January 2, 2009 (Anchorage, AK) – For many the turning of the new year marks a time for celebration, reflection, and resolution. For the best XC skiers in the USA it means time go get their “race face” on as each year the US National XC Championships takes place in the first week of January. This year the Championships take place in Anchorage, Alaska at Kincaid Park from January 3-8. Close to 500 athletes will race in the week-long event and the action kicks off on Saturday, Jan. 3 with the 1km Classic Sprints. Anchorage will host the event again in 2010, where the championships will take on the added title of “Olympic Trials”.

The Anchorage bowl has been treated to outstanding snow so far this winter but during this past week the race site has been in a deep freeze and bitter temperatures could threaten the first day’s race. However, the long range forecast predicts a warming trend that should make racing much more enjoyable as the week progresses.

“Anchorage is a great place to hold the U.S. Championships, it has a terrific Nordic culture, and has been a successful host of cross country events for decades, ” said U.S. Nordic Director John Farra. “Home to many great cross-country skiers as well as a training ground for all, a city like Anchorage will be an incredible host for this event.”

Top world cup skiers Kris Freeman, Kikkan Randall and Chris Cook will be on hand, as well as adaptive cross-country ski athletes such as Paralympian Monica Bascio, Greg Mallory and Sean Halsted (Ephrata, WA). Notable absentees from this year’s US XC Nationals are US sprint stars Andy Newell and Torin Koos. Both are fresh off their recent 4th place World Cup team sprint results in Dusseldorf, Germany on Dec. 21 and have opted to stay home and train through this period to get ready for the second half of the World Cup schedule.

Randall an Anchorage local is happy to have the opportunity to race at home. “I’m super excited to be competing in the National Championships here at home. Not only is it great to be able to sleep in my own bed, but it’s a real pleasure to be able to race on familiar trails in front of hometown fans,” states Randall. “I am looking forward to the two sprint races. Kincaid has added a new sprint course since I last competed there and I’m excited to see how the course skis. The distance races will also be a good challenge.”

2009 US National XC Championships Schedule of Events
– Jan. 3 – 1km Classic Sprints
– Jan. 5 – 10km/15km Interval Start – Skate
– Jan. 7 – 5km/10km Interval Start – Classic
– Jan. 8 – 1km Skate Sprints