Cross Country World Cup Criteria
World Cup Discretionary Nomination Selection Dates 2025-26
Dear Cross Country Community,
You can find all finalized selection criteria for the 2025-26 World Cup, the 2026 Olympic WinterGames, the 2026 World Junior and U23 World Champs, and the U18 Nordic Nations Championships here:
https://usskiandsnowboard.org/sport-programs/criteria
As always, please feel free to reach out if you have questions.
Chris Grover
Cross Country Program Director
chris.grover@usskiandsnowboard.org
(435) 640-8545
We are pleased to announce the XC Team for Period 1 of the 2025-26 World Cup season:
Ruka, FIN 10 km C
Men
-
John Hagenbuch Objective 24-25 Overall SuperTour Leader
- Gus Schumacher Objective 14th Distance World Cup 24-25
- Ben Ogden Objective 22nd Distance World Cup 24-25
- Zanden McMullen Objective 35th Distance World Cup 24-25
- Luke Jager Discretion 21st Les Rousses 20 km C
- JC Schoonmaker Discretion 23rd Falun 10 km C
- Zak Ketterson Discretion 27th Trondheim WSC 10 km C
- Kevin Bolger Alternate 22nd Trondheim WSC 50 km F
Women
- Kate Oldham Objective 24-25 Overall SuperTour Leader
- Jessie Diggins Objective 24-25 Overall World Cup Winner
- Sophia Laukli Objective 18th Distance World Cup 24-25
- Julia Kern Objective 27th Distance World Cup 24-25
- Rosie Brennan Objective 30th Distance World Cup 24-25
- Sydney Palmer-Leger Discretion 28th Davos 20 km C
- Kendall Kramer Discretion 18th Cogne 10 km F
- Lucy Anderson Discretion 22nd Les Rousses 10 km F
- Alayna Sonnesyn Alternate 25th Falun 20 km F
Ruka, FIN Sprint C & Trondheim, NOR Sprint C
Men
- John Hagenbuch Objective 24-25 Overall SuperTour Leader
- Ben Ogden Objective 7th Sprint World Cup 24-25
- JC Schoonmaker Objective 13th Sprint World Cup 24-25
- Gus Schumacher Objective 30th Sprint World Cup 24-25
- Jack Young Objective 31st Sprint World Cup 24-25
- Kevin Bolger Discretion 19th Falun Sprint C
- Zak Ketterson Discretion 21st Les Rousses Sprint C
- Zanden McMullen Alternate 22nd Val di Fiemme Sprint C
- Murphy Kimball Alternate 28th Falun Sprint C
Women
- Kate Oldham Objective 24-25 Overall SuperTour Leader
- Jessie Diggins Objective 24-25 Overall World Cup Winner
- Julia Kern Objective 16th Sprint World Cup 24-25
- Rosie Brennan Discretion 16th Ruka Sprint C
- Sammy Smith Discretion 30th Falun Sprint C
- Alayna Sonnesyn Discretion 19th Toblach Sprint F
- Lauren Jortberg Discretion 28th Engadin Sprint F
- Lucy Anderson Discretion 29th Engadin Sprint F
- Erin Bianco Alternate 33rd Falun Sprint C
Ruka, FIN 20 km F, Trondheim, NOR 10 km F, & Davos, SUI 10 km F
Men
- John Hagenbuch Objective 24-25 Overall SuperTour Leader
- Gus Schumacher Objective 14th Distance World Cup 24-25
- Ben Ogden Objective 22nd Distance World Cup 24-25
- Zanden McMullen Objective 35th Distance World Cup 24-25
- Kevin Bolger Discretion 22nd Trondheim WSC 50 km F
- Zak Ketterson Discretion 30th Engadin 20 km F
- Luke Jager Discretion 21st Les Rousses 20 km C
- JC Schoonmaker Alternate 23rd Falun 10 km C
Women
- Kate Oldham Objective 24-25 Overall SuperTour Leader
- Jessie Diggins Objective 24-25 Overall World Cup Winner
- Sophia Laukli Objective 18th Distance World Cup 24-25
- Julia Kern Objective 27th Distance World Cup 24-25
- Rosie Brennan Objective 30th Distance World Cup 24-25
- Kendall Kramer Discretion 18th Cogne 10 km F
- Lucy Anderson Discretion 22nd Les Rousses 10 km F
- Alayna Sonnesyn Discretion 25th Falun 20 km F
- Sydney Palmer-Leger Alternate 26th Falun 20 km F
Trondheim, NOR 20 km Skiathlon
Men
- John Hagenbuch Objective 24-25 Overall SuperTour Leader
- Gus Schumacher Objective 14th Distance World Cup 24-25
- Ben Ogden Objective 22nd Distance World Cup 24-25
- Zanden McMullen Objective 35th Distance World Cup 24-25
- Luke Jager Discretion 21st Les Rousses 20 km C
- Kevin Bolger Discretion 22nd Trondheim WSC 50 km F
- JC Schoonmaker Discretion 23rd Falun 10 km C
- Zak Ketterson Alternate 27th Trondheim WSC 10 km C
