Jessie Diggins posted the third-fastest time of the day to lead the way for the Davis U.S. Cross Country National Team Program in the 10k freestyle pursuit, the final stage of the Ruka Triple mini-tour Sunday in Finland. 

“Any day I can land a (time of the day) podium is a great day, so I’m really happy with how it went,” Jessie said. “I just went out charging as hard as I could today, looking to hunt people down and skied without putting any pressure on myself. It was cold out there, but having grown up in Minnesota…I just loved that and felt right at home!”

Overall, it was a great start to the season for the U.S. women at the three-day event, with Sadie fourth in the overall Ruka Triple standings, Jessie fifth, and Rosie Brennan 10th. As a bonus, Sadie started the day in the yellow overall World Cup leader’s bib, but an equipment mishap off the start distracted her from settling into her pace.

“What an honor to head out on the course in the yellow bib, that sure was fun!” Sadie said. “I had a broken binding and my foot was sliding around on my ski, which left me worried that I was going to lose my ski on one of the downhills. After I made it around the first loop in one piece, I was able to forget about it, and focus on the task at hand.”

Although she dropped to fourth in the overall World Cup standings, Sadie is only 110 points behind overall leader Therese Johaug of Norway. Jessie is fifth, and Rosie is 11th overall.

“(Sunday) was far from my best race, but I am satisfied with the fight I put up and really thrilled to have opened the World Cup with a 10th in the Ruka Triple,” Rosie said. “That far exceeds my expectations for the weekend. It's certainly time for a little rest after a big opening weekend and hopefully trying to find more speed in the coming weeks.”

With her early-season fitness coming around, Jessie is focusing on the numerous mini-tours on this year’s World Cup schedule and making every weekend count.

“I always work my way into the season and this year is no different, but it was a great surprise to feel so awesome today and to see a TOD podium,” Jessie said. “With no Championships or Games, this year I’m excited to focus on making each and every weekend that I race an absolute all-out effort, and I’m also looking forward to having so many tours this season because I think they are a ton of fun and a great challenge for the body and the brain.”

Erik Bjornsen led the way for the U.S. men Sunday, finishing 30th on the day. Erik was also the top American in 25th place in the overall Ruka Triple standings.

Up next, the FIS World Cup Cross Country tour moves to Lillehammer, Norway, for a women’s 15k classic/freestyle and men’s 30k classic/freestyle skiathlon on Saturday, Dec. 7; and a women’s 4x5k, men’s 4x7.5k team relays on Sunday, Dec. 8.

“Now it is time to do some resting, recovering, and traveling to Norway for our second weekend of racing’” Sadie added. “With the way my teammates are skiing right now, we should have a SUPER fun relay event ahead!”

RESULTS
Women’s 10k freestyle
Men’s 15k freestyle

Women’s 10k Winner of the Day
Men’s 15k Winner of the Day

Women Ruka Mini-Tour overall
Men Ruka Mini-Tour overall

STANDINGS
World Cup women
World Cup men

On a sunny and blistering cold day in Killington, Vt. in front of 19,500 screaming fans, Mikaela Shiffrin fought her way to a third-place finish in Saturday’s tight giant slalom. Italy's Marta Bassino won her first World Cup race by .26 over countrywoman Federica Brignone, with Mikaela rounding out the podium, trailing Federica by a mere .03 hundredths for third. 

Due to high winds, the race organizers were forced to move the start down to the reserve start prior to the first run, therefore making it more of a sprint. After Mother Nature poured rain on Killington on Thanksgiving, the surface was prepared amazingly by Tom Johnston and his team, once again. Unlike in past years when it was a vertical ice rink, this year the snow was a bit grippier, so coupled with the shortened course, it can create a scenario that didn’t allow for much spread in the field. 

“I guess I thought that the surface would be a little bit harder,” Mikaela said, “it was surprisingly easy to track the edges in the snow and I think I was pushing a little bit too hard in the wrong way, so I was a little bit harsh on the skis. Second run I was trying to still be really aggressive but a little bit softer on my edges and I felt much smoother and more flowy. I felt pretty good with my skiing in both runs, so I’m pretty happy with the day.”

