History is about to be made in Oslo, Norway over the weekend. For the first time ever, the women will race the 50k Holmenkollen - the same distance as the men - on the World Cup circuit. 

Based off the historic equal-distance vote by the Federation of International Skiing (FIS) in 2022, a notion was put forward to have both men and women race the same distance on the World Cup circuit. Following a vote during the FIS Cross Country committee meeting in May of 2022, the decision passed, allowing both genders to race the same distances in the 10k, 20k, skiathlon and 50k.

Now, with the end of the World Cup season around the corner, the highly anticipated 50k Holmenkollen for both men and women is on deck. 

The Holmenkollen 50k cross country ski race dates back to 1888. Traditionally, the men who lined up on the start line would smoke pipes to increase their lung capacity to give them a better chance of finishing the grueling 31 mile race. 

Set up in the city of Oslo, the Holmenkollen is one of the oldest and hardest ski races in the world. With tens of thousands of fans lining the course, many camping out for days to capture a good spot, the course is far from easy. Skiers will climb over 6,000 feet of elevation throughout the 50km; the course has the most vertical gain of any Olympic or World Cup course in history. 

As the former Oslo sport director said in 2011, "Everyone in cross country skiing community will see the winner of the 50km as the toughest skier of the season."

This year, four women will represent the United States on the start line and make history in doing so. 2023 World Champion and three-time Olympic medalist Jessie Diggins will lead the team, along with teammates Rosie Brennan, Hailey Swirbul and Alayna Sonnesyn.

"I am so so excited to finally get to ski a 50km race!" said Diggins. "I have been waiting my entire career for this race and we finally get a chance at the Holmenkollen. I am just so excited to ski my heart out and finally get a chance to ski this incredible and iconic race."

Earning two medals in the 2023 World Championships, including a historic gold in the 10k skate and team bronze with Julia Kern, Diggins has had a very successful 2022-23 season. Since November, Diggins has been on the podium seven times and after her 14th World Cup win in Davos, Switzerland, she became the most decorated U.S. cross country skier of all time.  

With Diggins are teammates Brennan, Swirbul and Sonnesyn. Brennan is a two-time Olympian, secured a career-best fourth place in the 2022-23 Tour de Ski, has represented her country at five World Championships and just days ago secured a World Championships fifth place in the 30km classic.

"I couldn't be more excited for the first women's 50km on the World Cup this weekend. It definitely is a little intimidating - 50km is far but it's also a great challenge," said Brennan. "I am really excited to have the journey out there with the whole women's pack and I think it will be a really exciting race. Equal distance has been such a cool experience to be a part of and so has been showing all the young girls out there that we are as capable as all the boys. I can't wait to give it a go this weekend!"

Swirbul, who is coming fresh off her best-ever World Championships result with an 18th place finish in the 30k, swept all three races at the 2022-23 National Championships and represented the USA at the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games.

"Guess who gets to race the Holmenkollen 50km in just a few days?! The women!" said Swirbul. "I am so stoked to be a part of it, our team is going to slay and it will be such a memorable experience to be a part of the first 50km for women on the World Cup. Let's go!"

Sonnesyn rounds the four U.S. athletes competing on Sunday. Sonnesyn had her first World Cup start in 2019 and has raced in several since. This season, Sonnesyn skied to her career-best result in the 20k skate pursuit, finishing fifth place based off of time, at the Tour de Ski and will enter her last World Cup of the season by first making history on the 50km start line. 

Be a part of the history and tune in on Sunday, March 12, at 4:15 a.m. ET on skiandsnowboard.live with commentary by former U.S. Cross Country Ski Team athlete and Olympic champion Kikkan Randall and NBC's Chad Salmela. 

Olympic bronze medalist and three time Olympian Brita Sigourney announced March 7, that she will officially retire from professional halfpipe skiing. Born in Monterey, Calif., Sigourney is one of the sport's legends, inspiring generations of halfpipe athletes, not only through her skiing but her welcoming and compassionate spirit. A true competitor in and out of the pipe, she is an all-around incredible person. 

