Tag: Trapp Family Lodge

2022 Top 10 Cross-Country Ski Resorts in North America

For true skiing connoisseurs, cross-country skiing is where it is at. Downhill skiing might be a little more glamorous, more flashy, and make for the best GoPro videos, but nothing can beat the glorious joy and aerobic challenge of cross-country skiing.

A far cry from the gravity-assisted ease of downhill skiing, your first attempt at strapping on cross-country skis might leave you baffled at the physics-defying skills required. But with a little perseverance (and a lot of perspiration) you’ll soon get into your stride, and suddenly a whole world of undiscovered trails and glorious, snow-covered treks (not to mention some of the best panoramic views in the world) will open up before you.

If the idea of trying a different form of skiing this winter appeals, or you are looking for a new challenge, check out the top 10 cross country ski resorts in North America and discover this awesome sport for yourself.

Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa

Colorado boasts a significant number of the best cross-country skiing resorts in the US, and Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort and Spa sits right on top of the pile.

The resort boasts over forty miles of glorious routes right through the Rocky Mountains, while the ranch and spa ensure that after a tough day of trekking you can rest and relax to your heart’s content, with hot tubs and fantastic dining options to seal the deal.

As the sun set, it was so cold that the battery in my camera froze into a non-working lump during this late afternoon masters’ training session at Craftsbury Outdoor Center last January. But the masters kept skating in the cold, squeaky snow and I was able to get this image before the battery went dead. (Photo John Lazenby)

Craftsbury Outdoor Center

With over 50 miles of magnificent trails through field and forest by the shores of Big Hosmer Pond in Vermont, Craftsbury Outdoor Center is a pretty special place for cross-country skiers. Home to the largest ski marathon on the East Coast, Craftsbury is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting cross-country skiing, and has a wonderful focus on sustainability and environmentalism which adds to the lovely atmosphere. Lodging here is a great option, with luxury options and lakeside cottages available, as well as saunas and a fitness room available.

Mont-Sainte-Anne

Just a short drive from Quebec, Mont-Sainte-Anne Cross Country Ski Center is one of the best spots in Canada to get off-piste (literally) and try your hand at cross-country skiing. With over 110 miles of trails (and a 100 mile network for skating stride) it is one of the biggest cross-country ski resorts on the continent. Set amongst the gorgeous landscape of the Laurentia Forest, every trail is a picturesque ride from shelter to shelter, cabin to cabin, and gorgeous viewpoint to gorgeous viewpoint.

A trailside photo from 2015 SuperCamp at Sovereign Lake/Silver Star (Courtesy photo)

Silver Star Mountain Resort

Just across the US/Canada border, Silver Star Mountain Resort is a genuine cross-country skiing treat. Over 35 miles of trails (and access to the extra 30 miles at Sovereign Lake Nordic Center), there’s always a new stretch of snow to discover, and it’s a great place to dip your toe into the exciting world of cross country skiing.

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Sun Mountain Lodge

Washington State boasts some of the most outstanding scenery in North America, which makes it the perfect setting for a cross-country skiing resort. As a result, Sun Mountain Lodge is one of the best places around to try Nordic skiing, and offers an outstanding network of trails with diverse terrain, as well as great facilities to match.

Lone Mountain Ranch

Over 50 miles of Big Sky trails make up Lone Mountain Ranch, which is almost always in the conversation when it comes to discussing the best cross-country skiing resorts in the United States. A fantastic all-rounder, the resort offers trails for every level, from newbies just starting out to grizzled veterans. With a backdrop of deep pine forest and rugged mountain peaks, it is the perfect spot to get to grips with Nordic skiing.

November skiing at Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby, Colo. For the first time this year, a five-day camp was held for masters. (Courtesy photo)

Snow Mountain Ranch

Another awesome spot in Colorado about 85 miles west of Boulder, Snow Mountain Ranch boasts 75 miles of excellent cross-country trails through picturesque woods and along pretty mountain riverbanks. One of the best parts of Snow Mountain is the abundance of wildlife here – there’s a decent chance you’ll be sharing the trails with moose or elk!

Bretton Woods with the Presidentials as a backdrop. (Photo: Bretton Woods Nordic)

Bretton Woods Nordic Center

The 2,000 acres of countryside that make up Bretton Woods Nordic Center are open from November to March, and are a great option if you want to sneak a bit of skiing in before you leave New York on a cruise.

Bretton Woods Nordic Marathon. (Photo: Bretton Woods)

With around 62 miles of trails that wind their way through the White Mountain National Forest, this is one of the most beautiful Nordic skiing destinations around.

Mont Tremblant

Set in the heart of the Laurentians, Mont Tremblant is another fantastic cross-country skiing option in Quebec, just northeast of Montreal. The resort is year-round, although the ski routes are usually only available in the winter season. One of the best features of Mont Tremblant is that the cross-country ski trails all connect up with other trails in neighboring towns, making multi-day treks a real possibility.

New England’s Fabian Stocek (1) follows Rocky Mountain’s Jack Hill (6) in the U20 men’s 15 k freestyle mass start at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vt. Stocek went on to win the Junior Nationals race by 7.5 seconds.

