Park City, UT (May 6, 2026) - U.S. Ski & Snowboard officially announces the 21 athletes who have been nominated to the 2026-27 Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard announces its teams in two phases: nomination and acceptance. The athletes are formally nominated to the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team in May. Pending their acceptance of the nomination and adherence to the team expectations outlined in team criteria, athletes will be officially announced to the team in October 2026.

The 2026–27 roster is led by two-time Olympic silver medalist Ben Ogden, Olympic silver medalist Gus Schumacher, World Cup podium finisher JC Schoonmaker and two-time World Championships medalist Julia Kern. At the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games, Ogden snapped a 50-year medal drought with silver in the classic sprint, becoming the first American man to medal since Bill Koch in 1976. Days later, Schumacher joined Ogden to capture another silver medal in the team sprint – marking the team’s third medal of the Games, alongside Jessie Diggins’ bronze. Diggins retired at the end of the 2025-26 season.

The Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team features several new names, including three athletes breaking through to the national team: Jack Leveque, Neve Gerard and Corbin Carpenter. 

2026-27 Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team

(Hometown; Club; College; Birthdate)

A TEAM

Men

• Ben Ogden (Burlington, VT; Stratton Mountain School; University of Vermont; 2/13/2000)
• James "JC" Schoonmaker (Lake Tahoe, CA; Alaska Pacific University; University of Alaska Anchorage; 8/12/2000)
• Gus Schumacher (Anchorage, AK; Alaska Pacific University; University of Alaska Anchorage; 7/25/2000)

B TEAM
Women

• Julia Kern (Waltham, MA; Stratton Mountain School; Dartmouth College; 9/12/1997)
• Kendall Kramer (Fairbanks, AK; Alaska Pacific University; University of Alaska Fairbanks; 6/26/2002)
• Sophia Laukli (Yarmouth, ME; Aker-Dæhlie; University of Utah; 6/08/2000)
• Novie McCabe (Winthrop, WA; Alaska Pacific University; University of Utah; 12/15/2001)
• Samantha “Sammy” Smith (Boise, ID; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; Stanford University; 9/22/2005)
• Ava Thurston (Waterbury, VT; Dartmouth College; 10/6/2004)

Men

• John Steel Hagenbuch (Ketchum, ID; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; Dartmouth College; 10/1/2001)
• Zak Ketterson (Bloomington, MN; Team Birkie; Northern Michigan University; 4/2/1997)
• Zanden McMullen (Anchorage, AK; Alaska Pacific University; 5/31/2001)
• Jack Young (Jay, VT; Craftsbury Green Racing Project; Colby College; 12/17/2002)

DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Women

• Haley Brewster (Avon, CO; Stratton Mountain School; University of Vermont; 6/6/2003)
• Neve Gerard (Bend, OR; University of Utah; 3/20/2006)*
• Sydney Palmer-Leger (Park City, UT; Mansfield Nordic Pro Team; University of Utah; 2/4/2002)

Men

• Corbin Carpenter (Aspen, CO; University of Alaska Anchorage; 12/2/2004)*
• Tabor Greenberg (Moretown, VT; University of Vermont; 5/4/2006)
• Zach Jayne (Bend, OR; Stratton Mountain School; University of Utah; (3/30/2004)
• Murphy Kimball (Anchorage, AK; Alaska Winter Stars; University of Alaska Anchorage; 7/16/2006)
• Jack Leveque (Anchorage, AK; Alaska Winter Stars; 5/3/2009)*

*Newly named to the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team

Article written & provided by Rosie Brennan - 

I struggle with the word retirement because I hope to ski and race as long as I possibly can, but my time as a World Cup athlete has come to an end. I continue to battle my health with few answers, and that has taken a toll both physically and mentally. I dreamed of finishing on a high and on my own terms, and I feel some amount of disappointment that this isn’t that. But something that skiing has given me is a deep appreciation for challenging myself and finding joy in the process of learning, and this year provided plenty of that. 