Sigourney started skiing when she was only two years old, and began ski racing at age eight before she found freeskiing. On her skis, she was unstoppable. Her confidence, work ethic and ability to learn has led her to find success at the highest levels of the sport. 

From her 13 years on the team, she has dealt with many injuries, including nine surgeries - but she came back from every single one stronger. Throughout her professional career, she won countless contests, made history with her tricks, and pushed the sport of women's halfpipe freeskiing to new heights. 

Her shining star was clinching the bronze medal in the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games in the slopestyle, but throughout her career, she won four World Cups at Toyota U.S. Grand Prixs ranging from 2011-2018, has 13 World Cup podiums and has five X Games medals. She also attended three Olympics and five World Championships, and has a World Champs bronze medal from 2019.

In addition to her accolades, she also innovated the sport, becoming the first woman to land a 1080 in a complete halfpipe run.

Sigourney wrapped up her career at the World Championships in Georgia. She is one of the best to ever do it, and even though her competitive career is coming to a close, we cannot wait to see what she does next.

Brita by the numbers 

• Olympic bronze medal at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games
• Three Winter Olympic Games (Sochi, 2014; PyeongChang, 2018; Beijing, 2022)
• Five World Championships teams (2011, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023)
• World Championships bronze medal in 2019
• Four World Cup wins (Copper Mountain, 2011; Mammoth Mountain 2012; Copper Mountain, 2013; Mammoth Mountain 2018)
• 13 World Cup podiums
• Five-time X Games participant, the most of any woman skier in history
• Five X Games medals: three silver medals and two bronze 
• First woman ever to land a 1080 in a complete halfpipe run in the 2012 X Games 
• FIS Junior World Ski Champion in 2010

The NBC family and InFront’s skiandsnowboard.live will air the last two World Cup women’s race series in the 2022-23 season. Mikaela Shiffrin of the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team is one win away from tying the record for the most World Cup wins in history alongside longtime record holder, Swedish skier Ingemar Stenmark. Stenmark holds the record at 86 wins, which he set in 1989. As Shiffrin nears this record, Peacock will live stream the final Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cups in Are, Sweden and World Cup Finals women’s races in Soldeu, Andorra, in addition to InFront’s skiandsnowboard.live, with additional delayed coverage on CNBC.

The World Cups will be available for live viewing with a paid Peacock Premium subscription. CNBC will also feature Are, Sweden and Soldeu, Andorra World Cup coverage on a delayed schedule, presented by Stifel.

The women’s World Cup races will also be available on skiandsnowboard.live for both live and on-demand coverage. Peacock will not have races on-demand. The races will be commentated by both Steve Porino and Steve Schlanger, both on the NBC family and skiandsnowboard.live. 

HOW TO WATCH
All times in ET

Are, Sweden

March 10
4:00 a.m. – Women’s giant slalom, first run – Peacock, skiandsnowboard.live
7:00 a.m. – Women’s giant slalom, second run – Peacock, skiandsnowboard.live

March 11
4:30 a.m. – Women’s slalom, first run – Peacock, skiandsnowboard.live
7:30 a.m. – Women’s slalom, second run – Peacock, skiandsnowboard.live

March 12
3:00 p.m. – Women’s giant slalom and slalom – CNBC*

World Cup Finals – Soldeu, Andorra

March 15
5:30 a.m. – Women’s downhill – Peacock, skiandsnowboard.live

March 16
4:00 a.m. – Women’s super-G – Peacock, skiandsnowboard.live

March 18
4:30 a.m. – Women’s slalom, first run – Peacock, skiandsnowboard.live
7:30 a.m. – Women’s slalom, second run – Peacock, skiandsnowboard.live
3:00 p.m. – Women’s slalom – CNBC*

