory. Sweden’s Emma Ribom was second and Majam Dahlqvist was third.

Competing in her first World Cup sprint this season, Hailey Swirbul finished 12th after advancing to the semifinals as a Lucky Loser. Rosie Brennan was 17th. Jessie Diggins overcooked a corner in qualifying, went off course, and recovered, but missed qualifying in the top 30.

In the men’s race, Ben Ogden was seventh-fastest in qualifying. He won his opening quarterfinal but was not able to advance through the semifinals and finished 11th overall. 

World Cup racing continues Sunday in Les Rousses with a 20k classic mass start. The women race at 6:45 a.m. EST, and the men race at 8:45 a.m. EST. Both races will stream live on SkiandSnowboard.live.

RESULTS
Women’s classic sprint
Men’s classic sprint

STANDINGS
Women’s World Cup sprint
Men’s World Cup sprint
Women’s World Cup overall
Men’s World Cup overall

Jessie Diggins was back on the podium in the Les Rousses 10k skate individual start, ending the day in third place. Diggins had a strong race, maintaining a top-three time throughout every kilometer marker on the course. Rosie Brennan was within reach of podium and powered through for a fifth-place result among the strong field of women. 

"It was so fun to be back on the podium and honestly so happy for the whole team," said Diggins. "It's been so cool this week and last weekend to see the first World Cup starts for some of our team. Today, I made a promise to myself that I was going to go out there and ski it like it was my first World Cup start and feel all the emotions. I made sure to appreciate all the really good parts of getting to race and the feelings of representing your country."

Julia Kern was just out of top ten in 11th. Hailey Swirbul made her 2023 World Cup debut and finished 23rd, Alayna Sonnesyn 32nd, Sarah Goble 34th and Alex Lawson 35th. This was Goble and Lawson's first World Cup start of their careers.

"It was such a fun day! The whole experience was completely different which made for a lot of excitement," said Goble. "The energy out on the course was wild with all the fans. It was also pretty cool to see how dialed team USA is with everything on race day, and how supportive the women of each other. I feel proud of my first World Cup race. I paced well and kept fighting, so overall I’m happy with how it went."

"It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before! So much excitement and fun vibes from both the team and fans at the venue," Lawson said post-race. "It was definitely different than racing in the US, and took a bit for me to get my bearings. The staff and other athletes were so helpful and supportive though and I’m super excited to be here and keep the momentum rolling."

For the men, Scott Patterson led the way finishing the 10k skate within the top 30, in 24th. Finn O'Connell was next in 50th, Peter Wolter (first World Cup start!) in 56th, Will Koch in 63rd and Zak Ketterson in 65th.

Next up: individual classic sprint tomorrow, Jan. 28. Watch live on skiandsnowboard.live.

RESULTS

Women

Men