Trapp Family Lodge

Claiming to be the first cross-country ski resort in the US, the Trapp Family Lodge is one of the most elegant and sophisticated Nordic skiing destinations you are likely to find. The trails are beautiful, of course, but the icing on the cake is the delightfully Austrian-inspired setting of the lodge itself, which makes a wonderful place to wind down after a tough day skiing!

January 20, 2022
Elite Rollerski Invite Nov. 4 at Trapp Family Lodge

Top American Cross-Country Skiers to Compete at Trapp Family Lodge November 4^th in Elite Invitational Roller Ski Competition

(Press release)

Stowe, Vt – The New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) and the Trapp Family Lodge have partnered to create a roller ski race for an elite field of cross-country skiers including past and future Olympians. Upwards of fifty athletes representing colleges and clubs from throughout New England will compete in a challenging 10-kilometer race that will finish at the top of Trapp Hill. Spectators are encouraged to park at the Trapp Family Lodge Outdoor Center parking lot and cheer skiers to the finish.

Top-ranked New England athletes in their respective age groups will join Olympians Elizabeth Stephen, Ida Sargent and Kris Freeman for this head to head competition designed to showcase Nordic Skiing. The majority of the field is comprised of athletes who were named to the NENSA Elite and Development Teams – a group who has demonstrated national and international success. Skiers from the University of Vermont, Dartmouth College, Stratton Elite Team and the Craftsbury Green Racing Project will be in attendance.

The course will begin on Nebraska Valley Road before turning onto Barrows Road and conclude by climbing Luce and Trapp Hill. The race begins at 3pm and skiers are expected to complete the course in approximately thirty minutes. Racers will depart the start in thirty-second intervals, making for non-stop spectating for nearly an hour. An award ceremony will be held at the von Trapp Bierhall at 4:30pm just before the Winter Kickoff Party. Spectators are encouraged to attend the party where they can meet athletes and socialize with members of the New England skiing community – tickets can be purchased in advance at www.skireg.com/new-england-winter-kickoff-party or at the door.

About NENSA:

NENSA is the Community Olympic Development Program (CODP) for cross-country skiing in the East as well as the umbrella for most organized Nordic skiing events in the region. Cross-country skiing, as practiced by our youth skiers and families, is a lifetime activity firmly rooted in New England tradition. It is NENSA’s mission to sustain a vital and active skiing community in New England. Visit www.NENSA.net to learn more about our organization.

Questions about the event should be directed to Justin Beckwith at justin@nensa.net

October 22, 2017
U.S. Nationals Video: Relay Wrap Up

Intermountain’s U16 women after winning the 3 x 3 k freestyle relay at 2014 Junior Nationals.

STOWE, Vt. — Here is the final video in our four-race recap series from 2014 U.S. Junior Nationals at Trapp Family Lodge, the 3 x 3-kilometer freestyle relays on March 8. Intermountain swept the three-person U16 relays, New England topped the podium in both the U20 men’s and women’s relays, and Alaska got a win in the U18 category.

For more: Top-10 Recognition | Relay results | Complete results

March 21, 2014
Grab a Map and Go! U.S. Ski Orienteering Nationals Recap from Stowe

Long-distance mass start at 2014 U.S. Ski Orienteering National Championships March 14-16 at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vt. (Photo: Barbara Beall)

“This is the world of Ski Orienteering, one of the more obscure and mentally challenging Nordic ski racing disciplines.”

STOWE, Vt. — Imagine a Nordic ski race where you cannot preview the course, don’t know where you will be going, how long you will be skiing or how many hills you will have to climb. A race where you can go anywhere you want on skis, including down snowshoe trails or through uncharted glades. Where you can even take off your skies and run with them. This is the world of Ski Orienteering, one of the more obscure and mentally challenging Nordic ski racing disciplines.

The U.S. Ski Orienteering National Championships, a biennial event, were held this past weekend at the Trapp Family Lodge Ski Center in Stowe, Vt. Approximately 100 skiers, ranging in age from 10 to nearly 80 attended the three-day competition, featuring a Sprint and Middle Distance race (with individual starts) and a Long Distance race with a mass start. Different age classes are on different courses, with varying technical and physical difficulty.

Skiers received the map 15 seconds before the start, and were required to find the correct controls (those orange-and-white fabric markers you might see in the woods) in the right order, registering electronically at each one with a timing chip carried on their finger. At the end of the race, skiers download that information and are given their split times to each control.

Alexis Merka, 10, the youngest competitor at 2014 U.S. Ski Orienteering National Championships in Stowe, Vt. (Photo: Barbara Beall)

In the mass start, the courses were “forked,” meaning skiers ultimately skied the same distances and climbs, but not necessarily in the same order as their competitors, in order to prevent following. Race designers set up the courses to specifically challenge skiers on route choices, forcing them to decide, for example, whether it is faster to stay on a large trail or to follow a narrow trail only groomed by a snowmobile. The courses also challenge skiers to maintain contact with their maps, and to not become upset by climbing up and skiing down a hillside a couple of times.