As I reflect on my World Cup career, I am most proud of showing up every day, having developed perseverance through overcoming many obstacles and difficult periods, and using my desire to learn and grow to become competitive in every event. I am immensely thankful for my teammates, past and present, who aided me along on this journey, gave me so much joy in the process, and have continued to be loving friends. My deepest gratitude is to Erik Flora and APU Nordic Ski Center. There is little doubt in my mind that any of this would have been possible without APU having welcomed me, without Erik’s unwavering commitment to helping me grow not just as a skier, but as a full human, and without the productive training environment he has created. I couldn’t imagine a better life than making my passion a career. It makes for low lows and high highs, and that makes life feel so real and so full. 

I love learning and am excited to pursue other passions and seek mastery in new arenas. I will be enrolling in a Master's of Sports Nutrition at Liverpool John Moores University this fall. I hope to give my body more time to heal and my mind new challenges to take on. I don’t know exactly how skiing will fit into my life moving forward, but I do know it will, and I do believe I will put on a race bib as soon as my body is ready.

Thank you to the Stifel U.S. Ski Team for the opportunity to represent the U.S. 310 times and to all the techs, PTs, MTs, coaches, sponsors, suppliers, and everyone who has cheered along the way.  To have had the opportunity to make skiing a career has been a dream come true – this is not the end, just a new chapter. 

Thank you, 
Rosie Brennan
Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team
Three-time Olympian

There was a moment of quiet at the beginning of the race. It was hard to tell if it was because the speaker cut out or if the crowd was holding its collective breath waiting for the start gun to go off, but suddenly a sound broke the silence. “Thank you!!!” a small, clear voice echoed throughout the stadium, coming from a sparkle-laden Jessie Diggins at the front of the pack of awaiting ski racers. She smiled through tears, waved and blew a kiss to the crowd of tens of thousands in Lake Placid. Moments later, she took off from the start line in the last ski race of her career. 

She finished 12th. It wasn’t the result she wanted, hindered by a fall on the final descent in the last kilometer of the race, but it didn’t matter. She ended her career in style, greeted by her teammates, competitors, coaches, family and friends in the finish with spraying champagne and sobs.

“That was so incredibly special,” said Diggins through tears. “All the people out there chanting, my family out there, the team… I'm just gonna miss everyone so much. Sorry. I just have so many big feelings because this sport has been a huge part of my life. And they've all become my family.”

The 20k skate mass start wrapped the Stifel Lake Placid Finals and the 2025-26 season. While she may not have podiumed in the final race, Diggins did get a chance to stand in front of the roaring home crowd to collect the overall FIS Crystal Globe, the most coveted award in ski racing for being the top athlete throughout the entire season, from her longtime coach, Jason Cork. She also secured the distance Globe, which her parents awarded her. 

As Diggins collected her myriad awards and took photos with her Stifel U.S. Ski Team family, a group quietly formed at the World Cup start. In two semi-straight lines were 600 kids, sporting flags, glitter, face paint, team gear and cross country skis for a final lap with Jessie Diggins. Diggins pulled a bright pink bib over her team jacket that said “Thank you!” and pied piped the hundreds of children through the stadium, young kids who will hopefully toe the start line in future nationals, World Cup races or even the 2034 Olympics in Utah. 

--

Behind Diggins, Kendall Kramer skied to 28th. Hailey Swirbul was 31st, Ava. Thurston 32nd, Katey Houser 34th, Novie McCabe 35th, Julia Kern 43rd, Lucinda Anderson 44th, Alayna Sonnesyn 46th, Sammy Smith 50th, Rosie Brennan 57th and Emma Albrecht 59th.

Jonna Sundling of Sweden won the race with teammate Linn Svahn second. Heidi Weng of Norway finished third. 

On the men’s side, Gus Schumacher was the first American in 20th place. It was another Norwegian sweep with Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo winning his second race of the weekend; he won Friday’s 10k classic and skipped Saturday’s sprint. Harald Oestberg Amundsen was second and Einar Hedegart third. 

