Kris Freeman ©Fischer USA

November 3, 2003 – The FIS Under-23 Championships, originally slotted for the 2002 Olympic trails at Soldier Hollow in the post-Olympic winter, will be there a year later. The 2003 championships are scheduled for Feb. 11-15 in Utah. The inaugural championships were shifted to Valdidentro, Italy last February in the week leading up to the 2003 World Championships in Val di Fiemme. American Kris Freeman jarred many when he calmly motored away from the field to win the opening men's race, the 30K classic, mass start by more than two minutes.

This season's U-23 lineup: – Feb. 11 – Freestyle, mass start: men's 30K, women's 15K – Feb. 12 – 1K skating sprints, men and women – Feb. 14 – Skiathlon: 2x5K for women, 2×7.5K for men – Feb. 15 – Freestyle, sprint relays: 6x1K for women, 10x1K for men

“Kris won't be back to defend his title,” said U.S. Nordic director Luke Bodensteiner, “but we'll have a strong team at Soldier Hollow. Andy Newell, for instance, is the top-ranked junior sprinter in the world, and he's got one thing on his mind, a sprint medal. And we're looking for some strong skiing from Kikkan Randall, who's an outstanding sprinter. And Leif Zimmerman and Lindsey Weier are two others who could start making their mark internationally.”

Bodensteiner said organizers were looking for Canada and more than a dozen other nations to participate in the championships, which are designed to serve as a “bridge” for young skiers beyond World Juniors and as they make their way into World Cup contention.

 “We're looking for good participation and outstanding ski races,” he said.