March 19 
3:00 a.m. – Women’s giant slalom, first run run – Peacock, skiandsnowboard.live
6:00 a.m. – Women’s giant slalom, second run – Peacock, skiandsnowboard.live
3:00 p.m. – Women’s giant slalom – CNBC*

*delayed showing

Sun Valley Resort is proud to announce that the Toyota U.S. Alpine Championships presented by Stifel kicks off April 1 and welcomes elite and next generation ski races vying for spots on the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team. The racing event, which runs April 2-5, is the final competition on the hotly contended US national ski racing circuit, and is the culmination of a season-long showcase of the best of the best in US ski racing athleticism. 

Sun Valley will welcome both men and women competing in slalom, giant slalom and super-G events. The course in Sun Valley has a storied history of alpine racing, having hosted the U.S. Alpine Championships previously in 2018 and 2016 and having tested hundreds of local and visiting athletes with its technical and challenging terrain over the years. The award-winning grooming and steeps contribute to the long list of merits that makes Sun Valley the perfect choice for this event.

Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team athletes expected to compete at the Toyota U.S. Alpine Championships presented by Stifel will include 2022 Olympic silver medalist Ryan Cochran-Siegle and 2023 World Championships gold medalist River Radamus, as well as local Sun Valley athletes Ryder Sarchett, Jack Smith and Dasha Romanov. The athletes will be racing for national titles, as well as increased prize money, courtesy of Stifel. 

“Sun Valley Resort could not be more excited to welcome back the U.S. Alpine Championships and the incredible athletes who will lay it all on the line to capture national titles,” said Pete Sonntag, Sun Valley Resort GM and VP. “Our rich ski racing history and legendary terrain will provide an awesome backdrop to watch current stars like Ryan Cochran-Siegle and River Radamus go at it with America’s best, including our own hometown heroes.”

Saturday, April 1, starts the week of events with training opportunities for racers and a sponsor village and live apres music in Warm Springs Plaza. Sunday, April 2, the racing kicks off with men’s and women’s super-G followed by Clicquot in the Snow Party at Warm Springs and the Opening Ceremony at Town Square in Ketchum featuring a Parade of Athletes and free concert by Lowdown Brass Band. Men's and women's slalom will run on Monday, April 3, women’s giant slalom on Tuesday, April 4, and men’s giant slalom on Wednesday, April 5; each day's races will be followed by awards and live music in the Warm Springs Plaza.

“The Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team is very excited to return to Sun Valley for the 2023 Toyota U.S. Alpine Championships presented by Stifel for the first time since 2018,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard CEO Sophie Goldschmidt. “Not only will many of the best alpine skiers in the country be competing for coveted national titles, but it’s an amazing opportunity to inspire the next generation of ski racers who can see their favorite athletes up close on a resort that has helped produce so many champions.”

Sun Valley Resort is thrilled to offer two VIP packages for the Toyota U.S. Alpine Championships presented by Stifel. One VIP package includes Sun Valley lodging at a premium rate and one four-day all-access pass for $900, which will be capped at 100 participants. The VIP Pass includes access to an exclusive viewing area for the races; complimentary food and beverage options; one day of Early Up access, allowing participants to ski or ride on Bald Mountain before the race festivities kick-off and the mountain is open to the public; a meet & greet, photos and signing with race participants; and a coveted U.S. Ski & Snowboard and SVR Swag Bag. To book the VIP Package with lodging, interested parties can call Sun Valley Reservations at (800) 786-8259. Spectators can book the four-day VIP Pass online.

Local ski racing non-profit organization, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) is seeking nearly 200 volunteers to support the event between March 31 and April 5 across a wide spectrum of positions. Those interested in volunteering are encouraged to register for the volunteer crew online. Volunteers will receive a one-day Sun Valley lift ticket voucher valid through 12/30/2024 for each shift completed.

