The brand is the official lifestyle apparel partner for U.S. Ski & Snowboard, collaborating on exclusive product, campaigns featuring elite American athletes, and experiences that engage the ski community and beyond.

New York, NY – January 8, 2026 – J.Crew unveils its highly anticipated collection with U.S. Ski & Snowboard as part of a three-year partnership. Celebrating J.Crew’s longstanding connection to mountain life and après-ski style, the collection comes together with the renowned national organization as its athletes head into their Olympic and Paralympic journeys. Sitting at the intersection of style, sport, and community, the collection is designed with items for slopeside leisure and on-mountain performance. It will come to life through key partnership touchpoints, including a campaign featuring elite athletes and community-focused activations. Launching ahead of the Olympic season, when snow sports take center stage, the collection invites audiences everywhere to show their support for U.S. Ski & Snowboard and its athletes.

The 26-piece offering spans refined knitwear, elevated loungewear, and essential cold-weather accessories for women, men, and kids, and features exclusive vintage-inspired patches. Expanding into performance, the partnership also includes a ski capsule with U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s official on-mountain partner, Kappa, featuring technical jackets for women and men that blend high-performance design with refined mountainside style for athletes and enthusiasts alike.

“This partnership is about more than outfitting athletes and fans, it’s about celebrating U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s commitment to athleticism, dedication, and excellence,” said Libby Wadle, Chief Executive Officer of J.Crew Group. “We’re proud to spotlight the remarkable journeys of these athletes and build excitement around the sport as they head toward the Winter Games.”

Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, added, “This partnership brings together athletes, fans, and supporters through a shared sense of pride in U.S. Ski & Snowboard. By celebrating the passion and spirit behind the sports, we hope to inspire the next generation to see themselves on the mountain and believe in what’s possible.”

The collection brings J.Crew’s creative vision to life under the direction of its creative leaders. “Alpine style has always been part of the J.Crew lifestyle. Drawing from our rich archives, these pieces capture a retro spirit with a modern perspective on fit and color,” said Olympia Gayot, Creative Director of Women’s and Children’s Design. “Skiing and snowboarding are becoming increasingly central to culture, and the enthusiasm for snow sports has never been higher. We’re excited to meet this moment with a fresh take on classic American winter style. This collection honors our shared histories while celebrating the elite athletes shaping the future of the sport,” added Brendon Babenzien, Creative Director of Men’s.

The collection debuts with a campaign spotlighting athletes to watch, including Stifel U.S. Freeski Team member and Olympic silver medalist Colby Stevenson; Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team member, Olympian and X Games medalist Hailey Langland; Stifel U.S. Freeski Team member and X Games medalist Rell Harwood; Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team member, Olympian and World Cup medalist River Radamus; and Stifel U.S. Freestyle Team member, Olympian and world champion Tess Johnson; and Toyota U.S. Para Snowboard Team member,  Paralympian and two-time World Champion Zach Miller. It will come to life through community-focused activations at U.S. Ski & Snowboard events throughout the winter season.

J.Crew and U.S. Ski & Snowboard will continue their partnership over the next three years, establishing a sustained presence designed to build momentum and impact over time. “J.Crew and U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s inaugural collection marks the true beginning of a long-term partnership that brings together J.Crew’s timeless American style with the adventurous, warm, and performance-driven spirit of U.S. Ski & Snowboard.”  said Kevin Ulrich, Chairman of J.Crew Group. 

As part of this partnership, J.Crew is proud to support Share Winter Foundation, whose work is focused on expanding youth access to skiing and snowboarding and strengthening inclusion across winter sports. 

The collection will be available in select J.Crew stores and online at jcrew.com.

About J.Crew 
J.Crew is an iconic American brand and internationally recognized omnichannel retailer known for its timeless style, quality craftsmanship, and modern approach to classic design. Rooted in a deep connection to personal style and self-expression, J.Crew offers thoughtfully designed women’s, men’s, and kids’ collections that blend heritage with a point of view that feels relevant today. Serving as a destination for both everyday essentials and standout pieces, J.Crew creates clothing designed to fit seamlessly into everyday life. As of January 1, 2026, J.Crew operates 117 retail stores across the United States and maintains a global e-commerce presence. For more information, visit jcrew.com.

About U.S. Ski & Snowboard
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the Olympic and Paralympic National Governing Body of ski and snowboard sports in the USA, based in Park City, Utah. Started in 1905, the organization now represents nearly 240 elite skiers and snowboarders competing on 10 teams, including the Stifel U.S. Ski Team: alpine, cross country, freestyle moguls, freestyle aerials, freeski, nordic combined, Para alpine and ski jumping, the Toyota U.S. Para Snowboard Team and Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team. In addition to the elite teams, U.S. Ski & Snowboard also provides leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders across the USA, encouraging and supporting them in achieving excellence. By empowering national teams, clubs, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers and fans, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to the progression of its sports, athlete success and the value of team. For more information, visit www.usskiandsnowboard.org.

Media enquiries
J.Crew: [email protected]
U.S. Ski & Snowboard: [email protected]

Brooklyn DePriest is quickly emerging as one of the most exciting young competitors on the men’s snowboarding circuit. Over the 2024–25 season, the Ski & Snowboard Club Vail rider notched his best big air World Cup result with a standout fifth place finish in Secret Garden, showing he can contend with the sport’s elite on the biggest stages. 