With her performance today, Mikaela joins cross country teammate Sadie Bjornsen in leader bib land, solidifying the two women’s shared place in history as the only two American women to ever share the honor of wearing the leader bib in the combination of cross country and alpine at the same time. 

“It’s really awesome to see Sadie and the cross country girls continue to have such strong results on the World Cup,” Mikaela said after her race in Killington, “I’m psyched we’re both starting the season with strong skiing and even more psyched we both have the leader bib! Sadie is such an awesome person and she deserves it!”

Mikaela was joined in the points by teammate Nina O’Brien, who ended up 28th, making her two for two in scoring points at World Cup giant slalom races this season. “I had a solid race in Soelden (Austria), and it gave me the confidence that I had the speed, so I feel like there’s not as much anxiety about how you’re going to stack up against others. Today, I was honestly trying to not overthink the moment, and be comfortable and go for it. The crowd didn’t psych me out at all. I love hearing them cheer loud. I had some good turns out there, and I’m actually skiing really well - I’m starting to show that in the race, but I’m still struggling to get a full run down while being aggressive and going for it. Overall, I think it’s going in a good direction.”

After having an extremely fast top split, AJ Hurt finished just outside of the top-30 first run, while Keely Cashman and Storm Klomhaus did not finish. Paula Moltzan did not start, making the decision to focus her energy on Sunday’s slalom. Mikaela will lead the women in Sunday’s slalom, as she goes for a 4-peat on Killington snow. Paula Moltzan, Nina O’Brien, Katie Hensien, Keely Cashman, and Foreste Peterson will start for the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team. 

RESULTS
Women’s giant slalom

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST

Sunday, Dec. 1
9:40 a.m. - Women’s slalom run 1, Killington, Vt. - Olympic Channel & Olympic Channel.com
12:30 p.m. - Women’s giant slalom run 1, Killington, Vt. - NBC
2:00 p.m. - Men’s super-G, Lake Louise, Alberta - NBC

*Same-day broadcast

Note: All televised events to stream across NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, OlympicChannel.com, and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA app

Exclusive commercial-free coverage will be available for subscribers of the NBC Sports Gold Pass, available here: https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/snow.

Steven Nyman and Travis Ganong tied for 10th place to lead five members of the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team into the top 30 at the opening FIS Ski World Cup downhill of the season at Lake Louise, Alberta, Saturday.

Germany’s Thomas Dressen took the victory in a stunning fashion as he returned to World Cup action after being sidelined with an injury last season, with Dominik Paris of Italy in second and Swiss Carlo Janka tied for third with fellow countryman Beat Feuz. It was a good day for the Americans, despite the fact that veteran Steven Nyman said he had "higher expectations" for the opening World Cup race.

"I tweaked my back the last run of the last training day. I've been skiing kind of timid in training and haven't been super aerodynamic, and today I thought I brought more intensity and I was feeling good warming up. I took some anti-inflammatory meds and I was like, 'Oh, it's on - I think I can win.' But, I just was a little soft - a little hesitant - in some turns, and that's not the form that's going to get you to the top. It's still my best result ever at Lake Louise, and starting the year with a top-10 is nice, but I had higher expectations and I'll look for bigger things in the future. Tying with Travis is great, and it brought me back to being tight with Bryce last year. Having six guys in the top-30 is a great start. There's a lot more to come, and I'm looking forward to Beaver Creek for sure."

Steven will look to further establish himself in tomorrow's super-G, and keep on hunting for that eventual super-G podium. Additionally, Bryce Bennett was 23rd, followed by Ryan Cochran-Siegle and Jared Goldberg tied for 30th (which was a three-way tie with Canada's Ben Thomsen).  Just outside of that three-way tie for 30th on the wrong side of the hundredths today was Tommy Biesemeyer, who finished 33rd. Kyle Negomir, Sam Morse, and Wiley Maple also started, and finished 53rd, 54th and 60th, respectively. 