Alexis Merka, age 10, was the youngest competitor at the event. She is from Maryland, and her mother and father are both orienteers. She competes in both ski-O and foot-O (which involves running rather than skiing). When asked what happens when she gets lost, she said “I say to myself, don’t panic, stay calm, look at the map.”

Larry Berman, who with his wife Sara Mae Berman started the Cambridge Sports Union and has been involved with ski orienteering since the early 1970s, said that he loves the challenge of finding that control right where it is suppose to be based on the map … and if the control is not there, clearly the map is wrong.

“I say to myself, don’t panic, stay calm, look at the map.” — Alexis Merka, 10, youngest racer at 2014 U.S. Ski Orienteering National Championships

For male and female skiers in the elite classes, the U.S. National Championships also identify those skiers who may be named to the USA National Ski Orienteering Team, qualifying them to go to World Events. The top U.S. female skiers were Alison Crocker (1^st), Alexandra Jospe (2^nd) and Anna Voegele (3^rd). Top U.S. male skiers were Adrian Owens (1^st), Greg Walker (2^nd) and William Frielinghaus (3^rd for Middle and Long Distance) and Ari Ofsevit (3^rd Sprint). For full results go to: http://www.neskio.com/results/

Results: Sprint | Middle distance | Long distance

Larry and Sara Mae Berman, founders of the Cambridge Sports Union, at the 2014 U.S. Ski Orienteering National Championships in Stowe, Vt. (Photo: Barbara Beall)

March 19, 2014
Junior Nationals Video: Freestyle Mass Starts

Fabian Stocek, Dartmouth freshman from the Czech Republic, after winning the 15 k freestyle mass start at Junior Nationals on March 7.

STOWE, Vt. — The mass starts are always a highlight at any championships — let alone Junior Nationals. Here’s a look at the action that took place last Friday, March 7, at U.S. Junior Nationals in the 15-, 10- and 5-kilometer freestyle mass starts at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vt.

Top-10 Recognition

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March 13, 2014
Junior Nationals: Relay Top-10 Recognition
The U16 women that anchored their teams to the top three on Saturday in the Junior Nationals 3 x 3 k freestyle relay: Intermountain’s Leah Lange (r) in first, New England’s Leah Brams (c) in second, and Rocky Mountain’s Hailey Swirbul in third.

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STOWE, Vt. — Competitors throughout the season, hundreds of juniors came together on Saturday and teamed up to represent their respective regions in the 3 x 3-kilometer freestyle relays on the final day of 2014 Junior Nationals in Stowe, Vt.

New England topped the Midwest by 368 points for the coveted Alaska Cup — the overall accolade awarded to the team with the most cumulative points throughout the week.

Below are the top teams in the U16, U18 and U20 relays, including six national-championship winners. Intermountain swept the U16 races, Alaska’s U18 men won, and New England capped the day off with two U20 victories and a U18 women’s win.

Complete results

Intermountain’s relay-winning women’s team celebrates at the finish of the U16 3 x 3 k relay on Saturday at Junior Nationals in Stowe, Vt.

U16 Women
1. Intermountain 1: Brooke Dunnagan (Bogus Basin), Anna Gibson (Jackson Hole), Leah Lange (Park City)
2. New England 1: Chloe Levins (Mountain Top), Mackenzie Rizio (Stratton Mountain School), Leah Brams (Cambridge Sports Union)
3. Rocky Mountain 1: Jordan Floyd (Steamboat Springs WSC), Kathleen O’Connell (Steamboat Springs), Hailey Swirbul (Aspen Valley SSC)
4. Far West 1: Hannah Halvorsen (Sugar Bowl), Lizzie Larkins (Auburn), Jenna Rohlf (Auburn)
5. Midwest 1: Amanada Kautzer (Loppet Nordic Racing), Erin Moening (Endurance United), Anna Johnson (Mesabi East)
6. Intermountain 2: Sofia Shomento (Bridger Ski Foundation), Madison Morgan (Park City), Katy Bonacci (The Utah Nordic Alliance)
7. New England 2: Tegan Thorley (SMS), Kirsten Miller, Sophia Hodges (Frost Mountain)
8. Rocky Mountain 2: Anna Fake (Durango), Katja Freeburn (Durango), Maddie Donovan (SSC Vail)
9. Alaska 1: Barae Hirsch (Alaska Pacific University), Jenna Difolco (NSCF-Fairbanks-FXC), Anna Darnell (APU)
10. Midwest 2: Hannah Rudd (LNR), Dorothy Anderson (LNR), Abigail Jarzin (Ashwaubenon)
Fun Facts: Lange received the tag in third and went on to win by 7.3 seconds with the fastest anchor leg. “I saw that she was in first and I got so excited I just started screaming,” Gibson said. Lange placed second in the 5 k classic and third in the 1.4 k freestyle sprint earlier in the week. “We were just so excited; the relay there’s so much more energy in the other races,” Lange said. “It’s definitely the best race to do so good in.”

Intermountain’s U16-relay winning men’s team congratulate Zach Williams (c) after he anchored them to a Junior National title on Saturday in the 3 x 3 k freestyle race.

