The cross country ski season has officially wrapped and the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team is celebrating the most successful season in history. 

Looking back at the first World Cup of the season in Ruka, Finland, Rosie Brennan was on the podium twice, alongside teammate Jessie Diggins. The season was clearly off to a strong start, but if you were to tell the 20+ athletes and coaching staff that they were on the way to their most successful season in history, well, they likely already knew. 

This season, there were no World Championships and Olympics, but there was one race that felt like the two of them combined - the Stifel Loppet Cup in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Head Coach Matt Whitcomb, in an interview with FasterSkier, remarked, "We often talk about athletes peaking for big events, but I'd never considered that our American ski culture could peak for an event." This was the first time in over 23 years that a World Cup cross country event have been held in the United States and was the first time that the U.S. athletes would get the opportunity to race a World Cup on home snow. 

Jumping into the season, with 15 World Cups and over 35 races, the Stifel U.S. Ski Team achieved remarkable success: 22 World Cup podiums, spanning 38 races with six different athletes on the podium, an overall FIS Crystal Globe, a distance Globe, fourth place in the Nations Cup, third place in the U23 Rookie of the Year category, numerous first World Cup starts, and career-best results nearly every race.

Breaking down the numbers:

• 40 American athletes started a World Cup, with six standing on the podium.
• Jessie Diggins secured the FIS Overall Crystal Globe and distance globe for the second time in her career, boasting 12 podiums and six victories in a single season, setting a record for most wins in a single American season.
• Jessie Diggins won the Tour de Ski for the second time in her career. 
• Gus Schumacher achieved the first distance victory by a U.S. male in 43 years, dating back to the Bill Koch era, with his win in the 10k skate in Minneapolis.
• JC Schoonmaker earned his career-first podium in the Östersund World Cup classic sprint, becoming the first U.S. man in seven years to reach the podium.
• Ben Ogden clinched his first podium during the Tour de Ski, securing third place in the Toblach World Cup skate sprint.
• Rosie Brennan secured five individual podiums, including two in one weekend in Ruka, Finland.
• Sophia Laukli claimed her first World Cup win and second podium, dominating the Alpe Cermis hill climb on the final stage of the Tour de Ski.
• Zanden McMullen achieved several career-best races, finishing the season ranked third in the world for men under 23.
• Sammy Smith won a silver medal at the Junior World Championships in Planica, Slovenia, becoming the first American to win a sprint medal at this event.
• John Steel Hagenbuch earned a sprint bronze medal at the U23 World Championships.
• Haley Brewster secured second place in the U23s 20k skate race.

While the points above are highlights, the 2023-24 season was bright beyond podium finishes and top 10 rankings. The Stifel Loppet Cup in Minneapolis showcased the vibrant culture of cross-country skiing in America and offered a glimpse into the future. With approximately 40,000 fans attending the Saturday and Sunday races, the world took notice of the event. Statements like "I couldn't hear myself breathe it was so loud," "This is what all World Cups should look like," and "Magic in Minneapolis" echoed from the world's best athletes as they visited the U.S. for the first World Cup in over 23 years. Then, to have six different athletes on the podium throughout the season, met by the first World Cup starts from several young Americans to career-best results at nearly every race, the Stifel U.S. Ski Team showed that they are the team to beat. 

As the season drew to a close, it became evident that the 23 athletes making up the roster had raised the bar for what is achievable in American skiing and as athletes return to training, the 2024-25 season has already begun, with the door wide open for what can happen next. 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced their full support for Dexter Paine in his candidacy for the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) Council. 

As a visionary leader with a deep commitment to skiing and snowboarding and its athletes, Paine has been involved in governance at both the national and international levels for decades. He served as a member of the FIS Council Executive Committee from 2014-22 and has acted as an ex-officio honorary member from 2022 to the present. Throughout his time with FIS, Paine focused on transparency, communication and inclusivity, including championing for female representation on the Council, longer terms for athlete representatives and the inclusivity of Paralympic sports. 

Paine currently serves as a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Board of Directors (2021-present), is on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation Board (2002-24) and is actively involved in the Salt Lake City 2034 Olympic Winter Games bid. Previously, Paine was Chairman of the Board of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Board of Directors (2006-19) and was on U.S. Biathlon’s Board of Directors (2020-24). He has extensive experience in event delivery as an Executive Committee member of the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail/Beaver Creek, Colorado and the 2019 Freestyle, Freeski & Snowboard World Championships in Park City, Utah. 