Up next, the men compete in the first World Cup super-G of the season Sunday at Lake Louise before heading to Colorado and the Birds of Prey at Beaver Creek for three days of downhill, super-G and giant slalom races Dec. 6-8.

RESULTS
Men’s downhill

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST

Sunday, Dec. 1
9:40 a.m. - Women’s slalom run 1, Killington, Vt. - Olympic Channel & Olympic Channel.com
12:30 p.m. - Women’s giant slalom run 1, Killington, Vt. - NBC
2:00 p.m. - Men’s super-G, Lake Louise, Alberta - NBC

*Same-day broadcast

Note: All televised events to stream across NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, OlympicChannel.com, and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA app

Exclusive commercial-free coverage will be available for subscribers of the NBC Sports Gold Pass, available here: https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/snow.

Sadie Maubet Bjornsen finished fourth in today’s 10k classic in the three-day Ruka mini-tour and became the first American woman ever to wear the overall FIS Cross Cross Country World Cup leader’s bib.

“Another dream day here in Ruka, just barely missing the podium by one second,” Sadie said. “No regrets though, because I gave it my all today. I have always loved the courses here in Finland, but it just feels like things came together for me. I managed to pace myself well, which was important after yesterday’s hard effort. On top of that, I once again had awesome skis out there to work with!”

Maubet Bjornsen led three Davis U.S. Cross Country National Team Program athletes into the top 15 in Saturday’s 10k. Rosie Brennan tied a career-best World Cup result in sixth, and Jessie Diggins was 13th. 

“I wasn't feeling terribly confident in the warm-up with the super steep hills here in Ruka so I had pretty low expectations,” said Rosie, who noted that she has the tendency to go out a little hot and then slowly fade. “So my only plan was to start conservative and push the flats. I got to the first split, just over 1k into the race and I heard I was race leader...so much for a plan. After that, I just kept trying to make up time in all the small spots. It worked well and I was greeted at the finish with a long stint in the leader's chair which is always a great way to start the season.”

“Massive shout out to my training buddy, who has been just crushing workouts all summer and fall long, Rosie Brennan,” Sadie added. “She started quite a bit earlier than me, so I channeled energy from her because I kept hearing the loudspeakers announcing how well she was doing.”

In the 15k men’s race, Eric Bjornsen was the top American in 28th and Simi Hamilton was 35th.

The three-day Ruka mini-tour wraps up Sunday with a 10k freestyle for the women and 15k freestyle for the men. Sadie is currently second in the overall Ruka mini-tour standings, just 18 seconds behind Norway's Therese Johaug. Rosie is eighth overall, and Jessie 12th. 

RESULTS
Women’s 10k classic individual start
Men’s 15k classic individual start

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

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST

Sunday, Dec. 1
4:00 a.m. - Women’s 10k pursuit, Ruka, FIN - Olympic Channel.com & NBC Sports Gold
5:15 a.m. - Men’s 15k pursuit, Ruka, FIN - Olympic Channel.com & NBC Sports Gold
8:30 a.m. - Women’s 10k pursuit, Ruka, FIN - Olympic Channel*

*Same-day broadcast

Note: All televised events to stream across NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, OlympicChannel.com, and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA app

Exclusive commercial-free coverage will be available for subscribers of the NBC Sports Gold Pass, available here: https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/snow.

While the women are kicking off a big weekend at the HomeLight Killington Cup on home turf, let's not forget about the men up in Lake Louise, Canada. Even though it's frigid up in our neighbor to the north, it's heating up for the downhillers, as Ryan Cochran-Siegle finished fourth in Thursday's downhill training run and Travis Ganong finished second in Friday's second and final training run. 

The Swiss commonly referred to as "Iceman" - Carlo Janka - clocked the fastest time in both downhill training runs with Austrian Matthias Meyer setting the pace for whole slew of Austrians including Vincent Kriechmayr and Max Franz. Don't be fooled, though, as Italian stallion Dominik Paris and Swiss Beat Feuz are not to be counted out, despite not being in the top five in either downhill training run. After all, tomorrow's the real - and the real show is where it matters most! All of that said, training runs are for figuring out the equipment set-up and dialing in the fast line, and the Americans were in the mix and sending it. 