The event is free to attend, spectators are welcome to join and can find out more about spectating locations and course details www.sunvalley.com/usalpine23

Please visit https://www.sunvalley.com/media for permission form and other media assets.

ATHLETE IMAGES | Sun Valley Resort & U.S. Ski & Snowboard

2023 EVENT SCHEDULE | Sun Valley Resort

RESORT MEDIA IMAGES | Sun Valley Resort

Media Contacts: 

Sun Valley Resort: Jenna Vagias | jvagias@sunvalley.com | 406.224.7312

Sun Valley Resort: Jess Fiaschetti | jess@outsidepr.com | 415.565.9530

Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team: Sierra Ryder | sierra.ryder@usskiandsnowboard.org | 435.263.2577

# # #

About Sun Valley Resort

Sun Valley Resort was founded in 1936 as America’s first destination ski resort. Located in the Idaho mountains, it is truly a four-season resort with a wide array of activities. With more than 3,400 vertical feet and over 2,300 acres of skiable terrain, Sun Valley offers skiers and boarders an exceptional and varied experience. Bald Mountain has 12 chairlifts, 100 runs, and family and beginner-friendly Dollar Mountain offers two high-speed quads, a terrain park- and the Silver Dollar Carpet for ease of access and learning appeal. Sun Valley is a member of The Grand America Hotels and Resorts family. Sister properties include Snowbasin Ski Resort, The Grand America Hotel, Little America Hotel (all Salt Lake City, Utah); The Westgate Hotel, San Diego, Calif.; Little America Flagstaff, Ariz.; Little America, Wyo., and Little America, Cheyenne, Wyo.  

Sun Valley is served by Hailey's Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN). The airport is located 14 miles from the resort and is easily accessed from six major cities: San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), Los Angeles (LAX), Salt Lake City (SLC), Denver (DEN), and Chicago (ORD). All Sun Valley Resort guests receive complimentary roundtrip airport transportation.

www.sunvalley.com | 800.786.8259 | @sunvalley | #sunvalley

About U.S. Ski & Snowboard

U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the Olympic National Governing Body (NGB) of ski and snowboard sports in the USA, based in Park City, Utah. Tracing its roots directly back to 1905, the organization represents nearly 200 elite skiers and snowboarders in 2022, competing in seven teams; alpine, cross country, freeski, freestyle, snowboard, nordic combined, and ski jumping. In addition to the fully-funded elite teams, U.S. Ski & Snowboard also provides leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders across the USA, encouraging and supporting them in achieving excellence. By empowering national teams, clubs, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers, and fans, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to the progression of its sports, athlete success, and the value of team. For more information, visit www.usskiandsnowboard.org.

The 2023 FIS Cross Country Ski World Championships has come to a close, ending the two-week race series with one of the most grueling races, the 50km classic. Four U.S. men lined up to the mass start: Scott Patterson, Gus Schumacher, Hunter Wonders and David Norris. Patterson led the team with a 16th place, only two minutes behind the Norwegian leader, with the rest of the U.S. team only seconds behind. 

It was another hot day in Planica. The temperatures climbed throughout the late morning into the afternoon making it a klister day for the kick wax. Same with the women's race, the men had pairs of skis lined up in the stadium area to switch mid-race to have a new pair of sticks to power them through the endless amount of kilometers they were racing. 

With over 31 miles to race and 4,000+ feet of elevation gain, the course played to the strength of those who could charge the uphills, actively recover on the short downhills and maintain a consistent pace. On the first of seven laps, Patterson was in the lead pack, sitting in third place right behind Norway and Finland. A ski length away were teammates Wonders, Norris and Schumacher. Through the next couple of laps, the field began to naturally spread out. With each athlete taking advantage of the feed zones and fueling up with mixtures of electrolytes, energy chews and dumping water on their head, the hours ticked by and the end was close. 