Paine is the chairman at Paine Schwartz Partners and has more than 25 years of investment experience and 35 years in the private equity industry. In addition to his professional achievements, Paine is widely respected for his integrity, vision and dedication to the sport. His collaborative approach and strategic mindset have positioned him as a trusted leader within the skiing and snowboarding community.

The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Board of Directors firmly believes that Paine’s extensive experience and unwavering passion make him the ideal person to represent the interests of athletes and federations worldwide, unanimously putting forward his candidacy. 

"Dexter Paine's dedication to the advancement of skiing and snowboarding is unparalleled,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President & CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “His leadership has consistently propelled our sports forward, and we know he will bring that same level of commitment and expertise to the FIS Council. We are proud to endorse Dexter and are confident in his ability to advocate effectively for the interests of athletes and federations around the world."

Gene Sykes, Chairman of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, also voiced his support. "As an organization committed to supporting American athletes on the global stage, we recognize the importance of strong leadership within international federations,” said Sykes.
“Dexter’s proven track record of leadership and advocacy aligns perfectly with the values of the Olympic movement. We fully endorse Dexter's candidacy for the FIS Council and believe he will be an outstanding representative for skiing and snowboarding on the international level."

Olympic champion Kikkan Randall, who has served on the IOC Board, USOPC Board and FIS Council, echoed the sentiments: “Dexter has been an incredible leader and advocate for skiing and snowboarding across all levels. He understands the complex needs of all stakeholders and has always championed the athletes' voices in the process. He brings a wealth of experience, tremendous passion and dedication to making sport fair, safe and positioned for growth. Dexter is well respected across the sports universe and has been an excellent collaborator between organizations. I am proud to endorse Dexter’s candidacy.”

The election for the FIS Council takes place at FIS Congress on June 5, 2024. 

Duluth, Minnesota welcomed the top cross country athletes to a five-day, four-race series for the 2023-24 SuperTour finals and U.S. National Championships. Today, March 26th, the athletes skied the season's final race, with a challenging 40k skate, which saw Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete John Steel Hagenbuch take home another National Championship title for the men and Novie McCabe for the women. 

After a season that started nearly six months ago in November of 2023, U.S. athletes traveled around the world, taking part in World Cups, Junior World Championships, U23 World Championships, Youth Olympic Games, National Championships, SuperTours. With a historic season in the World Cup, top results at U23s and Junior World Champs, first-ever medals at Youth Olympic Games, and more, the U.S. cross country ski community put on quite a show. 

For the races in Duluth, the spring series wrapped up with four races, including a 10k classic, classic sprint, team sprint and 40k mass start skate race. The 10k classic was a SuperTour race, with the last three races categorized under the National Championship banner. 

McCabe Wins 10k Classic SuperTour Final, Hagenbuch Second

For the first race of the series, a 10k individual classic race was on the agenda. Duluth's Grand Avenue Nordic Center pulled it off despite warm weather and limited snow. With women racing first, McCabe, who just returned from the World Cup Finals in Falun, Sweden just a day earlier, won the race, with freshly-minted NCAA Champion Sydney Palmer-Leger in second. Erin Bianco of Bridger Ski Foundation was third. 

For the men, Canada's Antoine Cyr took home the victory but it was NCAA Champion and Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete Steel Hagenbuch of Dartmouth University who took the first American spot, placing second. Zanden McMullen was ultimately third. 

McCabe, Schoonmaker National Champions in Classic Sprint

On Saturday, March 23, the classic sprint showcased a 1.4k course, wrapping around two technical climbs into a steep descent into the stadium testing even the best skiers with the amount of doublepoling. From qualifiers to heats to finals, McCabe was the ultimate winner, taking home her second victory of the week, now with a sprint title, followed by Bridger Ski Foundation's Bianco in second and Alaska Pacific University's (APU) Renae Anderson in third. 

For the men, JC Schoonmaker, one of the World Cup's best sprinters, was victorious, with teammate and Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete McMullen in second. Cyr of the Canadian National Team was third.

National Champ Team Sprint Debuts in Duluth

A race format not typically seen on the domestic race circuit made a surprise appearance in Duluth, with a team sprint for both men and women. In the men's field, 15 teams of two athletes each took to the start line. On a long-working, technical course, athletes had to come together and compete not individually, but as a team. In the end, U.S. national team athletes Schoonmaker and McMullen teamed up to bring home a victory for APU with the other Alaskan duo, Michael Earnhart and Luke Jager coming across the line just two seconds behind for second place. Thunder Bay's team, including Cyr and Julian Smith, rounded out the podium in third. 