Ryan had the fourth-fastest training run on Thursday, while Travis was second in Friday's training run. With two training runs under their belts, they've become familiar with the terrain and the snow. "The jumps kick, but they're not actually built up that big, really, so it's kind of interesting to play with," commented Ryan." A lot of the terrain is pretty minor. Skiing-wise, it seems like it flows a little easier, which will make the race quite a bit more challenging to be fast, because it'll add up with little mistakes here and there. Today I wanted to run an aggressive line...you learn a lot by sticking to tighter lines and seeing where you can build time, where it's going to push you off. I just have to execute when it comes to race day."

"It's really cold and grippy and not that fast," said Travis, who echoed Ryan's sentiments about the mellow terrain on this year's track. "A lot of the terrain is really mellowed out, so you can really attack the course. It's pretty mellow, pretty easy, and for me the first training run I had some pretty bad feelings - the snow is so different from Colorado - but then I adjusted my set-up a bit, and today's run was really good, so I'm feeling pretty confident going into tomorrow's race. Trying not to have any real expectations, just have fun."

"Track's great, the snow is super easy," reflected veteran Steven Nyman. "It's cold, so the snow is slow right now, but as the week progresses it will definitely get faster and faster. It's always nerve-wracking. You have training all summer, but you never really know until you get to the races where you're standing. There are definitely some errors I could clean up, but for the most part, everything was really good and I'm pleased with how I feel right now. So now it just comes down to execution and that progression to race day mode."

What does it take to win on a track like Lake Louise? "Lake Louise is a tricky race, because there aren't a lot of places you can get back up to speed," Nyman continued, "so if you can be mistake free top-to-bottom and continually gain speed, that's how you really perform and win here." 

Let's go boys! Time to bring the heat! 

MEN’S STARTERS
Bryce Bennett
Tommy Biesemeyer 
Ryan Cochran-Siegle
Sam Dupratt 
Travis Ganong 
Jared Goldberg
Sam Morse
Wiley Maple
Kyle Negomir
Steven Nyman

START LIST

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Official event hashtag: #worldcuplakelouise

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST

ALPINE
Saturday, Nov. 30
9:40 a.m. - Women’s giant slalom run 1, Killington, Vt. - Olympic Channel & Olympic Channel.com
12:30 p.m. - Women’s giant slalom run 1, Killington, Vt. - NBCSN & NBCSports.com
2:00 p.m. - Men’s downhill, Lake Louise, Alberta - Olympic Channel & Olympic Channel.com
3:30 p.m. - Women’s giant slalom, Killington, Vt. - NBC*
9:00 p.m. - Men’s downhill, Lake Louise, Alberta - NBCSN*

Sunday, Dec. 1
9:40 a.m. - Women’s slalom run 1, Killington, Vt. - Olympic Channel & Olympic Channel.com
12:30 p.m. - Women’s giant slalom run 1, Killington, Vt. - NBC
2:00 p.m. - Men’s super-G, Lake Louise, Alberta - NBC

*Same-day broadcast

Note: All televised events to stream across NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, OlympicChannel.com, and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA app.

Exclusive commercial-free coverage will be available for subscribers of the NBC Sports Gold Pass, available here: https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/snow.

Sadie Maubet Bjornsen kicked off the 2019-20 FIS Cross Country World Cup with a third-place photo-finish in the classic sprint opener Friday in Ruka, Finland.

“It has been an interesting fall battling through some frustrating tendinitis in my feet that didn't allow me to run or ski a whole lot for three months, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect coming into this season,” Sadie said. “I knew I had strengthened my brain, but it is hard to know what to expect when you are doing less than ideal training to try to survive. I also have a  new wax technician, so I was excited to see what we could put together in our short 10 days of working together. But all the stars aligned, and I had an incredible day!”

