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Minnesota’s Jesse Diggins will race for Team USA in his home state for the first time.
The cross-country skiing World Cup was last held in the United States 20 years ago, making it a long-awaited return. But it happens in the middle of a Minnesota winter that has set records for mild temperatures.
Thanks to snow machines and dump trucks, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation was able to continue World Cup competition. The two-day event is scheduled for February 17th and 18th at Theodore Wirth Park.
This is the first time in 20 years that a ski tournament of this magnitude has been held in the United States.
“We created seven kilometers worth of ski trails that were about two feet deep, so we had a significant amount of snow in a short amount of time,” said Claire Wilson, executive director of the Loppet Foundation.
More than 150 athletes from 21 countries will compete in front of a sold-out crowd, but VIP tickets are still limited.
Much of the artificial snow has already been placed on the course, and with temperatures expected to drop into the 30s this weekend, Wilson said the team is confident in putting more snow on the track.
Skiers are used to both sub-zero temperatures and 50-degree weather, and are prepared to handle whatever conditions come their way on race day. Kristen Bourne and other Team USA coaches douse their skiers with water when the weather is warm and adjust their race suits to combat the heat.
“Athletes are good at adapting to different weather conditions, so that doesn’t necessarily affect their effort on the trail,” Vaughn said.
Snow conditions will affect the type of equipment used by athletes. Vaughn said ski selection is “essential” to an athlete’s performance on the track.
“Race results are generally very tough and you can lose a lot of time if your skis aren’t suited to the snow conditions,” Vaughn said.
World Cup athletes typically choose from around 40 different skis.
Athletes will work with coaching staff to test the skies and make their final selections right up until the race.
“It’s a very organized (process),” said Loppet Nordic Racing head coach Chris Harvey.
The Loppet Cup will be Diggins, a three-time Olympic medalist, racing in his home state for the first time. Her 300th World Cup will be this weekend at the Alberta World Cup in Canmore, Canada. Minneapolis will give me the opportunity to race where it all started.
A Minnesota skier defaulted to his family’s VHS tapes to watch pro skiing.
“Some of those tapes were three years old, but I still watched them with my family because it was the only way to watch the World Cup,” Diggins said.
Diggins is excited to race in front of the same people who supported her throughout her ski career. This event gives children the opportunity to see the world’s best skiers live and helps bring the sport to a diverse audience.
Athletes train full-time for 11 months of the year, with one month of minimal training, but they also train in the off-season. An athlete’s personal schedule revolves around training, which requires a great deal of dedication to their 24/7 lifestyle.
“I think this World Cup will help legitimize the sport in America because we’re always trying to grow this sport. I think this will be a big boost for us,” Diggins said. said.
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