U16 Men:
1. Intermountain 1: Max Polito (Jackson Hole), Peter Wolter (Sun Valley), Zach Williams (Sun Valley)
2. Alaska 1: Benjamin Koenig (NSCF-Fairbanks-FXC), Jack Consenstein (APU), Hunter Wonders (APU)
3. New England 1: Daniel Steinz (Maine WSC), Russell Boswell (SMS), Forrest Hamilton (Mansfield)
4. New England 2: Anders Hanson (Craftsbury), Adam Glueck (Ford Sayre), Calvin Bates (Dublin School)
5. Alaska 2: Dawson Knopp (Alaska Nordic Racing), Gus Schumacher (Alaska Winter Stars), Tracen Knopp (ANR)
6. Intermountain 2: Eli Jensen (Sun Valley), Carter Ros (Sun Valley), River Vorse (Sun Valley)
7. Rocky Mountain 1: Noel Keeffe (Steamboat Springs), Evan Barbier (Steamboat Springs), Simon Zink (Steamboat Springs)
8. Rocky Mountain 2: Kai Sherman (Crested Butte), Wyatt Gebhardt (Steamboat Springs), Alden Truettner (Crested Butte)
9. Midwest 1: Anders Sonnesyn (Endurance United), Xavier Mansfield (LNR), Henry Gore (Madnorski/CXC)
10. Far West 1: Brandon Herhusky (Sugar Bowl), Ryland Belisle (Sugar Bowl), Skyler Mullings (Sugar Bowl)
Fun Fact: Intermountain went 2-for-2 to start Saturday, with victories in the U16 men’s and women’s races. The winning men’s team wore blue do-rags and painted mustaches. “We got this right before the race from our coach,” Wolter said, pointing to his face. “And I don’t think we really had a plan.” Williams said they didn’t know the course until shortly before their race. “We just kind of went for it,” Williams said. “We relied on outside information, no personal experience,” Wolter added.

New England’s Zoe Snow (r), Katharine Ogden (c) and Julia Kern (l) celebrate their U18 women’s 3 x 3 k freestyle relay victory on Saturday at Junior Nationals in Stowe, Vt.

U18 Women:
1. New England 1: Zoe Snow (Cambridge Sports Union), Katharine Ogden (SMS), Julia Kern (CSU)
2. Midwest 1: Caroline Brisbois (Endurance United), Racquel Wohlk (Nordicwerks), Vivian Hett (LNR)
3. Midwest 2: Alayna Sonnesyn (Endurance United), Anna French (LNR), Mattie Watts (Endurance United)
4. Rocky Mountain 1: Hannah Peterson (Durango), Lauren Jortberg (Boulder), Gretchen Burkholder (Steamboat Springs)
5. Intermountain 1: Brenna Egan (Park City), Aja Starkey (BSF), Sophie McDonald (Park City)
6. Alaska 1: Sadie Fox (ANR), Emma Tarbath (AWS), Sarrissa Lammers (ANR)
7. New England 2: Carmen Bango (Woodstock), Kaelyn Woods (Maine WSC), Autumn Eastman (Sleepy Hollow)
8. Midwest 3: Allison Ternes (LNR), Michael Keller-Miller (Endurance United), Sarah Bezdicek (LRN)
9. Intermountain 2: Bjork Hagensen (BSF), Mariah Bredal (Jackson Hole), Katie Feldman (Sun Valley)
10. Rocky Mountain 2: Taeler McCrerey (Summit Nordic), Ruthie Boyd (Summit Nordic), Anna Martin (SSC Vail)
Fun Fact: The New England women combined for a 14.7-second win in what was Ogden’s third win and Kern’s second of the week. The three also defended their relay title from last year as J2’s (U16) at 2013 Junior Nationals.

“It was a lot of holding back everyone else because we knew that Katharine was going to kill it and Julia was going to keep it up,” Snow said. “We definitely had a plan going into it,” Ogden said.

“New England, we’re such close friends and teammates and it’s even more fun when you win together,” Kern said.

The team also gave a shout-out to their coach, Sverre Caldwell of the Stratton Mountain School, on his birthday on Saturday.

Team Alaska congratulates Thomas O’Harra (r) for anchoring them to a U18 3 x 3 k freestyle relay title at Junior Nationals in Stowe, Vt.

