Junior World Championships, U23 World Championships Team Announced

The Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team is sending 12 athletes to Lillehammer, Norway, for the 2026 Junior World Championships and 11 athletes to the U23 (Under-23) World Championships, March 2-8, 2026. The schedule will feature a skate sprint, 20k skate mass start, 10k classic interval start and 4x5k relay. Athletes named to the team qualified based on predetermined selection criteria. The full race schedule can be found on FIS. This trip is supported by the National Nordic Foundation (NNF). 

“I am incredibly proud to announce our 2026 World Junior and U23 World Championship Team,” said Greta Anderson, Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team development coach. “This group represents one of the deepest and most experienced international development teams we have assembled in recent years, and reflects the steady progress of our athlete pathway at the international level. Many of these athletes have already competed internationally, navigated championship environments and demonstrated the professionalism required to perform on the world stage and it positions us well as we continue to build toward long-term success for U.S. cross country skiing. I am proud of this team and confident in the way they represent our program, our country, and the future of U.S. skiing.”

Junior World Ski Championships Team
Women

• Neve Gerard (Bend, OR; University of Utah; 2006)
• Britta Johnson (Lake Tahoe, CA; Tahoe Endurance; 2007)
• Maeve Ingelfinger (Glacier, MT; Dartmouth College; 2006)
• Lena Poduska (Jackson Hole, WY; University of Vermont; 2007)
• Ally Wheeler (Casper, WY; University of Utah; 2007)

 Men

• Grey Barbier (Steamboat Springs, CO; Montana State University; 2006)
• Micah Bruner South (Londonbury, VT; Dartmouth College; 2006)
• Vebjorn Flagstad (Anchorage, AK; Alaska Winter Stars; 2007)
• Tabor Greenberg (Burlington, VT; University of Vermont; 2006)
• Murphy Kimball (Anchorage, AK; University of Alaska; 2006)
• Jack Leveque (Anchorage, AK; Alaska Winter Stars; 2009)
• James Underwood (Woodstock, VT; Colby College; 2006)

Under-23 World Championships Team
(name, club/college, birth year)

Women

• Haley Brewster (Vail, CO; Stifel U.S. Ski Team, University of Vermont; 2003)
• Nina Schamberger (Leadville, CO; University of Colorado Boulder; 2005)
• Samantha Smith (Boise, ID; Stifel U.S. Ski Team, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; 2005)
• Ava Thurston (Mansfield, MA; Dartmouth College; 2004)
• Evelyn Walton (Boston, MA; Dartmouth College; 2004)

Men

• Finegan Bailey (Stratton, VT; University of Vermont; 2005)
• Corbin Carpenter (Aspen, CO; University of Alaska Anchorage; 2004)
• Ben Dohlby (Minneapolis, MN; University of Alaska Fairbanks; 2004)
• Max Kluck (Butte, MT; University of Utah; 2004)
• Anders Weiss (Aspen, CO; Bridger Ski Foundation; 2003)
• Owen Young (Anchorage, AK; University of Vermont; 2004)

Staff

• Greta Anderson; Stifel U.S. Ski Team
• Bryan Fish; Stifel U.S. Ski Team
• Will Wicherski; Jackson Hole Ski Club; Driggs, ID (Head of Service Staff)
• Julia Hayes; Bozeman, MT (Ski Service)
• Hilary McNamee; Ford Sayre Nordic (Ski Service)
• Tuva Granøien; Oslo, Norway (Ski Service)
• Ben Higgins; Lancaster, NH; Great Glen Outdoor Center (Ski Service) 
• Eric Pepper; Minturn, CO; Ski and Snowboard Club Vail (Ski Service)
• Zach Hill; Bend, OR (Ski Service)
• Kathy Maddock; Wilton, NH; Dublin XC (Ski Service)
• Elizabeth Smith; Lake Elmo, MN; Loppet Nordic (Physical Therapy & Coach)
• Dr. Katie Eichten; Spooner, WI; Rails On Trails (Medical & Coach)
• Steve Fuller; Freeport, ME; Flying Point Road (Photo & Media)