By Penny Smythe
Published: Feb. 29, 2024
For the first time in over 20 years, a World Cup race was held on American snow in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Hosted by the Loppet Foundation, this was a significant moment for American cross-country skiing. It was also a historic race for Gus Schumacher who placed 1st in the 10km Individual Freestyle race on Sunday, Feb. 18.
Pictured: Rosie Brennan in freestyle sprints by U.S. Ski and Snowboard and photographed Anna Engel.
The event brought more than 40,000 fans to the race venue cheering on our APU skiers and Team USA as they raced through the trails. Dubbed “Possibly the craziest experience of my career” by Rosie Brennan, it was a week that our skiers and ski community will remember for a very long time! APU and Alaska had a great showing in person that meant a lot to our ski community.
On Sunday, Feb. 18 for the men’s 10km APU had a total of 7 men and 1 Alumni skier race: Scott Patterson, Zanden McMullen, Luke Jager, Hunter Wonders, Michael Earnhart, and David Norris (APU Alumni/team Birkie). In the women’s 10km race, APU had 2 skiers, Rosie Brennan, Novie McCabe, and 1 APU Alumni Jessica Yeaton (racing for Australia/team Birkie). To watch a recording of the race, click here.
“This weekend was about so much more than the races…we showed the world how far cross-country skiing has come in America, how much we care, how much our community supports us and stands behind us, and how we aren’t slowing down,” said Rosie Brennan, Olympian and APU Nordic Elite Team skier.
The race on Saturday, Feb. 17 was the freestyle sprints where our skiers got their first taste of racing in America in a packed venue and felt the support from the crowd. If you missed the sprints, click here to watch the race. APU had 5 men and 2 women race for sprint day: Zanden McMullen, Michael Earnhart, Luke Jager, Gus Schumacher, JC Schoonmaker, Rosie Brennan, and Renae Anderson. 3 of those skiers moved past qualification rounds with JC Schoonmaker, Gus Schumacher, and Rosie Brennan Racing into the quarter-finals. Following the sprints, the same sentiment flowed through our skiers:
“That was awesome.” -JC Schoonmaker
“I was more proud than I’ve ever been to be an American skier today.” –Gus Schumacher
“Coolest 3.5 minutes of my life.” –Renae Anderson
Having a World Cup race was significant bringing World Cup cross-country skiing back to the United States. There were other underlying sentiments that meant so much to our community from showing how far American cross-country skiing has come to inspiring a younger generation watching the races.
“Yesterday (Sunday, Feb. 18) was a big day for U.S. Skiing…The USA put on an incredible show, both with racing and the love of the sport,” said Erik Flora, Program Director and Head Coach for the APU Nordic Elite Ski Team.
Pictured: Gus Schumacher on the podium for a 1st place finish in 1st in the 10km Individual Freestyle race photographed by Anna Engel.
APU had 10 Elite Team skiers and 2 former APU athletes who earned starts in the Minneapolis Loppet World Cup. Coach Erik Flora and former APU coach, Dylan Watts supported as wax tech. Congratulations to:
Men
Michael Earnhart
JC Schoonmaker
Gus Schumacher
Zanden McMullen
Luke Jager
Hunter Wonders
Scott Patterson
David Norris (APU Alumni/ current Team Birkie)
Women
Rosie Brennan
Novie McCabe
Renae Anderson
Jessica Yeaton (APU Alumni/current Team Birkie)
Thank you to all our sponsors for helping our skiers qualify for the Minneapolis World Cup!
ConocoPhillips Alaska | Advanced Physical Therapy of Alaska | Borah Teamwear | Hestra Gloves
Pictured: APU Nordic Elite Ski Team photographed by Anna Engel.
