After a two-year drought, the APU team of Rosie Brennan (Park City, Utah), Eirk Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wash.), Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wash.), and David Norris (Fairbanks, Alaska) took the the mixed relay win at the L.L. Bean U.S. Nationals in Presque Isle, Maine. Considered by the athletes as the most important events, the relay did not disappoint, and APU went out charging from the gun.

While basking in the glow of a great win, the team members had this to say:

Sadie Bjornsen – “We had to really attack in all the legs and Stratton is a very dominant team as shown in the last two years, but this is always a fun event because it is so competitive. It looked like with this headwind it was going to be hard to do much damage, but thanks to Erik for changing that.”

Erik Bjornsen – “We are all good friend between Stratton and APU and a lot of us are on the national team and train together, but you show up to the race today and you just glare at those guys and you want to beat them. They are not our friends today.”

Rosie Brennan – “I had a small mishap, it was challenging out there and I just tired to stay as close as possible so Erik could do his thing.”

David Norris – “It was great for Sadie to tag off with such a gap and I tried to ski steady and just enjoy the lead.”

SMS T2 finished second with a team of Sophie Caldwell (Peru, Vt.) Kyle Bratrud (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Julia Kern (Waltham, Mass.) and Simi Hamilton (Apen, Colo.)

“It was a great day for our team, I think we all skied really strong legs, so to be second was a great accomplishment,” said Caldwell.

The battle for third shaped up between APU 2 (Hailey Swirbul, Scott Patterson, Rosie Frankowski and Logan Hanneman) and Craftsbury Green Racing Project (Ida Sargent, Ben Lustgarten, Caitlin Patterson and Akeo Maifeld-Carucci) with the final podium position going to APU 2.

Skiing anchor leg was Hanneman who had this to say, “I led the first half of the first lap and then Akeo passed me. I didn’t have much in the tank, so I was happy to let him lead. On the second lap we saw the Thunder Bay guy coming so Akeo went a little harder, and then on the big hill I went really hard and passed him coming into the rollers before the finish. I was just focused on getting on the podium.”

The event has a well deserved day off Monday leading into the Men’s 50k and Women’s 30k National Championship on Tuesday to end the competition.

RESULTS

Mixed-team relay

The Bjornsen siblings, Erik and Sadie, both won the classic distance races at the L.L.Bean SuperTour Finals in Presque Isle, Maine, Saturday.  Following a two-hour start delay to let the course soften after a significant overnight freeze, both siblings skied near the front of their packs the entire race to ski away with the victories.

Erik Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wash.) was in a strong lead group from the beginning of the race which also included second-place finisher Simi Hamilton (Aspen, Co.), and third place finisher Gus Schumacher (Anchorage, Alaska)

“I needed to make sure those young kids didn’t take the win,” said Erik Bjornsen. “It was nice to have a relaxing morning with the crew, but once the race got started it was fun. Fast conditions, but no one was pulling away. I let Simi do some work that last lap and was able to sneak by him for the finish.”

This was Schumacher’s first senior podium. The U23 skier had this to say about his race, “It feels really good to get my first senior podium and everyone is here, so there’s no Asterix by my name. I felt good out there, sometimes I was worried when I was leading knowing other people are going easy, but I think I balanced my energy well and was pushing when I needed to.”

In the women’s 10k classic, Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wash.) went out hard and led the entire race.

“I was coming into lap two and could see that no one wanted to take the lead and so I didn’t want to pull everyone around and decided to make a move and break the draft,” said Bjornsen. “I could tell Rose (Brennan, Park City, Utah) was quite close behind me so I just tried to push really hard like I was in a World cup race and I finally opened the gap a little more and then just sent it home.”

Completing the women’s podium was Brennan in second and Dahria Beatty of Canada in third.

In the junior’s race, the women’s podium included Charlotte Ogden (SMS) in first, followed by Sophia Laukli (SMS) in second and Shaylynn Loewen (National Training Development Center - Thunder Bay) in third.

The men’s junior race was won by Gus Schumacher (Alaska Winter Stars) with Ben Ogden (UVM) second and Johnny Hagenbach (Sun Valley SEF) completing the podium.

Looking to Sunday’s mixed-team relay, Sadie Bjornsen had this to say, “tomorrow is the most important race and APU needs to get that title back, it’s been two years. This is why we come to spring series.”  Always an athlete favorite, the mixed team sprint begins at 10 a.m.

RESULTS
Men’s and women’s distance

HOW TO WATCH
All times EDT

Sunday, March 31
10:00 a.m. - Mixed gender/technique relay - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Streaming

Tuesday, April 2
9:00 a.m. - Women’s 30k/junior women’s 20k freestyle mass start - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Streaming
11:15 a.m. - Men’s 50k/junior men’s 30k freestyle mass start - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Streaming

The U.S. Freeski Team concluded the 2018/19 FIS Freeski World Cup season in SIlvaplana, Switzerland on a very creative slopestyle course Saturday at Snowpark Corvatsch as Colby Stevenson (Park City, Utah) earned a spot on the podium finishing second and Mac Forehand (Winhall, Vt.) took home the Crystal Globe.