Women
- Kate Oldham Objective 24-25 Overall SuperTour Leader
- Jessie Diggins Objective 24-25 Overall World Cup Winner
- Sophia Laukli Objective 18th Distance World Cup 24-25
- Julia Kern Objective 27th Distance World Cup 24-25
- Rosie Brennan Objective 30th Distance World Cup 24-25
- Kendall Kramer Discretion 18th Cogne 10 km F
- Lucy Anderson Discretion 22nd Les Rousses 10 km F
- Alayna Sonnesyn Discretion 25th Falun 20 km F
- Sydney Palmer-Leger Alternate 26th Falun 20 km F
Davos, SUI Sprint F
Men
- John Hagenbuch Objective 24-25 Overall SuperTour Leader
- Ben Ogden Objective 7th Sprint World Cup 24-25
- JC Schoonmaker Objective 13th Sprint World Cup 24-25
- Gus Schumacher Objective 30th Sprint World Cup 24-25
- Jack Young Objective 31st Sprint World Cup 24-25
- Kevin Bolger Discretion 20th Lahti Sprint F
- Zak Ketterson Discretion 21st Les Rousses Sprint C
- Zanden McMullen Alternate 22nd Val di Fiemme Sprint C
Women
- Kate Oldham Objective 24-25 Overall SuperTour Leader
- Jessie Diggins Objective 24-25 Overall World Cup Winner
- Julia Kern Objective 16th Sprint World Cup 24-25
- Rosie Brennan Discretion 18th Davos Sprint F
- Alayna Sonnesyn Discretion 19th Toblach Sprint F
- Sammy Smith Discretion 25th Lahti Sprint F
- Lauren Jortberg Discretion 28th Engadin Sprint F
- Luci Anderson Discretion 29th Engadin Sprint F
- Erin Bianco Alternate 33rd Falun Sprint C
The above discretionary selections were nominated by a 15-person working group that included:
- James Southam Athlete Rep.
- Ida Sargent Athlete Rep.
- Perry Thomas Mansfield Pro Nordic Team
- Andy Newell Bridger Ski Foundation
- Eliška Albrigtsen University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Erik Flora Alaska Pacific University
- Chad Salmela Team Birkie
- Peter Holmes SVSEF Gold Team
- Pepa Miloucheva Craftsbury GRP
- Colin Rodgers SMS T2
- Sophie Caldwell Hamilton Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Clu
- Kristen Bourne U.S. Ski Team
- Jason Cork U.S. Ski Team
- Matt Whitcomb U.S. Ski Team
- Chris Grover U.S. Ski Team
The nominations were then approved by a discretionary selection review group comprised of:
- Tyler Kornfield U.S. Ski & Snowboard Athlete Rep
- Anouk Patty U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief of Sport
- Bryan Fish U.S. Ski & Snowboard Development Director
World Cup Discretionary Nomination Selection Dates 2025-26
The World Cup Coaches’ Discretion Working Group will nominate athletes to World Cup Periods 1-4 on the following dates:
- World Cup Period 1 – FIN, NOR, SUI (Nov. 28 – Dec. 14, 2025)
- Selection date: Wednesday, June 25, 2025
- World Cup Period 2 – Tour de Ski (Dec. 28, 2025 – Jan. 4, 2026)
- Selection date: Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025
- World Cup Period 3 – GER, SUI, (Jan. 17-25, 2026)
- Selection date: Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026
- World Cup Period 4 – SWE, FIN, NOR (Feb. 28 – Mar. 15, 2026)
- Selection date: Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026
- World Cup Period 4 – Lake Placid, USA (see World Cup 25-26 Selection Criterion)
As always, please feel free to reach out if you have questions.
Chris Grover
Cross Country Program Director
chris.grover@usskiandsnowboard.org
(435) 640-8545
World Cup Discretionary Selection Working Group, 2025-26 Season
1) James Southam // Athlete Rep
2) Ida Sargent // Athlete Rep
3) Perry Thomas // Mansfield Nordic Club
4) Chad Salmela // Team Birkie
5) Andy Newell // Bridger Ski Foundation
6) Erik Flora // Alaska Pacific University
7) Pepa Miloucheva // Craftsbury GRP
8) Colin Rodgers // SMS T2
9) Peter Holmes // SVSEF Gold Team
10) Sophie Caldwell // Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club
11) Eliška Albrigtsen // University of Alaska Fairbanks
12) Chris Grover // Stifel U.S. Ski Team
13) Matt Whitcomb // Stifel U.S. Ski Team
14) Jason Cork // Stifel U.S. Ski Team
15) Kristen Bourne // Stifel U.S. Ski Team