Full recap from Nordic Insight HERE
The US SuperTour presented by the National Nordic Foundation resumed last weekend in Minneapolis for the a packed weekend of skiing at Theodore Wirth Park that included a joint SuperTour, collegiate race, and CXC Cup Junior National Qualifier. The Mayor’s XC Challenge, held in partnership with the Loppet Foundation, included a freestyle sprint Saturday and 20 k classic on Sunday. The weekend saw the return of familiar faces to the SuperTour circuit off extended stays on the World Cup, and as a result, some big shake-ups in the NNF Cup points standing.
The biggest change in the NNF cup competition that now includes a $3,000 prize, as announced last week, came in the Overall classification. With solid all-around team performances in both races, Bridger Ski Foundation (BSF) overtook the University of Utah for the first time since the SuperTour began in November. In the men’s field, the Montana club was led by the duo of Logan Diekmann and Finn O’Connell. In both races, Diekmann and O’Connell went back-to-back in the results, scoring a 3rd and 4th place finish in the sprint final Saturday, before finishing 2nd and 3rd with 0.2 seconds separating the pair in the 20 k Sunday. The duo also propelled BSF to the top of the Men’s classification, where they also overtook the University of Utah. On the Women’s side, BSF benefitted from the return of Sarah Goble after her first World Cup starts, with Goble skiing to a 3rd place finish on Saturday. Mariah Bredal led the way in the 20 k Classic, finishing 4th.
The other major change in Cup standings came in the Women’s classification. The Craftsbury Green Racing Project continued their strong SuperTour season, and overtook the University of Utah women for first place. The Vermont team was led by Alex Lawson and Margie Freed through the weekend. Lawson returned to the circuit after her first World Cup starts to place 4th in the sprint final Saturday, while Minneapolis native Margie Freed returned to Wirth Park in style Sunday, skiing alongside Lawson to finish 2nd and 3rd place.
The weekend’s top individual performances, meanwhile, went to the club duo of Stratton Mountain School T2 (SMST2) and Team Birkie. Each clubs saw outstanding performances from both their SuperTour regulars, and from their athletes who have spent the majority of the season on the World Cup. In the latter category for Team Birkie was Zak Ketterson, who was 2nd in the sprint and won the men’s 20 k, while in the former was Renae Anderson, who finished 2nd in the sprint. SMS T2 saw consecutive wins from two different athletes, meanwhile, with Lauren Jortberg winning the sprint Saturday, and Alayna Sonneysn winning the 20 k on Sunday. While both clubs remain down the rankings list in the NNF Cup, their strong performances drastically improved their standings.
The SuperTour stays in the Midwest for the region’s main skiing event this week, as athletes take on their first 50 k of the season at the American Birkebeiner Saturday.
Full Results
NNF Cup Standings After Mayor’s XC Challenge in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Overall
- Bridger Ski Foundation Pro Team – 908 points.
- University of Utah – 873 points.
- APU Nordic Ski Center – 707 points.
Men
- Bridger Ski Foundation Pro Team – 496 points.
- University of Utah – 460 points.
- APU Nordic Ski Center – 396 points.
Women
- Craftsbury Green Racing Project – 470 points.
- University of Utah – 413 points.
- Bridger Ski Foundation Pro Team – 412 points.
The NNF Cup celebrates club excellence in America’s premier domestic ski competition by tallying performance of club teams across the SuperTour season. The NNF Cup was awarded to Alaska Pacific University last season. Follow along on our website, Facebook, Instagram, and newsletter as we track this season’s cup!
NNF Cup Rules and Regulations can be found here.
Recent Comments