U.S. Rookie Team member and 2019 FIS World Cup Slopestyle Champion Forehand finished 12th and put the cherry on top of what was a breakthrough season for the young freeskier.

“It feels crazy,” said Forehand. “I didn’t think I would have a chance to podium this year, nevermind take home the Crystal Globe at the end of the season. I want to thank all the guys back home at SMS (Stratton Mountain School) and U.S. Ski & Snowboard for supporting me all year long. The Silvaplana World Cup may be the best slopestyle competition that’s ever gone down in my opinion. The course was amazing, the weather was amazing, and I’m hyped with how everything worked out.

Forehand kicked off the season by earning the 2018 Junior World Championship title in big air at Cardrona, New Zealand in August and carried that momentum into the season. Forehand continued his impressive performance into November where he earned his first-ever World Cup podium with a second-place finish in Stubai, Austria. Furthermore, only a few weeks ago, he earned his first-ever World Cup victory at the Mammoth Mountain, California, World Cup.

"I’m so excited, I can’t believe it,” Stevenson said of his second-place finish. “I kept telling myself that this just wasn’t my year as I just haven’t been able to land a run in finals at any other competitions. Maybe because of the weather, maybe because my head game wasn’t there, but this week we have had perfect weather and everyone is skiing at their highest ability. I think just being part of the energy here in Silvaplana contributed to my success. Coming into the competition I just wanted to land my run for me, I didn’t care if I podiumed or won. It was one of the craziest runs I have ever thought of or attempted to do, so to put it together is a blessing. The fact my dad and stepmom are here makes this experience extra special.”

Swiss freeskier Andri Ragettli topped the podium in Silvaplana, followed by Stevenson in second, and Fabian Boesch of Switzerland closing out the podium in third. For the women, Megan Oldham of Canada won the event, Tess Ledeux of France finished second, and Silvia Bertagna of Italy finished third. U.S. Freeski Pro Team member Caroline Claire (Manchester Center, Vt.) finished in a respectable seventh.

The future of the American slopestyle freeskiing is undeniably strong. U.S. Freeski Team members Alex Hall (Salt Lake City, Utah), Stevenson, Forehand, and American Kiernan Fagan are all 21 years old or younger and all finished in the top 10 of the slopestyle World Cup standings. For the women, U.S. Freeski Team members Eileen Gu (San Francisco, Calif.) finished in third, Julia Krass (Hanover, N.H.) seventh, and Caroline Claire (Manchester Center, Vt. finished in eighth completing a great season for U.S. freeskiers.

RESULTS
Men’s freeski slopestyle
Women’s freeski slopestyle

WORLD CUP STANDINGS
Men’s freeski slopestyle
Women’s freeski slopestyle

Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wash.) and Simi Hamilton (Aspen, Co.) won the SuperTour Finals sprint in Presque Isle, Maine, Friday. The Nordic Heritage trails are usually considered fun and challenging, but the warm temps certainly took its toll on racers.

“Every heat was hard, and I had to push from the start,” said Hamilton. “I know from the distance races in Quebec City that I am fit right now, and so I know I could ski hard all day. In the final, I just focused on getting to the front and controlling it from there. It was a little soft, but we have had a lot of practice in skiing in that for the last couple of weeks.”

“The course was a bit soft, but we did this exact thing last week in Quebec City, so I felt very practiced and ready out there,” said Bjornsen. “I just tried to lead from the front because I don’t love the tactical decisions you need to make from behind.”

Erik Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wash.) finished second, followed by Canada’s Ritchie Graham in third.

On the women’s side, retiring Ida Sargent (Craftsbury, Vt.) second followed by Julia Kern (Waltham, Ma.) in third.

“It was really fun race for my final race,” said Sargent. “It’s so nice to come back and race with my club teammates after the World Cup and this is a super fun sprint race. I was just trying to have fun out there.”

The SuperTour Finals continue Saturday with mass starts in the men’s 15k classic and a women’s 10k classic.  

RESULTS
Men’s and women’s sprint

HOW TO WATCH
All times EDT

Saturday, March 30
10:00 a.m. - Men’s 15k classic mass start - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Streaming
11:45 a.m. - Women’s 10k classic mass start - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Streaming

Sunday, March 31
10:00 a.m. - Mixed gender/technique relay - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Streaming

Tuesday, April 2
9:00 a.m. - Women’s 30k/junior women’s 20k freestyle mass start - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Streaming
11:15 a.m. - Men’s 50k/junior men’s 30k freestyle mass start - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Streaming

Live streaming will bring all the action from this week’s U.S. Ski & Snowboard SuperTour Finals and L.L.Bean U.S. Cross Country Championships to fans around the world. CXC TV will produce live streaming coverage available exclusively from U.S. Ski & Snowboard in partnership with Central Cross Country Skiing Friday, March 29 through Tuesday, April 2.

The live stream will be available on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team Facebook channel and the SuperTour Finals page on USSkiandSnowboarg.org.

