Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at Team Birkie!
Minnesota-born women making up 3/4 women that started the Tour de Ski this past weekend. Two of these from Team Birkie!!
Left: Jessie Diggins, Luci Anderson and Alayna Sonnesyn.
Photo Credit: Nordic Insights.
As the year comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to thank YOU for your generosity, belief, and continued support of Team Birkie, reflect on what has already been an extraordinary start to the season, and share a glimpse of what lies ahead. This time of year is always special — a chance to pause, celebrate progress, and recognize the community that makes everything we do possible.
We are so grateful for the role you play in empowering our athletes, and we hope we can continue to count on your support as we wrap up 2025 and head into 2026.
The early part of this winter has been nothing short of historic for Team Birkie. Before the calendar has even turned to the new year, our World Team athletes have already achieved seven top-30 finishes at the World Cup — a new record for our program. These results reflect not only standout individual performances but also the steady growth and consistency of the entire team on the world’s biggest stage.
Zak Ketterson during the 2nd stage of the Tour de Ski 10km classic in Toblach, Italy.
Photo Credit: Bildbyrån.
We are also incredibly proud to share that four Team Birkie athletes qualified for the Tour de Ski, one of the most demanding and prestigious events in cross-country skiing. Competing across multiple stages against the best athletes in the world is a true test of fitness, resilience, and preparation, and having four athletes represent Team Birkie at this level is a major milestone for our program.
The Tour de Ski continues over the next week with:
Toblach, Italy —
31st of December: 5km Skate Heat Mass Starts
1st of January: 20km Classic Pursuit
Val di Fiemme, Italy —
3rd of January: Classic Sprint
4th of January: 10km Skate Mass Start up Alpe de Cermis (an alpine Hill)
Kevin Bolger smiling in the sun in Toblach, Italy after getting his first Top 20 placement this season.
Photo Credit: Nordic Insights.
At the same time, it is an Olympic year, which adds an extra layer of importance to every race, result, and training decision. That intensity is reflected across the entire program. This week, 18 Team Birkie athletes will compete at US Nationals in Lake Placid, marking a record-sized Team Birkie presence at the event. US Nationals will feature four races between January 4 and January 9 and serve as a critical benchmark for the remainder of the season.
Lake Placid US Nationals Racing Schedule:
January 4th: 10km Interval Start Classic
January 6th: Skate Sprint
January 8th: 20km Mass Start Skate
January 9th (SuperTour): Classic Sprint
Beyond cross-country skiing, Team Birkie has also continued to expand its impact on the biathlon side. This year, a record number of Team Birkie athletes have competed on the Biathlon World Cup circuit and scored World Cup points, another exciting indicator of the depth and versatility within the program.
What makes these accomplishments especially meaningful is that they are happening across all levels of the team — from athletes working towards qualifying for their first World Cup points, to those consistently placing among the top athletes in the world, to a growing group of developing athletes gaining valuable experience at national championships. It’s a reflection of a program that is not only achieving results, but building something sustainable for the future.
Seasons like this don’t happen by accident. International racing, domestic travel, coaching support, ski preparation, and training camps require significant resources, and the ability for our athletes to line up confident and prepared is directly tied to the support of the Team Birkie community. Every message of encouragement, every shared result, and every contribution helps create the environment that allows these athletes to chase big goals on both the national and international stage.
As we look ahead to the rest of the winter — from the final stages of the Tour de Ski to US Nationals and beyond — we’re excited, motivated, and incredibly grateful.
Thank you for being part of Team Birkie and for supporting our athletes through another memorable year. We wish you and your families a joyful holiday season, and we look forward to sharing more from the road and the racecourse soon.
Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and successful New Year!
Gitchi Gami Games at the American Birkebeiner ski trails the weekend before Christmas.
Image 1: Left: Jack Meinert, Right: David Ronnevik.
Image 2: Left: Eli Gore, Right: Henry Snider.
Image 3: Morgan Richter