Hunter Wonders was 35th, JC Schoonmaker 38th, Zanden McMullen 39th, Benjamin Dohlby 44th, Brian Bushey 47th, Ben Ogden 52nd, Zak Ketterson 55th, Luke Jager 58th, Michael Earnhart 62nd, John Steel Hagenbuch 69th, Zachary Jayne 70th

--

Even with wet snow, rain and East Coast chill, the hearty ski racing community showed up to watch the best ski racers in the world and send off a legend in their sport, with a crowd of more than 35,000 people showing up at Lake Placid over the three days. On nearly everybody's cheeks lay sparkles, showing that while Diggins’ professional career may be done, her legacy will live on for generations to come. 

RESULTS
Women’s 20k skate
Men’s 20k skate

Under clear skies and in front of a roaring American crowd, Jessie Diggins and JC Schoonmaker led the Stifel U.S. Ski Team in Saturday’s sprint at the Stifel Lake Placid Finals, each finishing ninth in a tightly contested day of racing.

The energy at Mt Van Hoevenberg was undeniable, with fans lining the course and packing the stadium early, creating an electric atmosphere even at qualifiers. The crowd grew louder throughout the day, especially as the Americans took to the course in the heats.

The Stifel U.S. Ski Team put eight athletes into the heats from qualifiers. Diggins, Julia Kern and Sammy Smith represented the American women, while Schoonmaker, Ben Ogden, Gus Schumacher, Jack Young and Zanden McMullen led the charge for the men.

In the quarterfinals, Diggins and Schoonmaker kept their days alive by advancing as lucky losers in dramatic fashion, narrowly securing spots in hard-fought fast heats. The rest of the U.S. squad battled through the quarters, skiing well in front of the home crowd, but ultimately fell just short of advancing.

With a place in the finals on the line, both Diggins and Schoonmaker delivered all-out efforts to fight through a course made challenging by sections of soft, tricky snow. Despite their strong pushes, both did not qualify for finals and finished ninth overall. 

“We're having fun out here and it's not just about winning,” said Diggins. “It's not the results. It's putting down a really solid effort. It's giving your best. It's challenging yourself and it's going out there and just racing with integrity and hugging your competitors from around the world. And I really, I hope they see that and just get to absorb that.”

“We’ve got the best fans in the world out here right now,” said Schoonmaker. “It's electric. I was just trying to race my hardest for them and they gave me so much extra energy. The last couple weeks, I haven't been racing that well and today to qualify in front of them… I think it's all because of those people on the last hill. I was just trying to do it for them.”

Diggins also gushed about the atmosphere of Lake Placid, which has been only the second time racing a World Cup in the U.S. in her long career. “This is so special," she said. "This is the best venue of the entire season, hands down. It's been so fun and we still have another day to go!”

Rounding out the Americans, Smith was 17th and Kern 26th. Ava Thurston finished 38th, Lauren Jortberg 40th, Rosie Brennan 42nd, Alayna Sonnesyn 44th, Hailey Swirbul 45th, Emma Albrecht 48th, Erin Bianco 53rd, Nina Schamberger 54th and Renae Anderson 61st. On the men’s side, Young was 13th, McMullen 15th, Ogden 17th, Schumacher 21st, Zachary Jayne 33rd, Zak Ketterson 39th, Murphy Kimball 42nd, Kevin Bolger 43rd, John Schwinghamer 54th, Will Koch 55th and Owen Young 64th. 

The Stifel Lake Placid Finals will conclude Sunday with the 20k skate mass start, which will mark Diggins’ final race as a professional skier. The day will also celebrate her historic season, as she is set to receive both the overall Crystal Globe, which she clinched in Friday's 10k, and the distance title.

RESULTS
Women’s sprint
Men’s sprint

HOW TO WATCH STIFEL LAKE PLACID FINALS
(all times ET)

SUNDAY, MARCH 22
12:30 p.m. - men's 20k skate mass start - LIVE on Outside TV (free)
2:30 p.m. - women's 20k skate mass start - LIVE on Outside TV (free)

SUNDAY, MARCH 29
1:00 p.m. - women's 20 skate mass start - TAPE DELAY on NBC, Peacock

Battling heavy, wet snowfall and backed by a roaring home crowd, Jessie Diggins and Gus Schumacher led the charge for the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team in the 10k classic at the Stifel Lake Placid Cup, taking fifth and seventh place, respectively. Ben Ogden was just out of the top 10 in 11th place. Diggins also clinched the Overall World Cup Crystal Globe, the fourth of her career and third in a row. Diggins clinched the Distance Crystal Globe last weekend in the Holmenkollen 50k. This was Ogden's best distance race of the 2025-26 season, John Steel Hagenbuch's best classic race of his career, among other fantastic results. 