U18 Men
1. Alaska 1: John Farr (APU), Joe Bue (FXC), Thomas O’Harra (APU)
2. Intermountain 1: Logan Diekmann (BSF), Sam Miller (BSF), Karsten Hokanson (Wasatch Nordic)
3. Midwest 1: Ian Torchia (LNR), Nick Gardener (Endurance United), Zak Ketterson (LNR)
4. Alaska 3: Jake Bassett (AWS), Tanner Ramey (AWS), Jonathan Koenig (NSCF-Fairbanks-FXC)
5. Rocky Mountain 1: Lars Hannah (Steamboat Springs), Paolo Takagi-Atilano (Boulder), Cully Brown (SSC Vail)
6. Midwest 2: Daniel Delestry (CXC), Tamer Mische-Richter (Endurance United), Leo Hipp (Nordicwerks)
7. Intermountain 2: Peter Neal (Jackson Hole), Danny Graves (Sun Valley), Alex Jackson (Park City)
8. New England 1: Zane Fields (Woodstock), Ben Hegman (Mansfield), Gavin McEwen (CSU)
9. Alaska 2: Seiji Takagi (AWS), Jacob Volz (APU), Tristan Sayre (FAST)
10. Far West 1: Dylan Syben (Unleashed Coaching), Julien Bordes (Unleashed Coaching), Sam Zabell (Sugar Bowl)
Fun Fact: This is the first podium for both Farr and Bue, and O’Harra’s fifth in four years of competing at Junior Nationals. Farr and O’Harra have been teammates since O’Harra was in seventh grade and are the three-time defending champions of the Anchorage high school two-man relay competition. They hail from East Anchorage, the same high school as Kikkan Randall. “It’s the last Junior National race for us, and it could be the last race [Thomas] and I go together,” Farr said. “So it’s a good feeling to end it this way.”

The U20 women’s relay podium at Junior Nationals, with New England in first and second, and the Midwest in third. Bill Koch (second from r) was a guest medal presenter, along with another Olympian, Mt. Bachelor coach Dan Simoneau (r).

U20 Women:
1. New England 1: Hannah Benson (Williams Outing Club), Kelsey Phinney (Middlebury), Heidi Halvorsen
2. New England 2: Sadie James (Bates), Tara Humphries (Bates), Maddy Pfeifer (Andover)
3. Midwest 1: Sonja Hedblom (LNR), Nora Gilbertson (St. Olaf), Kristen Bourne (Northern Michigan)
4. Rocky Mountain 1: Abbey Habermehl (Steamboat Springs), Cara Piske (Steamboat Springs), Nicole Schneider (LNR)
5. Midwest 2: Elizabeth Evans (St. Scholastica), Maria Hauer (Flyer Nordic), Nicole Schneider (LNR)
6. New England 3: Cate Brams (CSU), Erin Perryman (St. Lawrence), Emily Ramsey (Maine WSC)
7. Alaska 1: Hannah Stevesn (ANR), Marion Woods (AWS), Anna Spencer (APU)
8. Far West 1: Laurel Fiddler (Bates), Danielle Nivinski (Sugar Bowl), Amanda Kirkeby (Mammoth Mountain)
9. Intermountain 1: Maggie Williams (Sun Valley), Sarah Williams (Sun Valley), Joelle Romo (BSF)
10. High Plains 1: Laura Stamp (Willams), Leann Bentley (Laramie HS), Louisa Austin (Lander Valley)
Fun Facts: After New England swept first through six (not including Sweden’s Ulrika Axelsson of Michigan Tech) in the 5 k classic earlier in the week, Halvorsen said that along with other results throughout the week (including her sprint title) gave them confidence going into the relay. “I think we were pretty confident going into this race that we could potentially get two teams on the podium,” she said after the team went 1-2.

“I think it’s really nice because last year we didn’t have the greatest year,” Benson said. “We didn’t win the Alaska Cup. It’s awesome to come back here to New England to have such a significant lead over everyone else. I think it represents how New England skiing can come together.”

Phinney, of Boulder, Colo., is the daughter of Olympic cycling medalists, Davis and Connie Phinney. Her dad raced the Tour de France and her mom raced competitively and also rowed collegiately.

The U20 men’s relay podium at Junior Nationals, with New England in first, Far West in second, and Rocky Mountain in third. Olympians and medal presenters Bill Koch and Dan Simoneau (r) stand at right.

U20 Men:
1. New England 1: Jack Schrupp (Gunstock), Jack Hegman (University of Vermont), Cole Morgan (UVM)
2. Far West 1: Peter Holmes (Unleashed Coaching), Shane Christian (Unleashed Coaching), Patrick McElravey (Middlebury)
3. Rocky Mountain 1: Jackson Hill (University of Colorado), Oscar Friedman (Dartmouth), Haakon Sigurslid (Durango)
4. Midwest 1: Mathew Nichols (University of Wisconsin-Green Bay), Jan Katterson (LNR), Thomas Bye (CXC)
5. Intermountain 1: Connor Gray (BSF), Riis Wilbrecht (Wasatch), Henry Gorman (Wasatch)
6. New England 3: Andrew Nadler (Dartmouth), Luke Costley (Williams), Sam Merrens (Ford Sayre)
7. New England 2: Austin Huneck (Maine WSC), Calvin Swomley (St. Lawrence) Ian Moore (Green Mountain Valley School)
8. Rocky Mountain 2: Ian Boucher (SSC Vail), Parker McDonald (SSC Vail), Evan Weinman (Steamboat Springs)
9. Midwest 2: Sam Elfstrom (NMU), Kyle Marshall (Wisconsin-Green Bay), Luke Brown (LNR)
10. Alaska 1: Kyle Hanson (NSCF-Fairbanks-FXC), Nicholas Lovett, Daniel Serventi (APU)
Fun Fact: This was Morgan’s third victory in four races at Junior Nationals (after being the top American in the sprint) and Hegman’s fourth consecutive podium. “I think we all just wanted to go out an hammer … and just go for it,” he said.

