Knock, Knock: We're Here!

World Cup: Oslo

Fri, Feb  25, 2011 - By US Ski Team

OSLO, Norway (Feb. 24) – As a roaring crowd ooed and aahed as triumphs and disappointments took center stage at the FIS World Nordic Ski Championships, a new generation of U.S. cross country skiers entered the famed Holmenkollen Ski Stadium. Not fazed by the boisterous spectators, the USA's Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA) and Jessie Diggins (Afton, MN) let the world know they were knocking on the door and were ready to enter.

In fact, it was an historic day for U.S. cross country skiing with five athletes qualifying for the final heats – more than any previous World Championships or Olympics.

Despite being a day filled with first experiences, the young up-and-comers proved they were all business Thursday with Bjornsen and Diggins joining World Championship favorite Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) in the finals. Taking to the start line with an expression of pure focus tranquilizing their faces, Bjornsen and Diggins showed poise, maturity and drive finishing inside the top 30 in 24th and 25th.

"Today was a day of experiences and it was exciting from the start," said APU Nordic skier Bjornsen, who had a carefully choeorographed routine, blowing a kiss to tens of millions of TV viewers when she was introduced before her heat. "Even going out on the warm-up course you could see all the fans and hear them cheering. I just had my eyes wide open and then the results just came! It was really fun to qualify. Then I had a chance to ski more with the girls and see how fast they are going. It's good to see what it's going to look like when you go fast!"

Diggins, like Bjorsen, was wowed by fans and the magnitude of the event. But like she had been at this level of an event before, Diggins dialed in her concentration zoning out the pulsating stadium.

"This is the first really big event I've ever been in. There was a wall of sound and flags," said Diggins, who skis out of the Central XC program. "It was overwhelming. I had to remind myself 'Ok, focus. Stop watching the people dancing in the stands'. It really gets me fired up and is inspiring."

Racing alongside of Bjornsen, Diggins and Randall was Ida Sargent (Orleans, VT) – a young cross country skier on the Dartmouth College Ski Team. Despite not advancing past the qualifying rounds, Sargent was proud to be competing as part of the decorated field.

"My legs were dead out there today, I didn't have anything left in them," admitted Sargent who finished in 45th. "But I'm psyched to be here."

With beaming smiles on their faces and a boost of self confidence in their systems the three young women are still hungry and wanting more.

"It's good to start World Championships on a high note," said Bjornsen. "Now I know where to go from here."

Watch out cross country world – a new generation has arrived!