On the last of seven laps, at the high point of the course, Patterson and Norris were neck and neck, working together as teammates on the long uphills. Norris, who is a ski coach and accountant back in the States, traveled over to Slovenia last Tuesday after winning the American Birkebiener in Hayward, Wisconsin. He and Patterson, good friends, have skied and raced together for years, which played to their advantage today as they were able to push each other when they needed it most. At the finish, Patterson was 16th, Norris was 22nd, Schumacher was 28th and Wonders 31st. 

On the last downhill, all four U.S. men charged and skied into the roaring stadium with three in the top 30, and Hunters just seconds away. With the entire team waiting in the finish zone, the U.S. has many things to celebrate at this World Championships, on and off the snow. 

RESULTS
Men's 50k

It was an exciting Sunday to end the Stifel America’s Downhill in Aspen. The Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team men put on a show with two U.S. men coming in hot from the back, tying for 14th place. Jared Goldberg bumped up to 14th from bib 45 and his teammate Erik Arvidsson bumped up to 14th from bib 52. Ryan Cochran-Siegle landed in 18th position.

“I thought I had a good top section, I thought I executed really well, turns out the wind was a little bit in my favor,” said Arvidsson. “I carried a lot of speed onto the flats and I executed how I wanted to. It was a cool feeling to end the World Cup speed season this way.”

The stands were full for the third day in a row and the atmosphere was electric as Swiss phenom Marco Odermatt won the day, his fifth super-G victory of the season. In second place was German skier Andreas Sander and in third, Norwegian Aleksander Aamodt Kilde for his second podium of the weekend.

There were quite a few big leaps from the back of the field, notably Nico Gauer of Liechtenstein jumping from bib 53 to sixth place, winning the Stifel Bibbo Award for the biggest jump, and Canadian Riley Seger moving up from from bib 51 to 10th place.

“The wind was blowing at the very top—the clocks right next to us fell over,” said Goldberg. “I was really on the limit and could have skied cleaner but I was pushing it and trying to have a solid fast run.”

Rounding out the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team, Bryce Bennett scored points in 28th place. Kyle Negomir was 36th. Almost a third of the skiers did not finish, including River Radamus. 

This event closes the men’s speed Audi FIS World Cup races until World Cup Finals in Soldeu, Andorra. The men’s technical World Cup continues with two giant slalom races on March 11 and 12 in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.

RESULTS
Men's super-G

Closing out the women’s speed series in Kvitfjell, Norway, Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete Mikaela Shiffrin landed in seventh place and Breezy Johnson in 19th, battling wild conditions in the super-G.

“This race has been crazy. The track is changing so much with changes to the weather, but it is really fun to ski,” said Shiffrin. “There are many races that are unfair in ski racing, but I am not angry about it because I did a good job with my run and so that’s alright with me, and it’s a positive day.”

The weather played a large role in the race with slip crews out to clear snow to the slick surface underneath as the snowfall intensified. However, the sun came out later in the day giving higher bibs a better advantage, as seen in a podium made up of bibs 31, 29 and 26.

“The girls that came down into the lead are skiing well too, and it's not every day this happens,” said Shiffrin.

It was an Austrian sweep of the podium, the first time in 20 years for the country. In first was Nina Ortlieb, second went to Stephanie Venier and third was Franziska Gritsch. Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team athletes Keely Cashman and Lauren Macuga also raced and ended up in 38th and 40th. Isabella Wright did not finish.

The women’s World Cup tour will now move to Are, Sweden for a tech series on March 10 and 11 before World Cup Finals in Andorra. Shiffrin will look to break the record of 86 wins in Are, where she won her first World Cup in 2012.

RESULTS
Women's super-G

Aerialist Chris Lillis pulled out all the stops and landed a double-full full double-full, a quintuple twisting triple back flip, for a score of 128 to earn third place at the FIS Freestyle World Cup in Engadin, Switzerland on Sunday. 