For the women, strategy was key. From the gun, it was all between staying relaxed but attacking the hills and saving enough for the finish. It was a clear contest between APU and Stratton Mountain School (SMS) club teams. The SMS duo of Alayna Sonnesyn and Lauren Jortberg were the ultimate winners, crossing the line ten seconds ahead of Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete and APU athletes McCabe and Anderson in second. Craftbury's ski club with Alex Lawson and Margie Freed were third. 

National Champs Wraps With 40k Skate; Steel-Hagenbuch, McCabe Claim Another National Title 

Conditions were not ideal for the final race of the season. With heavy snow, cold temperatures, strong wind, and 10 laps of a course in front of them, it was anyone's game for the 40k skate mass start. 

Winning by over two minutes McCabe just wrapped up one of her most successful seasons. With top results on the World Cup circuit, including her best result outside of the Tour de Ski with an 11th place in Falun, Sweden just a week ago, the Alaskan racer claimed her fourth National Championship title and second of the week. This is McCabe's third victory and second National Championship title of the week. In the women's field, Palmer-Leger rounded out the Stifel U.S. Ski Team with second place. Mariah Bredal of Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation took the final podium position in third. 

For Steel Hagenbuch, the sentiment is similar. With a season that included five wins, through SuperTours, National Championships, and a marquee win at the 2024 NCAA Championships, the Dartmouth skier is capping off an impressive season, including winning the final race of the season, the 40k skate. Jake Brown of Craftsbury and Ariens Nordic Center was second and Cyr rounded out a successful series in Duluth in third. 

With the culmination of the 40k, the cross country season has officially wrapped and the athletes deserve some well-deserved rest. 

RESULTS
Men's Races

• 10k classic
• Classic sprint 
• Team Sprint
• 40k Skate

Women's Races

• 10k classic
• Classic sprint 
• Team Sprint
• 40k Skate

Scott Patterson, an Alaskan native, of the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team, has officially announced his retirement from World Cup ski racing, following a successful career, including two Winter Olympic Games, three World Championship teams, and 116 World Cup starts.

Patterson grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and first made the team seven years ago – in 2018 – making his World Cup debut in Nova Mesto, Czech Republic. Patterson does it all – he’s a professional ski racer, professional mechanical engineer, and one of the most dominant distance skiers the Stifel U.S. Ski Team has ever seen.

“Scott has been the linchpin of our American men’s distance team for the last two Olympic cycles,” said Chris Grover, Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team program director. “He’s been the guy we look to in a Championship 30k or 50k, and he has consistently delivered. Scott’s ability to build momentum in fitness and performance through the season and be healthy and ready to deliver results at the big races has always been impressive. Beyond the performances, Scott has been a model of quiet leadership on the team, demonstrating daily his professionalism and determined approach to training, recovery, and balancing athletics with a career. Scott is a great athlete and an incredible human being. Although he will be sorely missed on the World Cup tour, something tells me we’ll still be getting passed by him regularly on the mountain trails and the ski tracks.”

Looking back at Patterson’s career, you’d see 116 World Cup starts, two Winter Olympic Games, two World Championships, two degrees in mechanical engineering and mathematics, and a whole lot of life experience. He’s had 12 SuperTour victories, six U.S. National Championships titles, four top 10s at three different World Championships, 11 top 10s in the World Cup, and was part of the mixed relay team that brought home the first mixed relay victory in history back in 2022. Onto the Winter Olympic Games, where the stage could not be higher, he took home two top 10 results at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, marking the best U.S. men’s cross-country result in over 50 years. Though Patterson may be quiet and not boast his achievements, his presence on the team over the years and the success and pride he has brought to the Stifel U.S. Ski Team are remarkable.

Outside of the results, Patterson made an impact on this team because of the person he is. Injuries, illness - he always made it to the other side with composure and compassion. He was always the one who knew every single trail the team could run, the ski tracks outside of the venue - you wanted an adventure in a small European town? You’d ask Scott. He found balance in a lifestyle where balance is often difficult to find. 

“Scott is retiring having been one of the best American distance skiers we’ve ever had,” said Kristen Bourne, Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team D team coach. “Not only has he had success at the highest level of the sport, but he’s also been a pivotal role model for the athletes on the team. Scott is one of the most determined and diligent people I’ve ever met. He will be the guy who finishes a 50k race and almost always wishes it were longer. He loves the grind and the hard challenges that come with it. We’re going to miss having Scott on the road, but we know his success outside of skiing has already started and will continue for many years to come.”