The event will bring together top athletes from U.S. Ski & Snowboard clubs around the country, vying for titles in the season-long SuperTour as well as national championship medals in both long distance events and relays. Among the field will be top World Cup athletes skiing for their home clubs.

CXC TV has been producing live streaming of all major cross country ski events in America for the few seasons to help grow exposure for the sport, including the U.S. Super Tour, and Junior World Championships. U.S. Ski & Snowboard is providing free coverage of the entire U.S. Ski & Snowboard Super Tour series for the second-straight season.

Action begins Friday, March 29 with freestyle sprints, then shifting to classic distance mass start racing on Saturday, March 30. Sunday, March 31 will be a highlight event with relays as clubs vie for national titles. Medals will be on the line again in long-distance U.S. Championships mass start freestyle Tuesday, April 2 to wrap up the season.

SuperTour and L.L.Bean U.S. Cross Country Championship
Live Streaming Schedule
(all times EDT and subject to change)

Friday, March 29
10:00 a.m. - Women’s freestyle sprint qualifying
10:15 p.m. - Men’s freestyle sprint qualifying
11:30 a.m. - Junior men’s freestyle sprint
12:00 p.m. - Men’s and women’s freestyle sprint finals
12:55 p.m. - Junior women’s freestyle sprint

Saturday, March 30, 2019
10:00 a.m. - Men’s 15k classic mass start
11:45 a.m. - Women’s 10k classic mass start

Sunday, March 31, 2019
10:00 a.m. - Mixed gender/technique relay

Tuesday, April 2, 2019
9:00 a.m. - Women’s 30k/junior women’s 20k freestyle mass start
11:15 a.m. - Men’s 50k/junior men’s 30k freestyle mass start

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has nominated a strong team of young athletes to compete at the 2019 FIS Freestyle and Snowboard Junior World Championships competing this week across four different international venues. The U.S. will be sending 36 snowboarders and 30 skiers to fight for their chance at taking home the coveted Marc Hodler Trophy - awarded to the best overall nation throughout the series.

"We are proud to send a very talented team of athletes to Sweden and Slovenia to compete in the Junior World Championships where we will be vying for the Marc Holder Trophy for the second year running in snowboarding,” said Halfpipe, Slopestyle, Big Air, and Parallel Giant Slalom Sport Development Leader Ashley Deibold. “In addition, the athletes will be competing to secure a personal World Cup spot for the 2019-20 season."

The Freestyle and Snowboard Junior World Championships competition began Jan. 26 in Leysin, Switzerland with the halfpipe program. The second round of Junior World Championships competition continues with snowboardcross and skicross in Reiteralm, Austria, March 28-April 2. Next, alpine snowboarders will hit the gates April 2-4 in Rogla, Slovenia, and slopestyle/big air athletes will compete April 7-13 in Klappen, Sweden. Meanwhile, the aerials and moguls athletes are set to compete April 4-6 at Chiesa in Valmalenco, Italy, which has hosted Junior Worlds events five times since 2012.

“The talent exhibited at the junior level from the aerials, moguls, ski and snowboardcross disciplines is very promising,” said Moguls, Aerials, Skicross and Snowboardcross Sport Development Manager Katie Fieguth. “We’re excited to send such a robust group of athletes to compete at these events in Junior Worlds.”

“It’s an incredible opportunity for me to compete with the world's best juniors,” said aerialist Kaila Kuhn (Boyne City, Mich.), “As an athlete, it means the world to me to be competing with such an amazing group of people. I hope this competition will not only bring experience but a spot on the podium!”

The U.S. Snowboard Junior World Championship Team claimed the Marc Hodler Trophy at the 2018 Junior World Championships in Cardrona, New Zealand, but the U.S. freeskiers fell just short behind Russia. With a strong U.S. contingent of young snowboard and freestyle athletes heading to Europe, the 2019 U.S. Snowboard and Freestyle Junior World Championships Team will be looking to close the season on a strong note.

“It’s an honor to represent U.S. Ski & Snowboard in Sweden at the Junior World Championships,” said U.S. Snowboard Rookie Team member Jade Thurgood (Salt Lake City, Utah). “It has been a progressive season for me and to wrap it up with a chance to help the team win the Marc Hodler Trophy means a lot. The Junior World Championships are an important event in my season and I hope I can make it to the podium.”

2019 U.S. SNOWBOARD & FREESTYLE JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
(Hometown, Club, USASA Series, Birth Year)

SNOWBOARD
Slopestyle/Big Air
Men

• Jake Canter (Evergreen, Colo.; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Aspen Snowmass Series; 7/19/03)
• Dusty Henricksen (Mammoth Lakes, Calif; Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team; Unbound Series; 2/2/03)
• Eli McDermott (Wells, Vt.; Maine Mountain Series; 4/23/2002)
• Will Healy (Riverside, Conn.; Kirk’s Camp; Southern Vermont Series; 3/11/2002)
• TJ Fitzgerald (West Dover, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 9/14/2001)
• Alex Atno (Lavallette, N.J.; Kirk’s Camp; Southern Vermont Series; 1/14/2001)