“The first World Cup podium of the season for the team is a very special feeling," said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Head Women's Cross Country Coach Matt Whitcomb. "While a podium is something to celebrate, how she got there is what made it so enjoyable. Sadie got tangled on the corner that historically causes trouble, as the hard left at the top of a four-tracked climb causes a rush for the inside. We’ve been on the bottom of the pile-up before, and while today was more of a traffic jam, it was enough for the leaders to getaway. The fight required of Sadie, to ski her way back to the podium, is really the gift she has as a racer. She was locked in on that last climb—determined not to let that tangle define her day—and that made the difference. Sadie doesn’t quit.”

Sadie led four Davis U.S. Cross Country National Team Program athletes into the heats, qualifying second. Sophie Caldwell qualified fourth, followed by Jessie Diggins in 12th and Rosie Brennan in 29th.

“I had a great qualifier, which gave me some confidence going into the heats,” Sadie said. “I also was just having a ton of fun out there. I love this course and love that it is absolute work from the halfway point back. I think that suits my strength, so I was ready to believe in that.”

In the quarterfinals, Sadie took the win in the opening heat, as Sophie finished second in the second heat. In the fourth heat, Jessie and Rosie were fourth and fifth respectively, with Jessie just missing the Lucky Loser slot by 0.11 seconds. In the semifinal round, Sadie charged late in the race on the final climb and finished second to advance to the finals. Sophie finished sixth.

In the finals, Sadie looked comfortable in the pack. However, she got caught up near the top of the second climb and dropped back to fifth. But she clawed her way back up to fourth and down the finish stretch, she nipped Norway’s Ane Appelkvist Stenseth for the final podium spot. Norway’s Maiken Caspersen Falla took the victory, as Sweden’s Jonna Sundling was second.

“I'm not sure if my ski or my pole was stuck under someone...but I tried to just be patient and let them get off without breaking any equipment,” she said. “When I finally got to go, I was ready to fight with every bit! Rounding the final corner, I was still in fourth place, but confident I could find one more gear right at the end... and that is what I did. As I lunged, I knew I had given it all. In a perfect world, I would have loved to fight for the win without the tangle, but the season is very young, and there a tons more races to come!”

Overall, it was a great start to the season for the U.S. women with four athletes making it into the heats. But most importantly, the team synergy with the athletes, coaches and wax techs is kicking on all cylinders. 

“Enormous shout out to our team, and my new wax tech, Per Erik Bjornstad, for some amazing skis,” Sadie added. “I couldn't have run up that hill the way I did today without those! And also impressive to see my teammates fighting today as well. There is a fun season ahead!”

“I am very satisfied with the race today,” noted Rosie, who added that due to some illness and challenging weather conditions this fall in Alaska, she was unable to get any sprint time trials or simulations this year, so she really had no expectations for today's race. “I was particularly happy with how I was skiing and felt my fitness was good. My speed was not quite there, but I believe that will come in time...I was really happy with the process and skis that our staff put together today. I'm looking forward to getting a few more races under my belt this weekend.”

On the men’s side, Kevin Bolger was the top-placed U.S. Cross Country Team athlete in 32nd. Up next, the women compete in a classic 10k, and the men in a classic 15k Saturday, in Ruka.

RESULTS
Women’s classic sprint
Men’s classic sprint

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST

CROSS COUNTRY

Saturday, Nov. 30
3:35 a.m. - Women’s 10k, Ruka, FIN - Olympic Channel.com & NBC Sports Gold
5:20 a.m. - Men’s 15k, Ruka, FIN - Olympic Channel.com & NBC Sports Gold
11:00 a.m. - Women’s 10k, Ruka, FIN - Olympic Channel*
10:00 p.m. - Women’s 10k, Ruka, FIN - NBCSN*

Sunday, Dec. 1
4:00 a.m. - Women’s 10k pursuit, Ruka, FIN - Olympic Channel.com & NBC Sports Gold
5:15 a.m. - Men’s 15k pursuit, Ruka, FIN - Olympic Channel.com & NBC Sports Gold
8:30 a.m. - Women’s 10k pursuit, Ruka, FIN - Olympic Channel*

*Same-day broadcast

Note: All televised events to stream across NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, OlympicChannel.com, and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA app

Exclusive commercial-free coverage will be available for subscribers of the NBC Sports Gold Pass, available here: https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/snow.