“It was a really solid day,” Lillis reflected. “A lot of the adverse weather conditions prevented me from performing the quint twist in Georgia [at World Champs]. So it was a lot of fun to put it down and put it in the super final. It was the biggest jump I’ve done all week. Part of me was a little surprised I was able to stretch it down and put it to my feet. This was one of the highest levels of aerial competitions I’ve ever been a part of.”

Lillis added the quint to his jumping repertoire ahead of the 2022 Olympic season, becoming the first American to land one in competition since the late Jeret “Speedy” Peterson. Although not a give in, Lillis always threatens the quint if he makes it into a super finals round. Lillis admitted performing the trick was not part of the original plan for his competition day. "The site is very tricky, very warm and windy,” he explained. “I didn’t know I was doing it until 30 seconds before my first finals jump. We decided to do the double-in in finals, so then knew it would be the quint for supers.”

Following Lillis’ high-flying, high-scoring jump the rest of the men’s field took the queue and broke out their own quints. “Until I did the quint, no one in the competition was planning to throw them as far as I know,” said Lillis.

Ukraine’s Dmytro Kotovskyi won the event by landing the hardest trick in aerial skiing, known as The Hurricane, for a score of 136.76. Switzerland's Noe Roth executed a beautiful double-full double-full full for a score of 133.11 to land in second place. 

Quinn Dehlinger also represented the U.S. in the super finals round. He performed a double-full full full, flying high and sneaking his feet down to manage the landing, to earn a score of 93.21 - good for fifth overall. Derek Krueger earned a career-best result with an eighth place finish after executing a full double-full full in the first finals round. 

Winter Vinecki was the top American woman, finishing just off the podium in fourth place. This marks her season’s best result and will be good momentum for her heading into World Cup Finals. Australia’s Danielle Scott and Laura Peel took first and second, respectively. China’s Fanyu Kong rounded out the podium in third. 

Megan Nick performed a full double-full to earn a score of 75.78 in finals and was just edged out of the super final round, placing in seventh for the day. Kuhn and Elliott each performed full full in finals but did not make the super final round, ending the day in 11th and 12th, respectively. 

Aerials will wrap World Cup competition at World Cup Finals in Kazakhstan March 19. 

RESULTS
Women’s Aerials
Men’s Aerials

On day two of Stifel America’s Downhill in Aspen, Colorado, the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team had a tremendous and emotional day. To start the exciting race off, Bryce Bennett skied into his best result of the season with a 10th place finish.

“I’ve been skiing really hard all winter long,” said Bennett. “I've barely taken any time off and today was the first time this season I could really race and it was a good feeling.”

This has been a difficult season for Bennett who had come off of a World Cup victory the season prior in Val Gardena, Italy. He has had a number of top 30s, but this race was a breakthrough for the downhiller.

Jared Goldberg came down right after Bennett, with very fast top splits. Goldberg had some small mistakes toward the end that brought his time up, landing him in 19th place. Travis Ganong placed just above Goldberg in 17th, his final run on domestic soil. 

Friends and family rallied at the finish line to congratulate Ganong and give him flowers as he took his final run on domestic snow, before he officially caps off his tremendous ski racing career at World Cup finals later this month. Ganong announced his retirement just earlier in the week. 

The excitement continued amongst the home crowd with Sam Morse skiing from bib 38 to an incredible 14th place. This position is his second-best result of his career; his two previous best results were in Val Gardena this season. 

“I just tried to stay focused and I think I did a good job of it, and for sure the skis were running up top,” said Morse, who raced his first World Cup in Aspen in 2017. “Today was my best result this year. I stayed calm and kept it simple.”

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde of Norway took the win with a near perfect run down the downhill. James Crawford of Canada was second and Marco Odermatt of Switzerland was third. 

The big finale of the day came with racer 60, Steven Nyman, as he skied a victory lap in jeans, the American Downhiller vest, and a live stream of his run on Instagram. Nyman’s team, family and friends stood in the finish corral to welcome him in and celebrate his storied career. It was a special moment for the home crowd, and for the other teams, many of whom also crowded the finish to give their respects to the skiing icon.