Women

• Addison Gardner (Riegelsville, Penn.; Maine Mountain Series; 2/19/2002)
• Courtney Rummel (West Bend, Wisc.; Wisconsin Advanced Ski and Snowboard Program; Midwest Best Series; 11/12/03)
• Jade Thurgood (Salt Lake City, Utah; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 1/27/02)
• Isabella Gomez (Issaquah, Wash.; Stevens Pass Alpine Club; Inland Northwest Series; 9/11/2001)
• Ty Schnorrbusch (Monroe Township, N.J.; Tom Anderson, Rocky Mountain Series; 1/27/02)
• Ellie Duchow (Breckenridge, Colo.; Rocky Mountain Series; 2/15/2002)

Snowboardcross
Men

• Kurt Hoshino (Huntington Beach, Calif.; International Snowboard Training Center; Rocky Mountain Series; 2/20/2001)
• Zachary Stewart (Cape Elizabeth, Maine; Carrabassett Valley Academy; Maine Mountain Series; 2/10/2001)
• Michael Martin (Freeman Township, Maine; Carrabassett Valley Academy; Maine Mountain Series, 3/9/2000)
• Theodore McLemore (Pittsburgh, Penn.; Carrabassett Valley Academy, Maine Mountain Series; 12/30/2002)
• Liam Maguire (Bethel, Maine; Maine Mountain Series; 8/2/2000)
• Benjamin Smith (Shrewsbury, Mass.; Killington Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 8/3/2002)

Women

• Emma Downing (Carrabassett Valley, Maine; Carrabassett Valley Academy; Maine Mountain Series; 7/19/2001)
• Olivia Shively (Jeffersonville, Vt.; Westminster College Snowboard Team; Northern Vermont Series; 2/20/1999)
• Madeline Lochte-Bono (Durango, Colo.; international Snowboard Training Center; Southwest Colorado Series; 1/7/2003)
• Montana Braden (Gypsum, Colo.; Ski and Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 11/26/2000)
• Payton Bacca (Ketchum, Idaho; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; Big Mountain West Series; 7/12/2001)
• Helen French (Cumberland, Maine; Gould Academy Competition Programs; Maine Mountain Series; 6/3/2001)

Parallel Slalom & Parallel Giant Slalom
Men

• Mika Kizuka (Sinking Spring, Penn.; Ski Roundtop Racing Club; Mid Atlantic Series; 1/22/2002)
• Nate True (Hampstead, N.H.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 11/12/2000)
• William Taylor (Wayzata, Minn.; G Team; Upper Midwest Snow Series; 4/12/2001)
• Cody Winters (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 4/20/2000)
• Jacob McCarthy (Edina, Minn.; G Team; Upper Midwest Snow Series; 12/27/2000)
• Winston Vaughan (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 8/23/2001)
• Tate DePaepe (Eden Prairie, Minn.; G Team; Upper Midwest Snow Series; 5/20/2002)

Women

• Lily Janousek (Greenwood, Minn.; G Team; Upper Midwest Snow Series; 7/24/2003)
• Rose Bransford (Minneapolis, Minn.; G Team; Upper Midwest Snow Series; 12/8/2002)
• Olivia Bellek (Whitehouse Station, N.J.; Catskill Mountain Series; 5/16/2001)
• Iris Pflum (Minneapolis, Minn.; G Team; Upper Midwest Snow Series; 7/13/2003)
• Kaiya Kizuka (Sinking Spring, Penn.; Ski Roundtop Racing Club; Mid Atlantic Series; 5/26/1999)

FREESTYLE
Slopestyle/Big Air
Men

• Kiernan Fagan (Brownfield, Maine; Wy’East Mountain Academy; Rocky Mountain Series; 1/18/2002)
• Deven Fagan (Brownfield, Maine; Wy’East Mountain Academy; Rocky Mountain Series; 1/18/2002)
• Hunter Henderson (Madbury, N.H..; Waterville Valley BBTS; New Hampshire Series; 12/28/2002)
• Troy Podmilsak (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 8/23/2004)
• Rodney Koford (Ogden, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 5/11/2001)
• Zane Severson (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 3/25/2002)

Women

• Rell Harwood (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 6/1/01)
• Grace Henderson (Madbury, N.H.; Waterville Valley BBTS; New Hampshire Series; 4/28/01)
• Montana Osinski (Fairfield, Conn.; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 4/1/2003)

Skicross
Men

• Noah Giron (Carson City, Nev.; North Tahoe Series; 9/11/1999)
• Eli Derrick (Harrisburg, Va.; Carrabassett Valley Academy; Maine Mountain Series; 7/29/2002)
• Stuart Whittier (Cape Elizabeth, Maine; Carrabassett Valley Academy; Maine Mountain Series; 2/10/2001)
• Aidan Steffe (Hummelstown, Penn.; Blue Mountain Race Team; Mid Atlantic Series; 7/28/2002)
• Jake Roney (Laurel Springs, N.J.; Adirondack Series; 7/27/1999)