All eyes will be on the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team this weekend as they kick off the 2019-20 FIS Alpine World Cup season in earnest at the HomeLight Killington Cup for the women and the Lake Louise Alpine World Cup in Alberta for the men.

Not one to focus on the records, Mikaela Shiffrin won’t be thinking about the fact that she’s on the cusp of tying Austrian alpine skier Annemarie Moser-Pröll on the all-time victory list. Fresh off her historical 41st World Cup slalom victory in Levi, Finland, Mikaela currently sits at 61 World Cup victories, in fifth behind Moser-Pröll (62), Marcel Hirscher (67), Lindsey Vonn (82) and Ingemar Stenmark (86). She leads the U.S. Team in both Saturday’s giant slalom and Sunday’s slalom in front of an estimated 40,000 fans at the fourth annual Killington Cup.

“I’m always thankful that we have a slalom race before Killington, because I know that’s where people are more excited to see me skiing,” Shiffrin said after her win in Levi, Finland. “Sometimes, that can add pressure. Having the race [in Finland] and to know that my good skiing is fast, that doesn’t take pressure off, but I’m on track.”

Mikaela will also be skiing with her nana on her mind. Her grandmother, Pauline, passed away just a few days before Soelden. Three years ago at Killington's World Cup debut, her grandmother had the chance to see Mikaela compete live - and win on home soil - for the first time. It was a special moment for Mikaela, her mother Eileen, and their family.

The women are excited to ski in front of what is their favorite crowd on Tour - and we’re not just talking about the American women. Athletes from across nations have commented on how impressed they are with the Killington crowd, and how at-home they feel when they ski into the finish area. The Killington crowd is a World Cup favorite, and the fast and fearless women will be sure to put on a show for them. 

Speaking of the show, everyone is wondering if New Zealand phenom Alice Robinson will be skiing in Saturday’s giant slalom, after a crash prior to her Soelden victory resulted in a bone bruise that sidelined her for a short period of time. In an announcement on Instagram earlier this week, she shared that she was healing well and had returned to snow in Colorado before heading to Vermont. She will announce on Friday whether or not she is competing. Of course, the Mikaela vs. Petra Vlhova rivalry continues this year, with Petra having had the narrow lead in Levi after the first run, but crashing and DNFing second run. Can Mikaela four-peat at Killington? Only time will tell! 

Joining Mikaela will be be a promising squad including 2017 NCAA Slalom Champion Paula Moltzan, who finished 20th in Levi, along with Keely Cashman, and Nina O’Brien in both Saturday’s GS and Sunday’s slalom. AJ Hurt and University of Denver’s Storm Klomhaus will race Saturday’s giant slalom, while fellow DU Skiing’s Katie Hensien and Dartmouth Big Green alumna Foreste Peterson will race Sunday’s slalom. All of these women have been skiing fast and solid both in training and at the recent NorAms at Copper Mountain, Colo. and they'll look forward to score in front of the home crowd at Killington!

WOMEN'S STARTERS
Keely Cashman
Katie Hensien
AJ Hurt
Storm Klomhaus
Paula Moltzan
Nina O'Brien
Foreste Peterson
Mikaela Shiffrin

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
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Official event hashtag: #beast365

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST

ALPINE
Saturday, Nov. 30
9:40 a.m. - Women’s giant slalom run 1, Killington, Vt. - Olympic Channel & Olympic Channel.com
12:30 p.m. - Women’s giant slalom run 1, Killington, Vt. - NBCSN & NBCSports.com
2:00 p.m. - Men’s downhill, Lake Louise, Alberta - Olympic Channel & Olympic Channel.com
3:30 p.m. - Women’s giant slalom, Killington, Vt. - NBC*
9:00 p.m. - Men’s downhill, Lake Louise, Alberta - NBCSN*

Sunday, Dec. 1
9:40 a.m. - Women’s slalom run 1, Killington, Vt. - Olympic Channel & Olympic Channel.com
12:30 p.m. - Women’s giant slalom run 1, Killington, Vt. - NBC
2:00 p.m. - Men’s super-G, Lake Louise, Alberta - NBC

*Same-day broadcast

Note: All televised events to stream across NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, OlympicChannel.com, and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA app.