“It’s pretty sweet, a good feeling to end on a good note like that,” Hegman said.

Holmes, a U18 skier for Far West, raced in the older age group for his team, and McElravey rallied after a major crash in Friday’s 15 k mass start took him out of the race.

***

Stay tuned for videos of the last two days of Junior Nationals racing to be completed in the next week.
March 9, 2014
Junior Nationals Video: Classic Sprints Galore

STOWE, Vt. — It was a jam-packed day of classic sprinting up at Trapp Family Lodge on Wednesday, with 54 heats determining six champions at Junior Nationals between the U16, U18 and U20 men’s and women’s categories.

While some races were snowy, others were windier, and a few were neck-and-neck to the line, the conditions remained relatively consistent throughout in temperatures around 10 degrees throughout the day. The sun began to set soon after the U20 and U18 women’s finals, making for a picture-perfect ending on Day 2 of 4 at Junior Nationals.

For more about the top finishers: Top-10 Recognition

Extensive qualifier photos: U16 men | U16 women | U18/U20 men | U18/20 women

Results

Day 1: Video | Top 10

Trouble viewing video above? Click here.

Peter Holmes (Unleashed Coaching/Far West) racing to the top U18 men’s classic-sprint qualifying time at 2014 Junior Nationals in Stowe, Vt.

March 6, 2014
Junior Nationals: Classic Sprint Top-10 Recognition
Julia Kern (r) racing to a classic-sprint title at Junior Nationals on Wednesday in Stowe, Vt., edging Mattie Watts (c) and Vivian Hett, both from the Midwest.

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STOWE, Vt. — Four-hundred and thirty-four athletes whittled down to 180 in 30 quarterfinals. Fifty-four heats total, all on the top of the mountain at Trapp Family Lodge over the course of nine hours.

It was a full day of racing on Day 2 of U.S. Junior Nationals on Wednesday, with men’s and women’s 1.4-kilometer classic sprints determining six national champions.

Below you’ll find the list of who made the top 10 in the U16, U18 and U20 races. Every athlete that did so raced Trapp’s open-aired sprint course four times — nailing fast-enough times to advance after each round. The top six made the A-finals, and the next six battled for seventh through 12th place (and All-American status in the top 10). Complete results

Stay tuned for a video recapping Wednesday’s action and follow us on Twitter and Instagram, as well as the 2014 Junior Nationals website for updates, photos and videos.

The Junior Nationals U16 men’s classic sprint podium with New England’s Forrest Hamilton (c) of Mansfield Nordic, the Pacific Northwest’s Leo Lukens (l) of Mt. Bachelor in second, and Intermountain’s Zach Williams (r) of Sun Valley in third.

U16 Men
1. Forrest Hamilton (Mansfield Nordic/New England)
2. Leo Lukens (Mt. Bachelor/Pacific Northwest)
3. Zach Williams (Sun Valley/Intermountain)
4. Benjamin Koenig (NSCF-Fairbanks-FXC/Alaska)
5. Everett Sapp (New York SEF/Mid-Atlantic)
6. Tracen Knopp (Alaska Nordic Racing/Alaska)
7. Daniel Streinz (Maine WSC/New England)
8. Matthew Hoefler (Alaska Winter Stars/Alaska)
9. Dawson Knopp (ANR/Alaska)
10. Will Balcao (AWS/Alaska)
Fun Facts: Hamilton didn’t have to travel far to win his first national title; he’s a student at Champlain Valley Union High School 40 miles from Stowe in Hinesburg, Vt. His longtime teammates call him ‘Fo-Money.’ “I guess that’s my ski-trail name,” he says.

Amanda Kautzer (r) of Loppet Nordic Racing/Midwest, crests the final hill in Wednesday’s 1.4 k classic sprint A-final before winning her first title at Junior Nationals, ahead of runner-up Hailey Swirbul (Aspen/Rocky Mountain), in Stowe, Vt.

U16 Women
1. Amanda Kautzer (Loppet Nordic Racing/Midwest)
2. Hailey Swirbul (Aspen Valley SSC/Rocky Mountain)
3. Leah Lange (Park City NSC/Intermountain)
4. Hannah Halvorsen (Sugar Bowl/Far West)
5. Leah Brams (Cambridge Sports Union/New England)
6. Claire Benton (LNR/Midwest)
7. Jordan Floyd (Steamboat Springs/Rocky Mountain)
8. Chloe Levins (Mountain Top/New England)
9. Lizzie Larkins (Auburn/Far West)
10. Anna Johnson (Mesabi East/Midwest)
Fun Facts: Mini Kikkan? Kautzer has pink hair just like the three-time World Cup Sprint champion from Alaska, and she just nabbed her first Junior Nationals victory after placing fifth in the 5 k classic on Monday. “I was not expecting anything like this this week,” Kautzer says. She’s originally from Southeast Asia and lived there until she was 3. “I was born in Singapore, which is about as far away from a snowy climate as you can get,” she says. “From super warm to super cold, I like the transition.”