Moguls
Men

• Kalman Heims (Westborough, Mass.; Killington Mountain School; 4/10/00)
• Ian Beauregard (Wilmington, Mass.; Killington Mountain School; 5/12/99)
• Alex Lewis (Carlisle, Mass.; Killington Mountain School; 11/16/99)
• Landon Wendler (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 10/12/00)

Women

• Sabrina Cass (Cheshire, Conn.; Wasatch Freestyle Foundation; 3/27/02)
• Kai Owens (Vail, Colo.; Ski and Snowboard Club Vail; 8/16/04)
• Madison Hogg (Park City, Utah; Wasatch Freestyle Foundation; 2/15/01)
• Kasey Hogg (Park City, Utah; Wasatch Freestyle Foundation; 1/8/03)

Aerials
Men

• Quinn Dehlinger (Cincinnati, Ohio; Elite Aerial Development Program; 6/8/02)
• Derek Krueger (Cincinnati, Ohio; Elite Aerial Development Program; 6/2/03)
• Cole Kozlowski (Knoxville, Tenn.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 2/5/02)
• Evan Dermott (Hingham, Mass.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 2/19/04)

Women

• Kaila Kuhn (Boyne City, Mich.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 4/8/03)
• Megan Smallhouse (Reno, Nev.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 1/16/01)
• Tasia Tanner (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 7/26/02)
• Dani Loeb (Montgomery, Ala.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 8/10/01)

Snowboard Marc Hodler Trophy Standings:
Leysin, Switzerland: HP - Jan. 26 - Complete
Reiteralm, Austria: SBX - April 1-2
Rogla, Slovenia: PGS, PSL - April 2-4
Klappen, Sweden: SS, BA - April 8-13

Freestyle Marc Hodler Trophy Standings:
Leysin, Switzerland: HP - Jan. 26 - Complete
Reiteralm, Austria: SX - March 28
Valmalenco, Italy: MO, AE - April 4-6
Klappen, Sweden: SS, BA - April 7-13

Since women’s cross country skiing was added to the Olympic Winter Games in 1952, a passionate group of 50 American women have been named to Olympic teams since the U.S. began fielding teams in 1972. Those women have come together under the banner of U.S. Nordic Olympic Women (US NOW) to begin recognizing the stars of today with a new award. The Inga Award draws on noted cross country skiing heritage dating back to the 13th century.

The Inga Award is named in honor of Inga Varteig, the legendary mother of the Norwegian child prince Haakon IV who was carried to safety on cross country skis by Birkebeiner soldiers, known for their birch bark leggings, during a civil war in the winter of 1205-06. The first Inga Award was presented to Rosie Brennan (Park City, Utah/Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center) during the FIS World Cup Finals in Quebec City to close out the 2019 season. Brennan was honored during a reunion of women’s Olympians.

Brennan had a career-best season coming back from a bout with mononucleosis that wreaked havoc with her a year earlier. She was a unanimous selection, being cited for her diligent and patient efforts working back from illness, showing courage, fortitude, grit, determination and raw talent to achieve an extremely high level of success on the international ski racing circuit this season.

“This is extremely special to me,” said an emotional Brennan. “This group is incredibly accomplished and has been through so much.To be recognized by them is incredibly meaningful to me - it means much more than any race result could mean.”

What’s really cool is starting a plan to get this group together and recognizing the great history we have in women’s skiing. A lot of it has been this perseverance spirit. Marty Hall came up with this idea of the Inga Award and presented it to Alison a year ago. We thought this should be a revolving tradition.

“As we thought about performances this year we right away honed in on Rosie,” said recently-retired Olympic champion Kikkan Randall (Anchorage). “Rosie bounced back from frustration last year - having to change the way she came into the season not being on the national team, having to find support. “She really came through with some fantastic performances. That really embodies the Inga Award.”

The legend of the Birkebeiners is well known across the sport of cross country skiing. The rescue of the child prince is re-created each year with the Birkebeiner Rennet between Lillehammer and Rena, Norway, and was the inspiration for American visionary Tony Wise when he started the American Birkebeiner in 1973.

Legend has it that the child prince was the son of Inga Varteig and King Haakon III, who died before the child’s birth. During a brutal civil war between Bagler and Birkebeiner factions for control of Norway, Inga showed the courage and grit to entrust her baby boy to a group of Birkebeiner soldiers and to ski along with them during a brutal winter from Lillehammer over the mountains to safety. He went on to become one of Norway’s most beloved kings.

The concept of the award came from Olympian Alison Owen Bradley, who won the very first FIS Cross Country World Cup in December, 1978. She presented a photograph of Inga from Varteig to U.S. Cross Country Ski Team coach Marty Hall to celebrate his induction into the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame in April, 2018.

“Marty played an enormous role in getting U.S. nordic women racing in international events and onto training programs that would make it possible to compete with the best women in the world,” said Bradley. “The Inga Award represents the spirit and grit that our coach instilled in us.”Hall was the U.S. head coach in the mid-70s, playing a significant role in the birth of the FIS World Cup and increased prominence for U.S. women on the international circuit.