Exclusive commercial-free coverage will be available for subscribers of the NBC Sports Gold Pass, available here: https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/snow.

After a summer of trail running, gym work, and training camps, the roller skis have been put away and the athletes of the Davis U.S. National Cross Country Team Program are ready to kick off the FIS Cross Country World Cup season this weekend in Ruka, Finland.

This weekend’s mini-tour opens Friday with a classic sprint, continues Saturday with a 10k classic for the women, and 15k classic for the men. On Sunday, the women will wrap up the weekend with a 10k freestyle pursuit, and the men will race a 15k freestyle pursuit.

Starting for the U.S. Team are Jessie Diggins, Sadie Maubet Borjnsen, Sophie Caldwell, Rosie Brennan, Caitlin Patterson, Julia Kern, Hailey Swirbul, Rosie Frankowski, Simi Hamilton, Erik Bjornsen, Scott Peterson, Kevin Bolger, David Norris, and Kyle Bratrud.

A few members of the team competed in a three-day Norwegian National race in Beitostølen, Norway, last week in preparation for this weekend's World Cup opener. In the 1.2k classic sprint in Norway, Sophie led the Team with a third-place finish. The next day, Jessie was fourth and Sadie was fifth a 10k classic. 

Heading into the 2019-20 World Cup season, Jessie is the only non-European skier to have won at least one World Cup event (including Tour stages and overall Tour wins) in each of the last four seasons. She can become the first U.S. athlete to win a World Cup event (including Tour stages and overall Tour wins) in five consecutive seasons. She currently shares the record of four in a row with former teammate Kikkan Randall.

Two skiers who were a bit under the weather last week, Kevin and Hailey, are back and ready to go for this weekend after participating in intensity workouts the past couple of days.  

All events this weekend will be streamed live on both Olympic Channel.com and NBC Sports Gold. NBC Sports Network and The Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, will offer same-day coverage all three days.

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST

Friday, Nov. 29
6:20 a.m. - Men & Women’s sprint, Ruka, FIN - Olympic Channel.com & NBC Sports Gold
7:30 p.m. - Men & Women’s sprint, Ruka, FIN - Olympic Channel*

Saturday, Nov. 30
3:35 a.m. - Women’s 10k, Ruka, FIN - Olympic Channel.com & NBC Sports Gold
5:20 a.m. - Men’s 15k, Ruka, FIN - Olympic Channel.com & NBC Sports Gold
11:00 a.m. - Women’s 10k, Ruka, FIN - Olympic Channel*
10:00 p.m. - Women’s 10k, Ruka, FIN - NBCSN*

Sunday, Dec. 1
4:00 a.m. - Women’s 10k pursuit, Ruka, FIN - Olympic Channel.com & NBC Sports Gold
5:15 a.m. - Men’s 15k pursuit, Ruka, FIN - Olympic Channel.com & NBC Sports Gold
8:30 a.m. - Women’s 10k pursuit, Ruka, FIN - Olympic Channel*

*Same-day broadcast

Note: All televised events to stream across NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, OlympicChannel.com, and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA app

Exclusive commercial-free coverage will be available for subscribers of the NBC Sports Gold Pass, available here: https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/snow.
 

In yet another foggy, snowy day in the Arctic Circle, the Attacking Viking Henrik Kristofferson found his way back to the top of the podium under the lights to grab his second career reindeer. Frenchman Clement Noel was second, while Swiss Daniel Yule rounded out the podium in third. 

Clement was leading after the first run by 0.39 seconds, over Great Britain’s David Ryding, and for the first half of the run it looked like David could find his way onto the top of the podium for the first time until he crashed just before the finish line. Henrik had a commanding second run and bested Clement by a mere 0.09 and Daniel by 0.18. 

The lone competitor for the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team, a young up-and-comer and 2019 national slalom and alpine combined champion, Luke Winters started bib 40 and had a blazing fast first run going before he DNFd five gates before the finish. With split times that looked like this: +.06 seconds (fourth fastest), +.26 (eighth fastest) and +.57 (fifth fastest), he was cruising before leaning in over the last roller and skiing out just before the finish. 