The Stifel Lake Placid Cup marked just the second time in two years that the COOP FIS Cross Country World Cup has returned to U.S. soil, following the Stifel Loppet Cup in Minneapolis in 2024, and the fans showed up in force once again, battling cold temperatures and snowfall throughout the day.

The women’s race proved especially demanding, with heavy snow falling throughout the competition and quickly deteriorating track conditions as snow caked the tracks and forced athletes to fight for every stride. Diggins stayed composed throughout, navigating the tough conditions to secure a commendable fifth place finish. 

“I had so much fun out there!” said Diggins. “It was so cool. The crowds were amazing. The fact that so many people came out here in a snowstorm and were out in the woods just cheering, screaming. It was so exciting. I felt so loved. And my big goal was to have fun and to just go as hard as I could one last time in a classic race and to really be present and involved.”

It was the first race of Diggins’ last World Cup race weekend of her career, having announced that she is retiring at the end of the season. “I think it was one of my best 10K classics of my life and that's a great way to end it,” she added. 

Sweden’s Lina Svahn took the victory with teammate Frida Karlsson in second, while Norway’s Heidi Weng rounded out the podium in third. 

Rounding out the Americans in the points, Rosie Brennan was 19th, followed by Kendall Kramer in 25th and Novie McCabe in 28th. Ava Thurston finished 33rd, Hailey Swirbul 34th, Alayna Sonnesyn 35th, Sammy Smith 47th, Emma Albrecht 48th, Renae Anderson 50th, Emma Reeder 53rd and Katey Houser 58th.

On the men’s side, Schumacher once again demonstrated his strength on home snow, building on momentum from his victory in the 10k skate at the 2024 Stifel Loppet Cup, as well as the team sprint silver medal in Milano Cortina with Ogden. Schumacher pushed to seventh place, a particularly impressive result in a classic race, while Ogden narrowly missed the top 10 in 11th. 

“Especially wearing my hat, people recognize me really easily, so they get fired up in the warm up,” said Schumacher, who sports a cow-print Skida hat. “The race was cool. It was really easy to push hard with the people cheering so close, like a bike race or something.” 

The rest of the American field saw John Steel Hagenbuch finish 32nd, Zanden McMullen 40th, Zachary Jayne 49th, Brian Bushey 50th, JC Schoonmaker 53rd, Reid Goble—fresh off guiding Jake Adicoff to double Paralympic gold—56th, Benjamin Dohlby 62nd, Hunter Wonders 63rd, Michael Earnhart 67th and Luke Jager 70th. 

Norway dominated the men’s race, sweeping the top five positions, with Johannes Høsflot Klæbo taking the win ahead of Andreas Fjorden Ree in second and Mattis Stenshagen in third.

Following the podium, the day concluded with a celebratory final lap featuring former U.S. Ski Team legends, including Olympic gold medalist Kikkan Randall, many of whom wore retro race suits representing different generations of the team dating back to 1976.

Racing continues on Saturday with the men’s and women’s skate sprint starting at 10:30 a.m. ET for qualifiers and 1 p.m. ET for heats. 

RESULTS
Women’s 10k classic
Men’s 10k classic

HOW TO WATCH STIFEL LAKE PLACID FINALS
(all times ET)

SATURDAY, MARCH 21
10:30 a.m. - sprint qualifiers - LIVE on Outside TV (free)
1:00 p.m. - sprint heats - LIVE on Outside TV & NBC, Peacock 
3:00 p.m. - women & men's 10k - TAPE DELAY on CNBC, Peacock

SUNDAY, MARCH 22
12:30 p.m. - men's 20k skate mass start - LIVE on Outside TV (free)
2:30 p.m. - women's 20k skate mass start - LIVE on Outside TV (free)

SUNDAY, MARCH 29
1:00 p.m. - women's 20 skate mass start - TAPE DELAY on NBC, Peacock