Patterson shared his reflections in a Q&A about how he views his career, things he learned and what's next. 

Q: What are you most proud of?

Scott: Some results stand out over my career, but looking back, there are also trends that define my ski career. I’m proud of the resilience that I displayed through several tough years of injury and illness, returning stronger than I was before. I’m proud of my training progressing through the years with continued result improvement and some of the most successful peak performances of any US athlete for the championship events. Through all this, I’m also proud of the balanced lifestyle I maintained, finding success on the World Cup while also developing as an engineer, getting my professional engineering license, and enjoying adventures in Alaska.

Q: What was the biggest thing you learned about yourself after racing at the sport’s highest level?

Scott: Over my career of racing on the World Cup, there has been a lot of time to see what is important to me. It’s also been a lesson in making the most of very different situations. The summer training period and four months on the road in Europe pose very different challenges to minimizing stress or staying engaged. I’ve learned that finding little adventures in daily life, challenging myself in new ways, and having some sort of intellectual stimulation are all very important. I’ve also learned many things that I don’t need and will try to avoid, but those can stay unnamed.

Q: What is one thing that you will miss the most?

Scott: One of the great things that ski racing has provided is a directed purpose towards a singular event. In training, there are clear goals, and races to be focused on, and so much lead up to being at one’s very best at a particular time on a particular day. That doesn’t just apply to me as an athlete, but the whole support team. There are opportunities for this in other aspects of life, but skiing has provided such a clear example that I will miss.

Q: What is one piece of advice that you’d like to leave for your teammates and all athletes coming up the pipeline?

Scott: One of the key things that has defined my career is balancing other activities. Ever since college, I have been working an engineering job. This balance significantly extended the longevity of my ski racing career and made it feel that I was being productive outside of just ski racing. My advice to teammates or all athletes would be to find your own balance. It doesn’t have to be engineering, but having something else in daily life that challenges and stimulates oneself is so important. This makes the days when results are coming or training seems to be going poorly easier to bear. Sport is important, but don’t let sport and success in sport fully define who you are.

Q: What was your favorite activity on the road outside of racing?

Scott: Outside of racing, my favorite activity on the road was finding little ways to fit some adventure into or between training sessions. Many times this would just be slight exploratory runs around a new road or an occasional sledding trip, but the adventure skis stand out. I’d generally try to ski all the Nordic trails in the area or even venture beyond. A memorable adventure ski was in 2021 in Davos while we were preparing for the World Championships. A group of us ran partway up one of the alpine mountains and found an easy run to ski several thousand feet down into a different town where we had a van pickup. The combined absurdity of running.

The Sitfel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team closed out the season in style in Falun, Sweden, with Jessie Diggins winning the 20k skate to secure the overall and distance Crystal Globe. Rosie Brennan, Novie McCabe, Gus Schumacher and Scott Patterson all scored top-15 results.

Brennan secured 10th place on the sunny course—another top result for the veteran on the team. Brennan finished seventh overall in the season, as well as seventh in distance and 10th in sprint. She had also found the podium last weekend, a triumph after a difficult season of ups and downs.

Three-time NCAA champion and 2022 Olympian McCabe snagged her second best result in her career with an 11th. McCabe’s previous best result came at the Tour de Ski hill climb two seasons prior, when she was seventh. 

Sophia Laukli and Sydney Palmer-Leger also had top finishes. Laukli was 17th, finishing out the best season in her career that included a World Cup win in Val di Fiemme, Italy and five top 10 finishes. Palmer-Leger, who recently won her third career individual NCAA title, was 23rd—her best career World Cup finish. 

Rounding out the women, Haley Brewster was 32nd—an impressive result for the World Cup rookie who made her first start in Minneapolis a few weeks prior. Julia Kern did not finish.

On the men’s side, Schumacher skated to 12th place, capping off his best season to date. Distance skier maestro Patterson was 15th. Zanden McMullen was 27th. Outside of the top 30, Kevin Bolger finished 44th, Zak Ketterson 45th, Peter Wolter 60th and Michael Earnhart 79th. 

The cross country World Cup season is officially wrapped, with the teams heading back to the states for national championships and some much-deserved rest. 

RESULTS
Women
Men

In a season marked with historic results, moments and victories, Diggins won the last race of the season in Falun, Sweden to take home the overall and distance FIS Cross Country World Cup Crystal Globes, cementing herself as the world’s most dominant cross country skier in the world in the 2023-24 season.