Hall, his wife Kathy and Bradley established the basis of an award to continue honoring U.S. Nordic Olympic Women with the presentation of an Inga photograph, and monetary gift, each year. “Alison and the entire group of U.S. nordic women in the 70s were inspirational,” said Hall. “This award will be a great way to bring together generations of skiers who keep that spirit alive.”

Owen Bradley, a native of Wenatchee, Wash., made history winning a FIS World Cup in December, 1978 at the Telemark Ski Area in northern Wisconsin. Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) opened new doors winning three season-long World Cup sprint titles. Randall combined with Jessie Diggins (Afton, Minn.) to win Olympic gold in 2018. In the past decade, the depth of the U.S. women’s program has expanded dramatically, with today’s female stars very cognizant of their nordic roots dating back to the 1970s.

“I think it’s so awesome that we can finally be able to more publicly recognize that women’s cross country skiing didn’t just pop up out of nowhere,” said Olympic champion Jessie Diggins (Afton, Minn.). “All of these women paved the way for us. Their hard work and perseverance are why we get to be here today. Rosie winning the Inga Award is so well deserved.”

Around 30 of the 50 Olympians attended the first reunion, where they watched current stars like Diggins and Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wash.). Leading into the 2018 Olympics, U.S. coach Matt Whitcomb organized a project where current team athletes reached out to those of the past to develop a sense of history. So for the current team, it was an opportunity to get face-to-face with their own heroes of the past.
 

U.S. NORDIC OLYMPIC WOMEN

Listing of all U.S. women who have competed in Olympic Winter Games

• Morgan Arritola, 2010, Bend, Ore./Ketchum, Ida., Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation
• Leslie Bancroft-Krichko, 1980, 1988, Paris, Maine, Oxford Hills High School/Univ. of Vermont
• Tessa Benoit, 2002, South Pomfret, Vt., Mansfield Nordic Club/Univ. of Vermont
• Sadie Bjornsen, 2014, 2018, Winthrop, Wash., Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center
• Rosie Brennan, 2018, Park City, Utah, Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center
• Barbara Britch, 1972, Anchorage, Nordic Ski Club of Anchorage
• Holly Brooks, 2010, 2014, Redmond, Wash., Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center
• Ingrid Butts, 1992, 1994, Denver, Crested Butte Nordic Council
• Sophie Caldwell, 2014, 2018, Peru, Vt., Stratton Mountain School
• Caitlin Compton Gregg, 2010, Duxbury, Vt.
• Dorcas DenHartog-Wonsavage, 1988, 1992, 1994, Hanover, N.H., Ford Sayre Ski Club
• Jessie Diggins, 2014, 2018, Afton, Minn., Stillwater High School/Stratton Mountain School
• Rebecca Dussault, 2006, Gunnison, Colo.
• Nancy Fiddler, 1988, 1992, Schenectady, N.Y., Bates College
• Sue Forbes, 1992, Fairbanks, Alaska
• Rosie Frankowski, 2018, Minneapolis, Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center
• Betsy Haines, 1980, Anchorage, Nordic Ski Club of Anchorage
• Twila Hinkle, 1976, Denver, Summit Nordic Ski Club
• Jana Hlavaty, 1976, Keystone, Colo.
• Trina Hosmer, 1972, Watertown, N.Y., Kongsberg Ski Club
• Kristina Joder, 2002, Springfield, Vt., Mansfield Nordic Club
• Barb Jones, 2002, Stillwater, Minn., St. Paul Central/Dartmouth College
• Nina Kemppel, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2002, Anchorage,  Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center
• Suzanne King, 1994, 1998, Bend, Ore.
• Sarah Konrad, 2006, Hanover, N.H., Dartmouth College
• Abby Larson, 2006, Saint Paul, Minn.
• Susan Long, 1984, Mountain Lakes, N.J., Stratton Mountain School/Middlebury College
• Margie Mahoney, 1972, 1976, Anchorage, Nordic Ski Club of Anchorage
• Laura McCabe, 1994, 1998, Bozeman, Montana
• Kelly Milligan, 1984, Livingston, Montana
• Alison Owen, 1972, 1980, Wenatchee, Wash.
• Caitlin Patterson, 2018, McCall, Ida., Univ. of Vermont / Craftsbury Green Racing Project
• Beth Paxson, 1980, Burlington, Vt.
• Aelin Peterson , 2002, Unalakleet, Alaska, Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks
• Karen Petty, 1994, 1998, Townshend, Vt.
• Terry Porter, 1976, Cambridge, Mass.
• Judy Rabinowitz, 1984, Fairbanks, Alaska, Harvard University
• Kikkan Randall, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, Anchorage, Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center
• Martha Rockwell, 1972, 1976, Putney, Vt., Putney Ski Club
• Patricia Ross, 1984, Middlebury, Vt., Univ. of New Hampshire
• Ida Sargent, 2014, 2018, Barton, Vt., Craftsbury Green
• Liz Stephen, 2010, 2014, 2018, East Montpelier, Vt., Burke Mountain Academy
• Leslie Thompson, 1988, 1992, 1994, Stowe, Vt., Stratton Mountain School/Dartmouth College
• Lynn von der Heide-Spencer-Galanes, 1976, 1980, 1984, Anchorage, Nordic Ski Club of Anchorage
• Wendy Wagner, 2002, 2006, Park City, Utah, Western State College
• Lindsey Weier, 2006, Saint Paul, Minn., Minneapolis Ski Club
• Brenda White, 1992, Burlington, Vt., Univ. of Vermont
• Lindsay Williams, 2006, Saint Paul, Minn., Northern Michigan University
• Laura Wilson, 1994, 1998, Montpelier, Vt., Sun Valley Ski Club/University of Vermont
• Betsy Youngman, 1988, 1992 , Cleveland, Ohio, Bowdoin College
   

Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Starksboro, Vt.) won his seventh U.S. title, and Keely Cashman (Strawberry, Calif.) won her first, each taking giant slalom victories at the Toyota U.S. Alpine Championships at New Hampshire’s Waterville Valley Resort.

Racing under bright sunshine on a hard, fast track, Cashman took a 0.23-second first-run lead over Tricia Mangan (Derby, N.Y), and .80-second lead over the red-hot Nina O’Brien, who was shooting for her fifth-consecutive U.S. Alpine Championships victory after winning the super-G and alpine combined at Sugarloaf, Maine, and the parallel, and slalom events at Waterville earlier in the week.

“I just relaxed and skied my best,” Cashman said of her first-run approach. “I knew that if I put down a solid run, I’d be in the top five, so I just tried to do it, and I made it happen.”

Meanwhile, O’Brien wasn’t done yet. She came out attacking, posting the fastest second-run time to put the pressure on Mangan and Cashman. Mangan was the first to take a shot, but came up short, leaving Cashman to put a stop to O’Brien’s win streak. With the warm sunshine beating down on Waterville’s World Cup course, Cashman carved through the fast, salted layers to post the second-fastest time and edge O’Brien for the victory. O’Brien settled for second, and Mangan rounded out the podium in third.

“It’s always been a huge goal of mine (to win a U.S. title),” Cashman said. “I remember when (the U.S. Alpine Championships) came to Squaw when I was a U14, and I remember watching everyone, and now to be sitting on top of the podium really means a lot. it’s a good stepping stone, and this will really slingshot me into next season, so I’m really happy about it.”

Cashman was also the top junior finisher with Lisa Olsson of Sweden in second, and Claire Thomas (Salt Lake City, Utah) in third.

In the men’s race, Cochran-Siegle, who didn’t start the parallel or slalom events over the weekend at Waterville after winning both the downhill and super-G title last week at Sugarloaf, turned a .16-second first-run deficit to Brian McLaughlin (Topsfield, Mass.) into a .37-second margin of victory after posting the fastest second-run time.

McLaughlin finished second, with 2018 U.S. giant slalom champion Tommy Ford (Bend, Ore.) rounding out the podium in third. Tim Gavett (Waitsfield, Vt.) was the top junior finisher, as Andrew Miller (Park City, Utah) was second and Bridger Gile (Aspen, Colo.) was third.

Tuesday GS victory was the seventh U.S. Alpine Championship win of his career, dating back to his downhill title in 2012.

In the battle for the Tom Garner Region's Cup, the Eastern Region won with 3,436 points. West was second with 2,063, and Rocky/Central was third with 1,088. This is the 30th year of the Tom Garner Region's Cup and over the past 30 years, the West has won 21 times, Rocky/Central 5, and East 4. The Region's Cup was re-named after Tom Garner, a former Rocky/Central Director, who was committed to athletic excellence and providing athletes with opportunities to succeed and develop as competitors and people. Tom’s son Ian is a member of our U.S. Ski Team men’s coaching staff. 

RESULTS
Men’s giant slalom
Women’s giant slalom

PARK CITY, Utah - Live Like Sam and the Sam Jackenthal Fund has partnered with U.S. Ski & Snowboard with the shared objective of providing young athletes with the tools to succeed in sports and life with a sense of gratitude.

The Sam Jackenthal Fund of Park City Community Foundation and LiveLikeSam.org was founded by Ron Jackenthal, the father of the late Sam Jackenthal, a Park City, Utah, local and young man of strong character and values who was also a budding and promising world-class athlete. The 16-year-old freeskiing champion passed away in 2015 from injuries suffered in a training accident in Australia. Since Sam’s passing, Live Like Sam has specified a clear set of core principles (CARE) which support the following services: creating curriculum and an education platform with training modules, fostering a network of community service partnerships, as well as establishing funding for merit and need-based scholarships.

“I am really excited about U.S. Ski & Snowboard supporting LiveLikeSam.org,” said Julie Glusker, Director of Athlete Career and Education at U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “The mission of Live Like Sam parallels our own organizational mission, ‘to lead, encourage, and support athletes in achieving excellence by empowering national teams, clubs, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers, and fans.’”

