Soldier Hollow set for U.S. Championships

2014 U.S. Cross Country Championships

Fri, Jan  3, 2014 - By USSA

SOLDIER HOLLOW, UT (Jan. 2) – Around 350 of the top cross country skiers from U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association clubs from around the country will converge at the 2002 Olympic venue at Soldier Hollow beginning this weekend for the 2014 U.S. Cross Country Championships. It’s the second straight year Soldier Hollow has been the host site for the event. In addition to U.S. Championship titles, athletes will be vying for spots on the 2014 Junior World Ski Championship Team and U23 World Championships.

The 2002 Olympic venue of Soldier Hollow welcomes top U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association athletes from clubs across the nation for the 2014 U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships this weekend. (Sarah Brunson/U.S. Ski Team)

HIGHLIGHTS

• The 2002 Olympic venue of Soldier Hollow will be the site of the 2014 U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships beginning this weekend.
• The event will bring the top U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association athletes from clubs across the nation to Soldier Hollow.
• It’s the second straight year Soldier Hollow has been the host site.
• The U.S. Championships is a prominent event on the USSA SuperTour, with athletes getting double points at the Championships towards the SuperTour title. After three events, Brian Gregg and Caitlin Gregg (both Minneapolis) are leading men’s and women’s tours respectively.
• Other top athletes expected to compete are last year’s medalists including two-time winner Torin Koos (Wenatchee, WA, Bridger Ski Foundation) along with other gold medalists Jennie Bender (Johnson, VT, Bridger Ski Foundation), Rosie Brennan (Park City, UT, APU Nordic), Erik Bjornsen (Anchorage, APU Nordic) and Dakota Blackhorse von Jess (Bend, OR, Bend Endurance).
• In addition to U.S. Championship titles, teams will be named out of the event for the International Ski Federation’s Junior World Ski Championships Jan. 27-Feb. 3 in Val di Fiemme, Italy, as well as the U23 World Championships.
• In addition, the College Cup will be awarded to the best college team over the two distance races. A Grand National Champion will be awarded to the best skier over all races, including the distance championships to be held in Anchorage in late March. Cash prizes will be paid to the top three finishers.
• The Championships are scored on the International Ski Federation Cross Country Points List, which is used as a part of Olympic selection after World Cup results.
• Foreign entrants in the Championships are not eligible for U.S. titles.

 

U.S. CROSS COUNTRY SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS
Soldier Hollow

Saturday, Jan. 4
10:00 a.m., Women’s 10k classic (individual start)
12:00 p.m., Men’s 15k classic (individual start)

Sunday, Jan. 5
10:00 a.m., Men’s freestyle sprint qualification
11:00 a.m., Women’s freestyle sprint qualification
12:30 p.m., Men’s and women’s freestyle sprint heats

Wednesday, Jan. 8
10:00 a.m., Men’s 30k and women’s 20k freestyle (mass start)

Friday, Jan. 10
10:00 a.m., Men’s classic sprint qualifications
11:00 a.m., Women’s classic sprint qualifications
12:30 p.m., Men’s and women’s classic sprint heats