“Crossing the finish line and seeing everybody was incredible,” said Nyman. “It’s just incredible to see the guys that changed my life and affected my life. It was so meaningful to me. I saw downhillers from all over the world in the finish and it means a lot."

The fans and crowd were electric at the final race for Nyman, and they are ready for more racing tomorrow, a super-G. Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Kyle Negomir, Jared Goldberg, Erik Arvidsson, Bryce Bennett and River Radamus will start for the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team. 

RESULTS
Men's downhill

HOW TO WATCH

1:30 p.m. ET - men's super-G, Aspen - LIVE on CNBC, Peacock and Outside+

In the last women’s race of the 2023 World Championships in Planica, Slovenia the 30km classic track was set for one of the most grueling races of the event. With the sun and heat making an appearance after days of rain, sleet, snow and generally unfavorable weather, the 46 women athletes lined up for the mass start race. American Rosie Brennan led the day for the team - in one of her gutsiest races yet. To put this course into perspective, 30km is 18.3 miles total and the athletes would climb over 3,000ft as they crossed the finish line. 

It all started at the noon hour. Along with Brennan on the U.S. roster was Julia Kern, Hailey Swirbul and Sydney Palmer-Leger. All having a few races under their belt in the days leading up, the women were feeling confident going into the last race of an already successful championships. With the length of the course, the athletes and their technicians had to make a solid game plan - would you change skis in the middle of the race to click into a fresh pair with more kick wax? Or would you stick with the planks you had on the start line and ski the entire 18+ miles on the same pair? That was the question for the entire field, with the rapid warming of temperatures throughout the 1.5 hours of racing.

With the sound of the gun launching the athletes onto the course, the women had 30km in front of them, on a hilly and very technical course. Featuring sharp corners that led to broken skis, bindings and poles in the earlier races, to long uphills and fast downhills, this course was simply just challenging. That did not stop the athletes from charging, though. Brennan started the race in the lead pack and never let up until she toed the finish line. With Ebba Andersson of Sweden leading the race, a group of five chased her, one of them Brennan.

As the racers spread out as more kilometers were skied, Brennan was still in the lead pack and Kern and Swirbul were only 60 seconds back, navigating the course and the conditions with several other countries. On the second lap through the stadium, Palmer Leger pulled out of the race.

Coming through the stadium after 12-13km, the women changed skis, snapping on a fresh pair of planks to take them to the end. By doing this, the majority of the field had new wax and better odds at cleanly climbing the hills without slipping on the skied out classic tracks. By changing skis, Andersson of Sweden gained a stronger lead but Brennan continued to be right on her heels along with four other racers.

“This one of the best classic races I have ever seen Rosie ski,” said Head Coach Matt Whitcomb. “And by far one of the most entertaining classic races I’ve ever watched.”

Going into the last lap, Swirbul was gaining on the athletes ahead of her and was charging up the uphills. As she crested the highest point of the course, she was in perfect position to land herself in the top-20, and that she did. As she crossed the finish line, she was 18th overall, her best-ever individual result at World Championships.

For Brennan, she was having one of the best races of her year. In the sprint to the finish, she crossed the line in fifth, a major result for her but also keeping her hungry for more, knowing that the podium was a second away.

“I skied with my heart today and gave it my all,” said Brennan. “That was a fight. You have to take a chance and put yourself in it, and I fought until the end and gave it all I had.”

At the end of the day, Brennan was fifth, only 16.39 seconds out of first, Swirbul was 18th and Kern was 27th. For the podium, Andersson won the day, Anne Kjersti Kalvaa of Norway was second and Sweden's Frida Karlsson was third. 

Now, the team will be out on course cheering the men as they ski the 50km tomorrow, March 5, then will pack up and head to Norway for period four of World Cup ski racing.

RESULTS