Randal leads 2013 Cross Country Team

HIGHLIGHTS

• Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) leads 13 athletes named to the 2013 U.S. Cross Country Ski Team.
• Newcomer Jessie Diggins (Afton, MN), who had a stellar debut World Cup season, moved up to the A Team as did Simi Hamilton (Aspen, CO). They join Randall along with Liz Stephen (Montpelier, VT), Kris Freeman (Andover, NH) and Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT).
• Diggins and teammate Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA) are coming off first time World Cup podiums, each of them pairing with Randall in team sprints last year.
• New to the team this year is veteran Holly Brooks (Anchorage), a 2010 Olympian who had a breakout season on the World Cup.
• Hamilton and Noah Hoffman (Aspen, CO), are coming off stellar seasons. Hamilton had a pair of top 10 World Cup sprints while Hoffman took silver in the U23 World Championships.
• A strong summer and fall of training focused on more frequent access to snow and partnerships with top World Cup national teams.
• A key camp for women on Alaska’s Eagle Glacier featured Olympic and World Championship medalists from Canada and Finland plus a camp in Sweden with the Swedish women’s team.
• The men’s team was on-snow on Austria’s Dachstein Glacier and the indoor ski hall in Oberhof, Germany.
• The season kicks off Nov. 24-25 in Gaellivare, Sweden and will be highlighted with FIS Nordic Ski World Championships Feb. 20-Mar. 3 in Val di Fiemme, Italy.
• The U.S. Cross Country Ski Team will send another full squad to the Tour de Ski stage race, Dec. 29-Jan. 6 at sites across Germany, Switzerland and Italy.

QUOTES

Kikkan Randall, World Cup sprint champion
I am really excited to build off the momentum from last season both for my individual goals and for what we can achieve as a team during this upcoming year. The confidence on the women's team is at an all-time high and with the depth we've created, we are focusing on relay success at the World Championship in February. I have been impressed with the high level of preparation seen across the team this summer and fall, and I believe we can turn some heads this winter!

Chris Grover, Head Coach
The team had an excellent summer and fall of preparation focusing on more frequent access to snow and partnerships with top World Cup national teams in order to add value to our team that is emerging as a serious World Cup contender. 

Our focus for the winter is identifying individual athlete performance strategies for major championship events like this year’s World Championships in Val di Fiemme and the Olympics next year in Sochi. 

The Team is coming off a season of strong performance. Kikkan Randall had six individual and two team podiums and was backed up by rookie Jessie Diggins and veteran Liz Stephen who each had breakout years. The men's team is led by veterans Andy Newell and Kris Freeman who have both demonstrated that they will be entering the 2012-13 season in top form, plus rookie Simi Hamilton who broke through with several top-10 World Cup performances last season as well as U23 silver-medalist Noah Hoffman.  

2013 U.S. Cross Country Ski Team Roster

Name, Hometown, Club (Skis, Boots, Bindings, Poles, Eyewear) Date of Birth
* Denotes Olympian
** Pursuing degree in Westminster College partnership program

A Team

• Jessie Diggins, Afton, MN, Stratton T2 (Salomon, Salomon, Salomon, One Way, Rudy Project) 8/26/1991
• Kris Freeman, Andover, NH, Maine Winter Sports Center (Fischer, Alpina, Rotefella, Swix, Oakley) 10/14/1980 *
• Simi Hamilton, Aspen, CO, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (Fischer, Alpina, Rotefella, Swix, Rudy Project) 5/14/1987 *
• Andy Newell, Shaftsbury, VT, Stratton T2 (Fischer, Salomon, Salomon, Swix, Rudy Project) 11/30/1983 *
• Kikkan Randall, Anchorage, Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center (Fischer, Salomon, Salomon, Swix, Rudy Project) 12/31/1982 *
• Liz Stephen, East Montpelier, VT, Burke Mountain Academy (Rossignol, Rossignol, Rossignol, One Way, Rudy Project) 1/12/1987 * **

B Team

• Sadie Bjornsen, Winthrop, WA, Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center (Fischer, Salomon, Salomon, Swix, Rudy Project) 11/21/1989
• Holly Brooks, Anchorage, Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center (Salomon, Salomon, Salomon, Swix, Rudy Project) 4/17/82 *
• Tad Elliott, Durango, CO, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail (Salomon, Salomon, Salomon, Swix, Oakley) 7/2/1988
• Noah Hoffman, Aspen, CO, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail (Madshus, Madshus, Rotefella, Madshus, Oakley) 8/1/1989 **
• Ida Sargent, Orleans, VT, Craftsbury Green Team (Fischer, Salomon, Salomon, Swix, Rudy Project) 1/25/1988

Development Team

• Erik Bjornsen, Winthrop, WA, Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center (Fischer, Fischer, Fischer, Swix, Rudy Project) 7/14/1991
• Skyler Davis, Jericho, VT, Stratton T2 (Fischer, Salomon, Salomon, Swix, Smith) 12/22/1991

Coaching Staff

• Chris Grover, Head Coach, Head Men’s Coach
• Matt Whitcomb, Head Women’s Coach
• Jason Cork, Assistant Coach
• Bryan Fish, Development Coach

World Cup Service Team

• Peter Johansson, Head of Service
• Randy Gibbs, Head of Glide
• Oleg Ragilo, Head of Kick
• Cory Wubbels, World Cup Service

Official Cross Country Suppliers
Uniforms
Bjørn Dæhlie

Equipment
Alpina
Atomic
Bolle
Briko
Fischer
Madshus
Oakley
One Way
POC
Rossignol
Rudy Project
Salomon
Swix

Wax, Tools and Training Devices
Bosu
Dominator
Holmenkol
Kenwood Radios
Sun Valley Ski Tools
Swix
Toko
Tools4boards
Wintersteiger
World Cup Supply