January 03, 2013 (Soldier Hollow, UT) – Here are some more great photos from the 2013 U.S. XC Ski Classic Sprint competitions at Soldier Hollow on January 2nd. Jennie Bender won the women’s crown, while Torin Koos snapped up the title in the men’s race. The 2013 U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships run Jan. 2, 4, 6 and 8. Day 1 report and results HERE.

January 10, 2012 (Rumford, Maine) – This year’s snowless winter isn’t getting the best of the cross country ski season – it’s in full force and Rudy Project athletes continue finishing ahead of the competition.  At the 2012 USSA Cross Country Skiing Championships this past Tuesday in Rumford, Maine, U.S. Olympic skier and Rudy Project sponsored athlete, Torin Koos, found himself at the top of the podium, winning the men’s freestyle 1.6km sprint. Winning the women’s 1.4km sprint was another Rudy Project athlete, Jessie Diggins.

The event at Black Mountain, originally scheduled for last Monday, was cancelled early that morning as a result of temperatures being too warm for snow making on the barren course.  However, as Mother Nature often does, within 24 hours, she chilled the 40-degree temperature to a frigid 15 degrees, cold enough to make snow for Tuesday’s competition.

In the men’s 1.6km sprint, Torin Koos was victorious, ahead of Blackhorse-von Jess in second, and Tyler Kornfield of the University of Alaska in third.  Koos crossed the finish line wearing his Rudy Project Ekynox SGV Mask, an older model that Koos has been swearing by for years.  “Most days, I’m usually rocking the Rudy Project Prestige Sunglasses. But on race days, I pull out the old school Ekynok SGV Mask with the double-layered racing red lens,” said Koos. “They are kind of like my lucky charm on race day,” he added.

While crossing the finish line in her Rudy Project pink fluo Noyz sunglasses, Jessie Diggins took the gold in the women’s 1.4km sprint.  Finishing second was Caitlin Gregg and Jennie Bender in third, all sporting their Rudy Project shades. “As an official supplier for USSA, Rudy Project is honored to see so many Rudys out there on the championship course,” remarked Paul Craig, President and Co-Founder of Rudy Project North America.  “We are especially thrilled to see so many top athletes crossing the finish line in Rudy’s fluo colors,” added Craig.

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October 04, 2011 (Fox River Grove, Il) – Read US Nordic Combined National Champion Bill Demong’s blog report from the 2012 US National Nordic Combined Championships hosted by Norge Nordic Ski Club last weekend  in Fox River Grove, Illinois HERE.

December 23, 2010 (Rumford, ME) – Although Mother Nature has been stingy with natural snow, the Chisholm Ski Club is still set to hold the 2011 U.S. Ski Championships in Rumford, Maine, Jan. 2-8. Organizers report that snow making weather has been great. Snow has been stock piled in the new stadium and in areas out in the open and snowmakers are now moving out on the trails – “…all guns are pointing to Nordic.”

Black Mountain has been getting a couple of inches a day of natural and it’s adding up. “They have limited snow on the ground, but they do have the capacity to make 5km of trails with a highly effective snow-making system. The 10-day outlook looks favorable to keep those snow guns running right up until official training for Jan 2, the first race,” said John Farra, USSA Nordic Program Director.

The weather forecast calls for more snow and cold weather. Plans are coming together and everyone is looking forward to great racing.

Register HERE.

USSA Release – Rumford Ready for U.S. Champs

RUMFORD, ME (Dec. 23) – World Cup regulars will align to kick off 2011 with the U.S. Cross Country Championships in Rumford, Jan. 2-8. The U.S. Ski Team headliners will include returning U.S. Champion Simi Hamilton (Aspen, CO) as well as Liz Stephen (East Montpellier, VT) and Morgan Arritola (Fairfield, ID), who are coming off their best World Cup finishes, and Noah Hoffman (Aspen, CO).The event includes two sprint and two distance races.

Officials expect good sow conditions for the races beginning just after New Years.

“We certainly do have snow at the venue! The weather is predicted to be favorable for making and keeping snow, with additional natural accumulation also expected,” said Roger Arsenault, Organizing Committee Chairman. “We’re looking forward to hosting the Championships and having everyone here in Rumford. As Chummy would say, we’re going to have a great race!”

Black Mountain of Maine has made several changes since last hosting the Championships in 2004, including widening the trails and expanding the stadium to accommodate the growth of the sport as well as to meet the USSA and FIS regulations. The snow making system has also been expanded over the years to cover up to 5k of the trail network, providing a great insurance policy for an early January event like this in the Northeast.

“The Chisholm Ski Club is very excited to play host to the 2011 U.S. Cross Country Championships at Black Mountain of Maine. We last hosted this event in 2004 when the field exploded to over 500 racers,” said Arsenault.

The field will be stacked with 2010 two-time U.S. Champion Hamilton, Stephen, Arritola and Hoffman leading the charge as they vie for U.S. Championship titles. Also looking to take top podium spots are USSA SuperTour leaders Lars Flora (Anchorage) and Holly Brooks (Anchorage) who have been posting strong results in the USSA SuperTour and Canadian NorAm circuits this fall.

In addition to the titles on the line, the Championships will act as the official trials for the Junior and U-23 Cross Country World Ski Championship teams, as well as the Junior Scandinavian Championships trip where athletes 17 and younger are eligible to compete.

Not only is this the one chance to win a 2011 U.S. Championship title, but it is also the final USSA National Ranking List races to be scored before the 2011 Nordic World Ski Championships team selection. The 2011 Nordic World Ski Championships will be held in Olso, Norway Feb. 23 – March 6.

The Chisholm Ski Club, originating in the 1920s, has been host to many national competitions including U.S. Championships, NCAA and USCSA Championships, 1950 Nordic World Ski Championships as well as the 1952 Olympic Trials. The 2011 U.S. Cross Country Championships marks the fourth time that the Chisholm Ski Club will host the event. The Club has also committed to holding the event in 2012.

The Championship series will kick off Sunday, Jan. 2 with the men’s and women’s 1k classic sprint race.

Registration for the 2011 U.S. Cross Country Championships closes Dec. 29th with late fees applicable after Dec. 26th. More information about the 2011 U.S. Cross Country Championships is available HERE.

Fans can also follow the event on the U.S. Cross Country Championships Facebook fan page HERE.

2011 U.S. Cross Country Championships Schedule
Rumford, ME

– Sun., Jan. 2 Men’s and women’s1k classic sprint
– Tues., Jan. 4 Men’s 15k and women’s 10k classic
– Thurs., Jan. 6 Men’s 30k and women’s 20k mass start freestyle
– Sat., Jan. 8 Men’s and women’s sprint 1k freestyle