Coming into the final race of the season with only a 75 point lead for the overall Globe over Sweden’s Linn Svahn, Diggins stepped on the gas to win the 20k skate and secure the overall Crystal Globe. It was Diggins’ six individual win in the 2023-24 season, the most races an American has ever won in a single cross country season.

The 2023-24 season has been historic. But before it began, she had an openly challenging summer. This fall, the most decorated American cross country skier in history spoke candidly on a subject often taboo in many sports: her mental health. Before the season began, her eating disorder resurfaced after more than 12 years of recovery. Going into the season, she was unsure if she would even race or what the future of her career held. “Race by race, day by day” became her season mantra. She never shared her goals, but just focused on getting to the start line with a smile and focusing on what she could control. 

"My only goal was to have the most fun," said Diggins after the race. "I wanted to ski a brave race and put my whole heart out there and that’s what I did. I’m really proud of how the season ended, but I’m even more proud of my team for being there for me. It’s been a lot of ups and downs and it hasn’t been easy. It’s been a hard year and that’s why it’s so special that we did it together. It was very cool to win the globes but it was even more important that I had fun today. "

Diggins took her new-found motivation into this season, podiuming 12 times and winning six races, which all started with her first victory coming in a gutsy 10k skate in Gällivare, Sweden. Just before Gällivare, she was on her first podium of the season in Ruka, alongside teammate Rosie Brennan, where she defeated all odds by losing a pole and a glove and was hit in the face, while still managing to cross the line in second. 

It is no surprise that Diggins gives it her all, in every race, every discipline, week after week. Winning the overall Crystal Globe is no easy feat. The globe is a testament to a skier who can excel in each discipline, both classic and skate, distance and sprint. This showed spectacularly at the Tour de Ski, a seven-stage, nine-day series of races that takes teams to three different venues. At the Tour, Diggins was once again unsure if she would be able to compete, after a difficult period of racing where her mental health was at the forefront. Yet, she maintained her mindset and intentions set at the beginning of the season and took it race by race. She won the Toblach 20k skate, podiumed in three other races and took home the Tour trophy for the second time in her career – a feat never achieved by another American. 

Diggins’ second overall Crystal Globe and second discipline Globe are also historic. She won the overall in 2021, but prior to her, the last American to win an overall Globe was Bill Koch in 1982. Kikkan Randall – Diggins’ counterpart in the infamous 2018 Olympic Winter Games gold medal team sprint – was the only other American to take home a Globe with three in the sprint discipline. 

Diggins’ success this season trumps all the rest. Though she just closed out the most successful World Cup season of her career, her biggest success may not be the overall Crystal Globe, but rather, it may have been crossing that last finish line in Falun with the biggest smile across her face.

OVERALL
Women
Men

On the first day of competition in Falun, Sweden for the 2024 World Cup Finals, JC Schoonmaker led the way for the Americans, finishing in ninth place, not made easier by the pouring rain and heavy fog that enveloped the course from the start of the day to the end. 

The weather was not in anyone's favor today. With warm temperatures, snow was not in the forecast, rain was. With the threat lingering in the morning, the humid air and grey clouds, rain was inevitable. With the race only minutes away, rain jackets were shed, thrown into trash bags and ran to the finish to put right back after atheltes took a lap around the challenging sprint course. Featuring a long-striding incline out of the start gate, straight to a long climb, it was not easy. Then, it got harder. Straight into a horseshoe, banked turn, the athletes were not met with nice conditions, making this course more challenging than it already was. As athletes took another screaming left-hand turn, they were met with one more final climb, over a bridge into the stadium, with a double poll finish.

In the qualifications. six Americans advanced, including Jessie Diggins, Julia Kern, Rosie Brennan, Schoonmaker, Gus Schumacher and Zanden McMullen based on their top 30 results. With waxing conditions already challenging from the get-go, it was the skis that were going to make the biggest difference today, which left wax techs from around the world scrambling to find the best kick and glide. 

Into the quarterfinals, the Americans only sent one through to the semifinals - Schoonmaker. Though five of the U.S. athletes did not advance, it was a day filled with great racing, where our athletes not only showed up but showed some grit. 

For Diggins, the pressure of leading the Overall World Cup Globe and the Distance Globe standings have been a main storyline for all in Falun, and with today's result, Diggins continues to maintain her positive outlook.

"Overall, I feel like my energy is good after today," said Diggins. "To be totally honest, it's been a very long season, a long time from home, but my goals and priorities are different than what others may have for me, and out of everything I can control, I feel like I am very proud of how I skied. For me, the most important thing is that I don't let other people's priorities take away my joy in ski racing and sometimes that's hard to do but that is what I'm focused on."