Far West’s Peter Holmes (1) leads his semifinal in Wednesday’s 1.4 k classic sprint at Junior Nationals in Stowe, Vt. He went on to win his second national title in as many races.

U18 Men:
1. Peter Holmes (Unleashed Coaching/Far West)
2. Jack Bassett (AWS/Alaska)
3. Thomas O’Harra (Alaska Pacific University/Alaska)
4. Karsten Hokanson (Wasatch/Intermountain)
5. Zak Ketterson (LNR/Midwest)
6. Henry Harmeyer (Mansfield/New England)
7. Forrest Smith (Crested Butte/Rocky Mountain)
8. Logan Diekmann (Bridger Ski Foundation/Intermountain)
9. John Farr (APU/Alaska)
10. Juho Muhonen (Teacup Nordic/Pacific Northwest)
Fun Facts: This was Holmes’ second title in as many races at Junior Nationals. “I always wear the same socks when I race,” he says.“I haven’t washed them since I’ve been here.”

U18 Women:
1. Julia Kern (Cambridge Sports Union/New England)
2. Mattie Watts (Endurance United/Midwest)
3. Vivian Hett (LNR/Midwest)
4. Zoe Snow (CSU/New England)
5. Sarah Bezdicek (LNR/Midwest)
6. Katharine Ogden (Stratton/New England)
7. Emily Hyde (Mt. Bachelor/Pacific Northwest)
8. Hannah Peterson (Durango/Rocky Mountain)
9. Olivia Ekblad (Methow Valley Nordic/Pacific Northwest)
10. Racquel Wohlk (Nordicwerks/Midwest)
Fun Fact: With at least five national titles in the last two years, Kern, 16, racked up her first victory of the 2014 championships. In her free time, she says she likes to surf around New England in places like Cape Cod or Hampton “and do photography and film stuff.”

Three New Englanders race for gold in the U20 men’s classic sprint A-final: with Fabian Stocek (2) ultimately taking first, Cole Morgan (l) placing second overall and Jack Hegman (5) finishing third at Junior Nationals in Stowe, Vt.

U20 Men:
1. Fabian Stocek (Holderness School/New England)
2. *Cole Morgan (University of Vermont/New England)
3. Jack Hegman (UVM/New England)
4. Jack Schrupp (Gunstock/New England)
5. Patrick McElravey (Middlebury/Far West)
6. Haakon Sigurslid (Durango/Rocky Mountain)
7. Scott Harrison (LNR/Midwest)
8. Luke Brown (LNR/Midwest)
9. Connor Gray (BSF/Intermountain)
10. Andrew Egger (LNR/Midwest)
*Top American

Fun Facts: Originally from the Czech Republic, Stocek, 19, is a freshman at Dartmouth College and according to a NENSA blog post from a couple years ago, a fierce competitor at the game Twister. Morgan, a UVM sophomore, won his second-straight U.S. title in as many races at this year’s Junior Nationals. He shared the podium with his college teammate, Hegman, who hails from Huntington, Vt.

New England’s Heidi Halvorsen after winning Wednesday’s classic sprint for her first national title at 2014 Junior Nationals in Stowe, Vt.

U20 Women:
1. Heidi Halvorsen (New England)
2. Ulrika Axelsson (Michigan Tech/Great Lakes)
3. Kelsey Phinney (New England)
4. Hannah Benson (Williams Outing Club/New England)
5. Kristen Bourne (Northern Michigan University/Midwest)
6. Sadie James (Bates College/New England)
7. Nora Gilbertson (St. Olaf College/Midwest)
8. Marion Woods (Alaska Winter Stars/Alaska)
9. Joelle Rommo (BSF/Intermountain)
10. Maddy Pfeifer (Andover Outing Club/New England)
Fun Fact: According to Halvorsen, 18, she has podiumed five times at Junior Nationals, and this was her first victory. A 2013 graduate of the Green Mountain Valley School Ski Academy, Trapps was her home course. When she’s not skiing: “I have a lot of grannie pastimes,” she says, “like knitting and troll making and quilting.”

Complete results

Day 1 All-Americans
March 6, 2014
Junior Nationals: Top-10 Recognition
Tara Humphries (Bates College/New England) racing to a victory at 2014 Junior Nationals in the women’s 5 k classic individual start on Monday at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vt.

FasterSkier’s coverage is made possible through the generous support of Madshus.

STOWE, Vt. — Giving a little recognition where it’s due, here’s a look at the top-10 skiers in each of Monday’s classic individual starts on Day 1 of U.S. Junior Nationals. Classic sprints kick off today with qualifiers at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time; heats start at 1 p.m. Follow FasterSkier on Twitter and Instagram, as well as the 2014 Junior Nationals website for updates.