“Our whole athlete development philosophy at the national team level must have a solid underpinning as young and developing athletes navigate their individual pathways, and Live Like Sam can provide a relevant, meaningful, principled foundation for this process,” added Glusker. “Steeping athlete progression in the Live Like Sam core principles of community, athletics, responsibility, and education (CARE) will ensure that developing athletes grow into capable, caring, and compassionate competitors. Athletes at all levels can appreciate, relate to, and benefit from the lessons of LiveLikeSam.org."

“U.S. Ski & Snowboard's whole athlete development model and mission will benefit from the meaningful foundation of Live Like Sam programs,” said Ron Jackenthal. “As young athletes individually develop in life and in sport, they will thrive athletically and emotionally from the LiveLikeSam.org mission and lessons. I see Live Like Sam as being highly complementary to a performance-based organization. We are focused on whole person development as well as whole athlete development and helping athletes build character on and off the podium. The U.S. Ski & Snowboard values of excellence, passion, integrity, community, team, grit, fun, and safety all align with and complement the Live Like Sam CARE principles.”

The partnership is a natural fit for both organizations as U.S. Ski & Snowboard will provide Live Like Sam a nationwide distribution platform from which to promote its mission, curriculum and philanthropy. Live Like Sam will provide U.S. Ski & Snowboard its curriculum based on CARE principles.

Live Like Sam, although relatively new, has already started making significant contributions to the winter sports community. Since 2017, the Sam Jackenthal Fund has raised more than $125,000 to support more 100 total awards. Additionally, in just a few months since expanding the organization, Live Like Sam brought on 25 community partners. Some of these partners include the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, Ski Utah, Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley, Woodward, USASA Big Mountain West, and Utah’s own Youth Sports Alliance, Park City Education Foundation, Christian Center of Park City, the Park City Community Foundation, and many more.

In classic Sam Jackenthal fashion, U.S. Ski & Snowboard and Live Like Sam will move forward together with a go-big-or-go-home approach as well as embracing Sam’s coined phrase and philosophy of “Just Jackenthal it!” in their commitment to sport and, more importantly, the community he loved.

“When I think about what Sam would want, I realize he wants us all to go out and live large, be there for others, and be integrated into the community,” said Jackenthal. “That thought has been a big inspiration for me through this loss - and I can now share Sam’s legacy!”

#JoinTheMovement and sign up at www.livelikesam.org and follow @LiveLikeSam.org on Facebook and Twitter as well as @Just.Jackenthal.It and #LiveLikeSam on Instagram. In addition, please consider donating and promoting Live Like Sam to your community and social media network.

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 2019, competing in seven teams; alpine, cross country, freeski, freestyle, snowboard, nordic combined and ski jumping. In addition to the 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.

About Live Like Sam
Live Like Sam wants every young athlete to be able to develop the confidence and utilize the tools necessary to excel in life – as an athlete and as a person. Fueled by the Sam Jackenthal Fund, Live Like Sam empowers the positive personal development of young athletes through educational programs and services, community-based partnerships, and merit and need-based scholarships. For more information, visit www.livelikesam.org.
 

Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wash.) finished 11th overall Sunday in the FIS Cross Country World Cup Finals mini-tour in Quebec City, Canada, following her 13th-place finish in the 10k pursuit. Two American’s skied to top-five finishes in the final stage with Simi Hamilton (Aspen, Co.) in third and Jessie Diggins (Afton, Minn.) in fourth.

“I was really happy with today, I maybe started out a little aggressive just trying to close the gap and paid for it on lap two,” said Bjornsen. “On the last lap...I was able to hold off the group behind. It is nice to end the season with a good race and complete the season close to the top 10.”

“That was a really fun way to end the season,” said Diggins, who finished 14th overall in the three-day event. “Skating is always so fun because you can go as hard as you want to go and it was really fun to have the tools I needed to be able to use what energy my body had. Very satisfying.”

Finishing her World Cup career at the Quebec City Finals was Ida Sargent (Craftsbury, Vt.).  “Today was really special to have so many people cheering my name and to have all my teammates in the finish area was just so amazing.”

The women’s overall was won by Stina Nilsson of Sweden, with Therese Johaug of Norway in second and Ingvild Flugstad Oetsberg, also of Norway, in third.

Erik Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wash.) was the top U.S. finisher 20th in the three-day mini tour.

“It was an interesting course with a little wind and relatively flat compares to some of the world cups, so it was important to be skiing with a group of guys,” said Bjornsen. “I could see there were some guys skiing fast from behind, so I knew time of day was not going to be great, so tried to play it tactically. My 20th today was my best tour finish, so it was pretty exciting way to finish the season.”

“It was really fun and fast skiing and my skis were awesome,” said Hamilton. “You never really know how a pursuit will go because so much of it depends on the people you are with.  With the wind today, it was so good to be in someone’s draft and starting in the front of my group I was guaranteed to be skiing with people.”

Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo was the overall winner, followed by local favorite Alex Harvey of Canada and Alexander Bloshunov of Russia in third.

The World Cup season is now over, but many athletes will head to the SuperTour Finals starting Friday in Presque Isle, Maine.

RESULTS
Men’s pursuit
Men’s Winner of the Day
Men’s Tour Final
Women’s pursuit
Women’s Winner of the Day
Women’s Tour Final