2014-15 U.S. Cross Country Ski Team announced

Mon, Nov  24, 2014 - By USSA

PARK CITY, UT (Nov. 24) – The 2014-15 U.S. Cross Country Ski Team was announced today on the eve of the International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup opener this weekend in Ruka, Finland. All 10 members of the A and B Teams are past members of Olympic and World Championship teams, including defending World Champions Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, AK) and Jessie Diggins (Afton, MN). 12 athletes were named in total to the A, B and D Teams.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 12 athletes were formally named to the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team on the eve of the 2014-15 FIS World Cup season that begins Nov. 29-30 in Ruka, Finland.
• World Champions: Headlining the team are defending World Champions Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) and Jessie Diggins (Afton, MN). The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships will be a major focal point in the season Feb. 17 - March 1 in Falun, Sweden.
• Defending the Globe: Randall will be defending the World Cup sprint title she won the last three seasons.
• Move to A Team: Strong 2014 seasons boosted Simi Hamilton and Sophie Caldwell from B to A Team. Hamilton won a stage of the Tour de Ski while Caldwell finished in sixth in the Olympic freestyle sprint, the best women’s cross country Olympic result in USA history.
• Strong Prep Period: The Team spent much of October training in Park City at the Center of Excellence and Soldier Hollow, before an on-snow stint at the Canmore Olympic Park in Canada. Earlier, the Team had good on-snow camps at Mt. Bachelor in May and on Alaska’s Eagle Glacier in July. The camps have been vital in working on individual technique issues. The team is prepping for the opener with an on-snow camp now in Muonio, Finland.
• Tour de Ski: All 10 A and B Team athletes will start the Jan. 3-11 seven-stage Tour de Ski—a major focus of the season. Some athletes will race through the Toblach stages, while three to four will likely compete in the full tour.
• World Championships Team: The World Championship Team will be named in January, based primarily on World Cup results.

QUOTES

Kikkan Randall, World Cup sprint champion
It’s great to be back in Europe ready to begin another season! We have a strong contingent of returning members from last season’s record breaking team and spirits are high as we head into the opening World Cup weekend in Ruka. World Championships in Sweden in February will be a big target for the team especially in the relay events. It feels great to have the whole team back together and we can’t wait to get the season started.

Chris Grover, Head Coach
This is a strong team with proven performance. Each year we see more depth. Kikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins showed that two years ago winning the World Championship team sprint. Noah Hoffman and Simi Hamilton each won stage legs last year. And Sophie Caldwell stepped onto her first World Cup podium in Lahti, Finland.

We are approaching the beginning of the season with more hard training than we have in the past, knowing that we may sacrifice performance in some of the early World Cups, with the intent of being sharpest in February for World Championships. The athletes have done the hard work that was necessary to take another big step forward in Falun.  

2015 U.S. Cross Country Ski Team Roster
Name, Hometown, Club (Skis, Boots, Bindings, Poles, Eyewear) Date of Birth

** World Championship Team member
*** Participating in Westminster College partnership program

A Team

• Sadie Bjornsen, Winthrop, WA, Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center (Fischer, Fischer, Rotefella, Swix, Rudy Project) 11/21/1989 * **
• Sophie Caldwell, Peru, VT, Stratton T2 (Fischer, Fischer, Rottefella, Swix, Rudy Project) 3/22/90 * **
• Jessie Diggins, Afton, MN, Stratton T2 (Salomon, Salomon, Salomon, One Way, Rudy Project) 8/26/1991 * ** ***
• Simi Hamilton, Aspen, CO, Stratton T2 (Fischer, Fischer, Rotefella, Swix, Rudy Project) 5/14/1987 * **
• Andy Newell, Shaftsbury, VT, Stratton T2 (Fischer, Fischer, Rotefella, Swix, Rudy Project) 11/30/1983 * **
• Kikkan Randall, Anchorage, Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center (Fischer, Fischer, Rotefella, Yoko, Rudy Project) 12/31/1982 * **
• Liz Stephen, East Montpelier, VT, Burke Mountain Academy (Rossignol, Rossignol, Rossignol, Exel, Rudy Project) 1/12/1987 * **

B Team

• Erik Bjornsen, Winthrop, WA, Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center (Rossignol, Rossignol, Rossignol, Swix, Oakley) 7/14/1991 * **
• Noah Hoffman, Aspen, CO, Team Homegrown (Madshus, Madshus, Rotefella, Madshus,) 8/1/1989 * **
• Ida Sargent, Orleans, VT, Craftsbury Nordic Ski Club (Fischer, Alpina, Rotefella, Swix, Rudy Project) 1/25/1988 * **

D Team

• Patrick Caldwell, Lyme, NH, Dartmouth Ski Team (Fischer, Fischer, Fischer, Swix) 2/18/1994
• Ben Saxton, Lakeville, MN, Stratton T2 (Fischer, Fischer, Fischer, Swix) 6/3/1993

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

World Cup Service Team
Peter Johansson, Head of Service, Head of Glide
Gus Kaeding, World Cup Technician
Oleg Ragilo, Head of Kick
Jean-Pascal Laurin, World Cup Technician

Official Cross Country Suppliers
Uniforms
Bjørn Dæhlie (BJ Sports)

Equipment and Clothing Suppliers
Alpina
Atomic
Bolle
Briko
Exel Poles
Fischer
Johaug Gloves
Madshus
Oakley
One Way
Rossignol
Rudy Project
Salomon
Swix
Toko
Yoko

Wax, Tools and Training Devices
Bosu
Dominator
EPS-Doublet
Holmenkol
Sun Valley Ski Tools
Swix
Toko
Wintersteiger
World Cup Supply

Uniform Logo Sponsors
Audi
BJ Sports
High Sierra
Nature Valley
Putnam
Sprint
Visa

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