U16 Men’s 5 k
1. Zach Williams, 14 (Sun Valley/Intermountain)
2. Hunter Wonders, 15 (Alaska Pacific University/Alaska)
3. Forrest Hamilton, 15 (Mansfield/New England)
4. Peter Wolter, 15 (Sun Valley/Intermountain)
5. Leo Lukens, 15 (Mt. Bachelor/Pacific Northwest)
6. Adam Glueck, 14 (Ford Sayre/New England)
7. Daniel Streinz, 15 (Maine WSC/New England)
8. Will Balcao, 15 (Alaska Winter Stars/Alaska)
9. River Vorse, 15 (Sun Valley/Intermountain)
10. Russell Boswell, 14 (Stratton/New England)
Fun Fact: Williams won by exactly 7 seconds and led four Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation juniors in the top 12 of his race.

U18 Men’s 10 k
1. Peter Holmes, 17 (Unleashed Coaching/Far West)
2. Zak Ketterson, 16 (Loppet Nordic Racing/Midwest)
3. Ian Torchia, 17 (LNR/Midwest)
4. Lars Hannah, 17 (Steamboat Springs/Rocky Mountain)
5. Paolo Takagi-Atilano, 16 (Boulder/Rocky Mountain)
6. Ben Hegman, 17 (Mansfield/New England)
7. Braden Becker, 17 (Maine WSC/New England)
8. Gavin McEwen, 16 (Cambridge Sports Union/New England)
9. Thomas O’Harra, 17 (APU/Alaska)
10. Nick Gardener, 17 (Endurance United/Midwest)
Fun Fact: According to fifth-place finisher Paolo Takagi-Atilano’s profile on the National Nordic Foundation website, his name is pronounced “Pow’-loh” and he’s fine with people calling him by his first name “because who wants to deal with Takagi-Atilano?”

U20 Men’s 10 k
1. Cole Morgan, 19 (University of Vermont/New England)
2. Fabian Stocek, 19 (Holderness School/GST)
3. Jack Hegman, 19 (UVM/New England)
4. Oscar Friedman, 19 (Dartmouth/Rocky Mountain)
5. Haakon Sigurslid, 18 (Durango/Rocky Mountain)
6. Patrick McElravey, 19 (Middlebury/Far West)
7. Mathew Nichols, 19 (University of Wisconsin-Green Bay/Midwest)
8. Sam Elfstrom, 19 (Northern Michigan University/Midwest)
9. Jack Schrupp, 18 (Gunstock/New England)
10. Blaine Ayotte, 18 (St. Lawrence University/New England)
Fun Fact: Morgan, a college sophomore from Bozeman, Mont., won by more than 35 seconds.

U16 Women’s 5 k
1. Hailey Swirbul, 15 (Aspen/Rocky Mountain)
2. Leah Lange, 15 (Park City/Intermountain)
3. Hannah Halvorsen, 15 (Sugar Bowl/Far West)
4. Leah Brams, 15 (CSU/New England)
5. Amanda Kautzer, 15 (LNR/Midwest)
6. Hannah Rudd, 15 (LNR/Midwest)
7. Kathleen O’Connell, 15 (Steamboat Springs/Rocky Mountain)
8. Lydia Youkey, 14 (Leavenworth/Pacific Northwest)
9. Lizzie Larkins, 15 (Auburn/Far West)
10. Claire Benton, 15 (LNR/Midwest)
Fun Fact: Swirbul won her first national title by nearly 15 seconds. In January at the U.S. Cross Country Championships in Midway, Utah, she placed second in the junior 5 k freestyle mass start.

U18 Women’s 5 k
1. Katharine Ogden, 16 (Stratton/New England)
2. Vivian Hett, 17 (LNR/Midwest)
3. Gretchen Burkholder, 17 (Steamboat Springs/Rocky Mountain)
4. Julia Kern, 16 (CSU/New England)
5. Hannah Peterson, 17 (Durango/Rocky Mountain)
6. Racquel Wohlk, 16 (Nordicwerks/Midwest)
7. Mattie Watts, 17 (Endurance United/Midwest)
8. Emily Hyde, 17 (Mt. Bachelor/Pacific Northwest)
9. Zoe Snow, 17 (CSU/New England)
10. Sarrissa Lammers, 17 (Alaska Nordic Racing/Alaska)
Fun Fact: Ogden was the fastest overall in the U18/U20 women’s 5 k, edging Hett by 2.3 seconds. It is her second national title after winning the junior 5 k freestyle mass start at U.S. Cross Country Championships in January.

U20 Women’s 5 k
1. Tara Humphries, 18 (Bates College/New England)
2. Hannah Benson, 18 (Williams Outing Club/New England)
3. Sadie James, 18 (Bates/New England)
4. Ulrika Axelsson, 19 (Michigan Tech/GST)
5. Maddy Pfeifer, 19 (Andover Outing Club/New England)
6. Kelsey Phinney, 19 (New England)
7. Heidi Halvorsen, 18 (New England)
8. Nora Gilbertson, 19 (St. Olaf College/Midwest)
9. Maggie Williams, 18 (Sun Valley/Intermountain)
10. Kristin Bourne, 18 (NMU/Midwest)
Fun Facts: Two Bates skiers shared the podium, and Axelsson, a college freshman from Sweden, was just 0.6 seconds from third in fourth.
March 4, 2014