For Alaska's McMullen, who just capped his career-best result on Tuesday in Drammen, today was another step in the right direction for the young skier. "This is awesome. I am definitely feeling the fatigue of the whole season and this last week, but it's so nice to slowly climb up," said McMullen. "I am so happy for this whole season, it's been so fun and i'm just excited to see what I can do for the last two!"

Into the semis, Schoonmaker skied another tactful race, pushing on the uphills, taking the inside corner into a draft into the descent and charing the final climbs. Though it was not enough this time, Schoonmaker still nabbed a top-ten result, his second in a row.

"I feel pretty good about today," said Schoonmaker. "This season has been pretty consistent with qualifying, which is really nice and constantly gaining experience. "I would have liked to finish off the season better but I am already excited for next year." 

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo of Norway dominated the field, claiming the top spot on the podium and taking home the Sprint Crystal Globe. For the women, Norway's Kristine Staavas Skistad took home her second sprint victory of the week, with Sweden's Linn Svahn taking home his Sprint Crystal Globe for the women. For the U.S., Diggins led the way for the women, finishing in 18th, with Rosie Brennan fresh off a classic sprint podium three days ago in Drammen, in 20th and Julia Kern in 24th. For the men, Gus Schumacher was back in the top 30 in 19th and McMullen in 20th. 

With the season continuing tomorrow with a 10k classic, the competition in the World Cup standings is expected to intensify further. With Diggins leading the charge and Svahn closely following, it will be an exciting end to an already historic season for the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team. 

RESULTS
Men
Women

WORLD CUP OVERALL
Men
Women

Rosie Brennan is back.

In the heart of Drammen, Norway, amidst one of the most exciting and challenging races on the circuit, Rosie Brennan made a remarkable comeback, clinching third place in the Drammen City Sprints.

In a season that started with back-to-back podiums and top-10 after top-10, Brennan has faced many ups and downs this 2023-24 season. After only three days rest between last week's 50k Holmenkollen, where athletes skied 31+ miles with over 6,000 feet of elevation gain, Brennan and the field were tasked with a course that played to double pole strength and a whole lot of grit.

"Honestly, I'm a bit surprised! I felt really bad yesterday, so I think the extra day helped. You never know what the body will do - maybe I need to do a 50k warm-up all the time!" Brennan joked. "I am so happy. It's been a tough year. I didn't know what was going on or what I could do to get back, but it's nice to know that it's still there and that I can have a strong finish to the season."

With the podium, Brennan snags her fifth individual podium of the season, but even more special, she finally can check the box on two of her career-long goals. When starting her career, Brennan set out to collect bibs 1-50. With 228 World Cup starts and today's bib #3, Brennan collected 1-50, checking off a goal that seemed impossible towards the beginning of her career. Her second, and more important, goal was to podium in every single World Cup discipline - both classic and sprint, skate and distance. Today, she achieved that goal with her third-place result in the classic sprint. 

But Brennan wasn't the only one shining on the classic tracks today. Her teammates also had a stellar performance, with three U.S. women joining Brennan in the sprint heats and three U.S. men advancing through from the qualification round. This strong representation underscored the depth of talent within the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team and once again put the red, white and blue in full display among the thousands of Norwegian flags lining every square inch of the Drammen city sprint loop. 

In the men's race, the U.S. contingent continued to impress with three men, including Zanden McMullen, securing spots in the heats. McMullen's performance was particularly noteworthy as he achieved his career-best result, finishing in 17th place. His result comes off the back of a strong season for the young Alaskan, who bested his previous result in nearly every World Cup weekend. Alongside McMullen was the leading man, JC Schoonmaker. Schoonmaker skied a tactical, gritty race to advance through to the finals, where he finished sixth. He is having a stellar season, with back-to-back top 10s and his career-first podium earlier this winter in the Östersund classic sprint. Zak Ketterson was the third American to advance and though his day ended with the quarterfinal, he nabbed another top-30 result to add to his strong World Cup resume. 

"It feels great to be back in the finals just to know I can be in there," said Schoonmaker. "For sure would’ve loved to put up more of a fight in the end, but it’s some pretty fast guys in there and they don’t make it easy. I went into today trying to focus on trusting my finishing ability and even though I wasn’t finishing very well, it put me in a good position to move on. Was glad to feel like I was making smart choices and being active mentally during the heats."

