AP

Minnesota to host 1st World Cup XC ski event in US since ’01

Feb 14, 2023, 6:37 PM | Updated: Feb 15, 2023, 8:39 am

FILE - United States' Jessie Diggins competes during the women's 10km classic cross-country skiing ...

FILE - United States' Jessie Diggins competes during the women's 10km classic cross-country skiing competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics on Feb. 10, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, that Diggins’ home state of Minnesota will host a World Cup cross country ski event next February — a rare home-course advantage for the Americans. The races will be held at a scenic park in the middle of Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)

(AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)


              Jessie Diggins competes during the women's team sprint classic cross-country skiing competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics on Feb. 16, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, that Diggins’ home state of Minnesota will host a World Cup cross country ski event next February — a rare home-course advantage for the Americans. The races will be held at a scenic park in the middle of Minneapolis.  (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)
            
              FILE - United States' Jessie Diggins competes during the women's 10km classic cross-country skiing competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics on Feb. 10, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, that Diggins’ home state of Minnesota will host a World Cup cross country ski event next February — a rare home-course advantage for the Americans. The races will be held at a scenic park in the middle of Minneapolis.  (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)

Three-time Olympic cross-country skiing medalist Jessie Diggins can’t wait to show off Minnesota to her competitors.

To the world, too.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced Wednesday that Diggins’ home state of Minnesota will host a World Cup cross country ski event next February, giving the Americans a rare home-course advantage. This marks the first World Cup event the U.S. has hosted in the sport since 2001. The races will be held at Wirth Park in Minneapolis.

“This will be huge,” Diggins said of bringing a sport that’s European-event heavy to the state known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.”

“This will be the first time we’re able to show all the people who believe in us, who are passionate about cross-country skiing, who are getting involved in the sport — this is our chance to show them what it looks like and to share that energy with them,” Diggins added. “It’s really going to inspire a lot of people.”

A World Cup stop in Minnesota was originally scheduled to take place in March 2020. But just days before the races were to take place the event was called off due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, it’s slated to be back on the schedule for President’s Day weekend (Feb. 17-19, 2024), pending International Ski Federation confirmation. It’s being hosted by the ski team, along with nonprofit organizations the Loppet Foundation and Share Winter Foundation.

“We know that this event will be a huge success and allow our athletes to showcase their incredible talent in front of a community that has always supported this sport, and inspire the next generation of cross country skiers,” president and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard Sophie Goldschmidt said.

Diggins was nine years old the last time a World Cup cross-country skiing event took place on U.S. snow. It was at Soldier Hollow, Utah, in January 2001 — a test event before the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

“I did know a lot about cross country back then. I grew up pretty much skiing before I could walk,” cracked the 31-year-old Diggins, who hails from Afton, Minnesota. “Being able to finally race at this level in the United States, in my own country, that’s something I’ve been dreaming about.”

Over her storied career, Diggins has won 14 World Cup races, including a 20-kilometer individual start in Switzerland two months ago, with teammate Rosie Brennan taking third.

Diggins has captured Olympic medals of every color, too — gold from the team sprint at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, along with silver (sprint freestyle) and bronze (30-kilometer mass start) last February at the Beijing Olympics.

She’s already looking forward to competing in front of family and friends.

“The kids are going to line the course and be an arm’s length from the best athletes in the entire world,” said Diggins, who plans to compete at least through the 2026 Winter Games in Italy. “I’m so excited to share this with everyone.”

___

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/winter-olympics and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Minnesota to host 1st World Cup XC ski event in US since ’01