In a split frame on the broadcast, they showed that Luke was actually ahead of eventual race winner Henrik Kristoffersen’s pace before he fell. His coach, Ryan Wilson, was commenting on Luke’s speed and progression in training earlier this week - Luke has been training with all of the top nations and holding his own. Keep an eye on this one as the season progresses. He’s looking to carry on that #SlamifestDestiny motto for the group of young rising stars that has made a commitment to recreating competitive slalom talent in America. 

Up next, the men travel to Lake Louise for the North American portion of the tour with a speed series including downhill and super-G, followed by the Xfinity Birds of Prey World Cup the following weekend. 

RESULTS
Men’s slalom

It’s not the records or the reindeer that get Mikaela Shiffrin excited about ski racing. Skiing fast and pushing herself, and her competitors to the next level, are how she measures her success. But adding her fourth reindeer to her herd, and a record 41st World Cup slalom victory is certainly something to smile about.

“I wasn’t thinking about that at all today,” Mikaela said of the overall World Cup slalom victory record. She was tied at 40 with the legendary Swede Ingemar Stenmark coming into Levi. “I was just trying to push it today.”

Mikaela finished second in the first run to Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova by a mere 0.13 seconds, who experienced a rough start to the season, finishing 14th in the season-opening giant slalom in Soelden. But in the second run, Mikaela absolutely uncorked a stellar performance, moving into the lead ahead of Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener by 1.78 seconds. Out of the start, Petra added to her lead, but about 15 gates into her run, she caught an edge, high-sided and was tossed off the course. She DNFd, but she is skied away and is OK.

“I was thinking of the second run as it was a different race,” Mikaela said. “It doesn’t really help if I say ‘I have to make up 14 hundredths, or I have to do this or that.’ I just had to go for it! Ski fast and ski well, and that’s what I was thinking about in the second run. Not thinking about Petra...or Wendy, and just go for it and see what happens." Between her performance today and her second place at Soelden, this is the best start Mikaela has had to the year since the 2016 season. 

“I feel a little bit lucky with this win because Petra skied out, but I also feel good with my skiing, so I’m happy today,” Mikaela said, adding that Petra “is skiing really well. I was super impressed with her strength physically, but mentally too. That was tough, but she’ll be back.”

Mikaela’s Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team teammate Paul Moltzan picked up her first World Cup points of the season, finishing 20th after an acrobatic first run, with a few impressive recoveries. Nina O’Brien also started for the U.S. Team, skiing a strong and solid top section on the top of the first run, but she got low and nearly skied out.  

Mikaela's previous three reindeer are named Rudolph (2013), Sven (2016) and Mr. Gru (2018). She has yet to name her fourth reindeer, but notes that it will be "sentimental" and she will announce it on her social media soon. So stay tuned!

Up next, the women travel to Vermont for next week’s HomeLight Killington Cup with giant slalom and slalom events. “The season has started in both GS and slalom, and I feel good with both events, so now we’re rolling and it’s a nice place to be,” Mikaela said. “I’m on track…and I know what I have to do. So this is like a dry run for the rest of the season and Killington, and now I can just go back (to Killington) and enjoy that.”

On the men’s side, 2019 national slalom and alpine combined champion and up-and-comer Luke Winters will be representing the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team tech squad in slalom Sunday in Levi. 

RESULTS
Women’s slalom

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST
Preliminary schedule, subject to change

Sunday, Nov. 24
4:00 a.m. - Men’s Slalom, run 1 – Levi, FIN - NBC Sports Gold
7:00 a.m. - Men’s Slalom – Levi, FIN, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
7:00 a.m. - Men’s Slalom, run 2 – Levi, FIN - NBC Sports Gold

*Same-day delay
**Next-day delay

Note: All televised events to stream across NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, OlympicChannel.com, and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA app

Exclusive commercial-free coverage will be available for subscribers of the NBC Sports Gold Pass, available here: https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/snow.