For the women, it was Brennan, Julia Kern and Jessie Diggins punching their ticket to the heats. Brennan qualified third, setting herself up nicely going into the quarters with Diggins and Kern close behind. Brennan and Kern qualified through to semifinals, while Diggins did not advance out of the quarters. In the semis, Brennan crossed the line in fourth, advancing through based on her time; Kern did not advance but still finished the day in seventh, a testament to her strong skiing through the day and another noteworthy top 10 to her resume, on her favorite course no less.

Into the finals, in the decisive moments of the race, Brennan's grit showed. With a burst of speed in the final stretch, she surged ahead, securing her place on the podium with a well-earned third place. Met by nearly her entire team, including all the wax technicians and coaching staff, the team celebrated yet another Stifel U.S. Ski Team podium with the city of Drammen cheering right behind them.

For the women, Brennan led the way on the podium, Kern seventh, Diggins 16th, Erin Bianco of Bridger Ski Foundation in 36th, Sammy Smith of the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team D Team in 42nd, and Alaska Pacific Universities Renae Anderson in 43. For the men, Schoonmaker was sixth, McMullen 17th, Zak Ketterson 29th, Gus Schumacher 32nd, Kevin Bolger of Team Birkie 34th, Luke Jager 41st and Michael Earnhart 52nd. 

Now the team resets for yet another race weekend, only 48 hours away, where they will close out this historic season in Falun, Sweden for the cross country World Cup Finals. 

Tuesday's results in Drammen ended with Norway's Kristine Stavaas Skistad and Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo taking home the victory for the women and men. Diggins continues to lead the overall World Cup standings by 102 points ahead of Sweden's Linn Svahn; Brennan sits fifth.

RESULTS
Women
Men

The Holmenkollen cross country ski race stands as a pinnacle in the world of skiing, tracing its roots back to the late 1800s. Year after year, this iconic event asserts its prominence as one of the rowdiest, most attended races on the World Cup circuit, and this year was no exception. With Jessie Diggins and Rosie Brennan both securing spots in the top 15 and all USA racers within the top 30, the inaugural women's 50k classic was nothing short of exciting.

The day began with wax technicians and coaches getting an early start to test skis, finding the best kick and glide for the 30+ mile race. However, they weren't alone in their early prep - fans were already out in force as the sun rose over Oslo. Known for its passionate spectators, the Holmenkollen draws thousands upon thousands of fans, turning the event into a veritable national celebration, filled with cheering, drinking, fireworks - you name it, its there. The Norwegian fervor for cross-country skiing transforms the Holmenkollen into the Super Bowl of their nation and the scene was something to see. 

Today's race was exclusively for the women, with the men set to tackle the course tomorrow. Among the 39 women on the mass start line, there were four Americans: Brennan, Diggins, Laukli, and McCabe. Diggins, wearing the coveted yellow bib, led the charge alongside Brennan, currently sitting fourth overall. Despite less than ideal snow conditions, deteriorating rapidly to a sugary texture, the stage was set for a challenging race from the outset.

As the gun signaled the start, the pace was relentless. With six laps ahead, the competition was fierce, and the stakes were high. The lead pack, including eventual winner Sweden's Frida Karlsson, set a blistering pace, closely trailed by athletes from Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and the USA. Karlsson's decisive move over 15k from the finish left the competition trailing, but the excitment of seeing the world's best only feet away kept the momentum charging and the fans decibel levels getting even higher. 

As fatigue set in and the race drew to a close, Karlsson secured the victory, with teammate Ebba Andersson in second and Germany's Katharina Hennig in third. Diggins raced to an 11th place, Brennan 13th, Laukli 25th, and McCabe 28th, with Diggins maintaining her lead in the overall World Cup standings heading into the next race in Drammen, Norway.

Reflecting on her performance, Brennan left with a positive message, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of success in sport. "No race is defined by the results - there’s so much more that goes into having a performance and finding your best self. For me today, that was a result I’m proud of."

Tomorrow, the men will get their chance on the infamous track, with coverage starting at 4:45 a.m. ET, live on skiandsnowboard.live. 

RESULTS
Women

When you think about racing in Lahti, Finland, the first thing that comes to mind is challenging waxing conditions and hard courses, but that did not stop the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team from finding success at the first set of races back in Europe. In today's 20k classic individual start, Rosie Brennan led the team, finishing the day in ninth place - her 13th World Cup top 10 of the season - with fellow Alaskan Zanden McMullen in 23rd, tying his career-best result in the process. 

