January 06, 2017 (Soldier Hollow, Utah) – Racers from across North America, totalling an estimated at 600 athletes, are gearing up for 2017 L.L.Bean U.S. Cross Country Championships in Soldier Hollow kicking off January 7th at the Olympic venue near Park City, Utah. Races begin with a 10/15km Freestyle Individual Start tomorrow. After a week of steady snowfall that shut down several Utah highways, the races are set to go at 10am tomorrow morning, with more precipitation predicted.

“There’s one with a substantial 4-minute climb that we’ve never raced,” said Caitlin Gregg of Team Gregg, FIS Nordic World Championship bronze medalist from Falun 2015, “I’m a little sad because I loved the 5km Olympic course, but it is a real tough course and it is something we’ve never raced” Gregg said she is 100% focused on qualifying for the 30km Freestyle race at World Championships this year, something she has yet to do due to lackluster results earlier this season, where she finished 4th and 5th in the two distance races.

This year’s US Nationals weigh heavily towards Nordic World selections, though the ultimate decisions rests with the US Ski Team coaches. And they are also pivotal for Canadians’ qualification, and Canadian teams are out en force. “Everybody’s here,” said Reese Hanneman of APU Nordic Ski Center, who recently bested all of his North American competitors in the Silverstar NorAm/Supertour classic sprint, “I feel like I see more Canadians skiing around than Americans. It’s the biggest week of the year.”

Many racers were baffled by the man-made snow piles scattered throughout the trails as of yesterday, (Thursday, Jan 5), and the lack of announcements by race organizers about the race courses. “We are just guessing what the distance courses will be,” said 2002 Olympian Kris Freeman, “My first Olympics were here in 2002 and a there’s a strong rumor that we are racing the Olympic course. I hope that’s the case.”

While racers will ski a new 2.5km loop for the 10/15km tomorrow, there is still no official word on the 20/30km race course. Freeman, always a strong contender at both distance races despite a slow start to the season, said he is also focusing on the two distance events. “I’ve never been a sprinter, and it’s getting harder and harder to do all the disciplines,” he said, “I don’t have anything to gain from sprinting here.”

For others, sprint competitions will be the focus, this time with a twist: the second sprint is just a qualifier without any heats. Organizers stated that they were already pressed logistically to hold all of the races with the preparations for World Junior and U23 Championships later in January.

“Its too bad it’s not a full sprint but I understand. It serves the same purpose which is a high pressure sprint,” said Reese Hanneman. Hanneman picked out the usual players, Dakota Blackhorse-Von Jess from Bend Endurance Academy, teammate Eric Packer, and newly graduated Cole Morgan, who is now racing competitively for Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation.

The sprint also will be hosted on a new course, using the old Olympic stadium. Last time Nationals were hosted at Soldier Hollow, the classic sprint course was changed at the last minute to prevent skiers from double poling the course. This year, the course includes some new climbs. “It looks to me like the hardest sprint course in the US,” said Hanneman, “It’s either up or down. First three quarters is striding. It took me 5:40 yesterday level 3, so hopefully it will be a little faster than that but it’s hard.”

Races begin at 10am local time (12 noon EST) Jan 7 – schedule below
Results can be found here.

2017 L.L.Bean U.S. Cross Country Championships Schedule

Saturday, January 7th
– 10K Freestyle Women
– 15K Freestyle Men

Sunday, January 8th
– Men and Women’s Classic Sprint

Tuesday, January 10th
– Men’s 30K Mass Classic
– Women’s 20K Mass Classic
– Junior Men’s 10K Mass
– Junior Women’s 5K Mass

Thursday, January 12th
– Men and Women’s Freestyle Sprint