Lahti has historically been a difficult race and today was no exception. With a 20k classic interval start on deck, the temperatures were high, the clouds were low and klister was the only option for the skis. With today's conditions, even the best skiers would feel challenged, both physically and mentally. Would the klister hold? Will there be as many crashes as there were in yesterday's sprint? Would the glide be enough? Patience was the main theme of the day, mixed with a healthy amount of perseverance and grit.

Lahti's 20k is the second race back since the unforgettable weekend of racing at the Stifel Loppet Cup in Minneapolis, which saw historic results from the U.S. team among top-tier skiing from the world's best. With a long plane ride separating Minneapolis and Lahti, the rest of the cross country elite is back to their normalcy - racing in Europe. 

The women kicked things off with three Americans on the start: Jessie Diggins, Rosie Brennan and Sophia Laukli. With the interval start format, Laukli was off first, followed by Brennan, then Diggins. 

The eventual leaders of the race were indicated early on through the splits on the course. At the five-kilometer time check, Brennan was within seconds of the leaders, sitting in a comfortable position within the top 10, even having battled illness for the last few weeks. 

"The conditions were wet and soft but honestly not that bad by Lahti standards," said Brennan, post-race. "This place has some of the toughest waxing on the circuit. The course demands a lot technically and physically so I felt that focusing solely on good skiing was my best chance to put together a decent race. Going in to today, I had no expectations, knowing that my body is far from it's best. But I love klister skiing, so i felt like that if I just focused on good skiing, I might be able to have an ok race." 

Five kilometers into the race, Brennan was still positioned well within the top 10, with Diggins and Laukli in the top 30. With kick and glide becoming a real challenge, made evident by athletes utilizing the herringbone technique on the uphills rather than staying in the classic tracks, the battle continued with everything, and everyone, being tested. Brennan ultimately crossing the finish line in ninth. 

"Today was a challenge," said Diggins. "We had some variable wax conditions within the team, for sure. Without fluoros and in conditions like this, if the glide isn't where you want it to be and it blows up your race. So that was challenging, but the thing was, everyone tried as hard as they could. The service team did their best, I went out there and did my best and I am really proud of how I skied. I never gave up, I worked every inch of that course and pushed as hard as I could for all of it!"

Diggins finished 21st and continues to lead the overall World Cup standings, ahead of Sweden's Linn Svahn. The result also helps her continue to lead the distance standings ahead of Germany's Victoria Karl. Brennan is fifth in the overall World Cup standings.

At the end of the women's race, the excitement was for Finland, as Krista Parmakoski, a long-time great of the sport who has skied competitively on the World Cup for over 15 years, finally felt the taste of victory once again after a six-year drought. With today's win, Paramkoski was back on top of the podium, met with hugs and congratulations from Brennan and Diggins post-race. 

Germany's Karl was just .5 seconds behind in second place and Kerttu Niskanen gave the home crowd what they deserved - another Fearless Fin on the podium in third. Laukli finished 26th. 

For the men, McMullen stole the show in 23rd, another top result for the young Alaskan. On the start list alongside four other Americans, including Michael Earnhart, Scott Patterson, Luke Jager and Peter Wolter. Gus Schumacher and Zak Ketterson did not start today's race. 

In the early stages, the scene was already being set, with Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, Martin Loewstroem Nyenget, Paal Goldberg and Finland's own Livo Niskanen setting the bar. Four laps around Lahti's crowded course, it was still anyone's race. 

At the halfway mark, McMullen was a top 25 contender, skiing a consistent and strong pace. Dropping back to 27th at 13.4k, McMullen stepped on the gas to move up to 23rd across the finish line, tieing his career-best World Cup result; his previous best was in Canmore, Alberta just a few weeks ago, where he was 23rd in the 15k. McMullen is having a breakout season, consistently skiing in the top 30 in the world, and is having fun in the process.

"I felt pretty strong today," said McMullen. "The skiing was very tough, and I historically have struggled A LOT in warm wet slushy conditions. It was definitely a mental battle out there and felt so nice to cross the finish line. Also proud that I had a good race in a Scandinavian-stacked classic race!"

Klaebo took home the victory, with Finland's hometown hero, Niskanen in second, marking quite the comeback campaign after missing the majority of the season, and gracing the podium only hours earlier in Friday's team sprint. Norway's Nyenget rounded out the men's podium in third. For the U.S. men, Patterson was 34th, Earnhart 48th, Jager 55th and Wolter 57th. 

Tomorrow, the athletes wrap up the Lahti Ski Games with a skate sprint, slated to begin at 3:15 a.m. ET for qualifications, with rounds kicking off at 5:45 a.m. ET, live on skiandsnowboard.live. 

RESULTS
Women
Men