DePriest is the latest athlete featured in U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s “On the Rise” series, presented by Zions Bank. Through community service, sponsorships and charitable donations, Zions Bank is committed to fueling economic growth and enhancing quality of life in Idaho, Utah and Wyoming.

We caught up with DePriest to dive into his background, reflect on a his young career and learn about his goals in the future.

Q: What initially drew you to the sport?
BROOKLYN DEPRIEST: Initially, I can't really pin any specific thing or moment that drew me to the sport. But there was this one day at Northstar where I was watching Chas and Toby get sled laps on the big jumps and being so amazed. Pretty sure he was doing double 10s and I was on the chair thinking like that is exactly what I want to do. I found that the process of building smaller tricks and getting steadily better and having infinite things to learn is such an addicting feeling.

Q: When you were younger and getting into the sport, what were your goals?
BD: I wanted to be a pro snowboarder. I didn't really know at the time what that meant, but I knew that I wanted to win to say I was pro. Even before I started competing at around 8 years old, I wanted to be a pro and wanted to be the best. Though as soon as I started competing, I quickly found out that my goals were to win contests. Even at a young age, I loved the contest nerves and loved the feeling of landing runs. That feeling was one I couldn't shake and still can't to this day.

Q: What is your biggest accomplishment?
BD: Either my 5th place Big Air finish at the Secret Garden World Cup or my 8th place at the first ever Rockstar Open Parkstyle event. The actual finishing rank doesn't mean as much to me as how I felt on my board those days. Finally figuring out how to do tech lines and bigger tricks, all while having the best time on my snowboard, is by far my biggest accomplishment. I've recently fallen in love with the sport in a new way, and having fun with my friends, all while getting to snowboard and compete, has led me to these finishes. That's what I'm most stoked on.

Q: What is your ultimate goal?
BD: Right now, I'd have to say an Olympic medal. Though I do feel that once I make the Olympics and perform at that level, I feel like my goals will change. Realistically, I want to leave a legacy and a name in the sport. Maybe even having style that kids getting into the sport are trying to emulate. So yeah, short term would be the Olympics and then the long term would be getting into the backcountry and trying to immerse myself in the sport even more.

Q: Who are your heroes? Both in & out of the sport.
BD: In the sport, it would have to be Mark McMorris. I've been watching him ever since I started watching snowboarding and his stories are wild. Coming back from injury and still being at the top of the game after all of these years is insane. He also spoke at my high school graduation, so that was pretty epic.

Out of the sport, it would be my dad. I don't look up to that many people, but he was one of those people that I try to take after. He has supported me in so many ways for so many years and his work ethic is something I always try and strive to mimic. He has worked so hard for my family and still kicks ass on his snowboard, mountain bike, and skateboard. By far my hero in and out of the sport.

Questions sponsored by Zion's Bank.

Q: You win $5,000 in prize money: What do you do with it?
BD: Most of the time, I will invest any winnings or throw them into my savings account. Though I do always try to move it somewhere that'll appreciate over time.

Q: Do you budget or follow any structure related to spending?
BD: Overall, I like to try and spend as little as possible, but I do have a budget that I created based on my spending habits and how much I'm making. Most of the time, my earnings look very different every month, depending on how I'm doing in competition, haha.

Q: What’s one money habit you follow?
BD:  Invest at least a certain amount of money every single month. I've seen how money can compound in stocks and CDs so I like to just throw money in every month and stay patient. I also like to buy something nice every here and there just to remind myself that it doesn't have to be a perfect process.

Keep up with Brooklyn on Instagram HERE!

After returning from injury and making her return to triple jumps, Winter Vinecki is back on top of the podium two years later, taking the top spot in Lac-Beauport, Canada. Quinn Dehlinger earned his first podium of the season, finishing in third place. 

“It’s so special, and it’s so exciting having all of these kids here cheering us on,” said Vinecki. “It’s such an amazing feeling being back on top of the podium, especially coming off of an injury last season. I’m just really excited.” 

The U.S. was on a roll from the start of the day, with eight American athletes advancing to the finals. Vinecki took the top spot in qualifying for the women. Karenna Elliott, who is returning to competition after a knee injury, just missed out on finals, finishing 14th. Dani Loeb finished 16th, and Chris Lillis finished 18th. 

Four athletes advanced to the super final round, finishing in the top six in the finals. Derek Krueger just missed the super finals, finishing seventh; Kaila Kuhn finished eighth, Ashton Salwan finished 10th and Ian Schoenwald finished 12th. Vinecki and Dehlinger took the top spots in finals. 

The athletes continued to shine in the super finals. Connor Curran and Tasia Tanner both finished in fourth place, a personal best for Tanner. Quinn Dehlinger threw a double full full full earning 123.53 points to finish on the podium in third place. 

“I was really happy to finally execute the way I wanted to in super finals," said Dehlinger. "In Ruka and in China I got to the super finals and didn’t put down the jumps that I wanted and sadly ended up in fourth and fifth, but today I put down the jump that I wanted to and ended up in third place so happy to get on the podium." 

Vinecki stole the show in Canada, earning her sixth World Cup win. Vinecki threw a full full full for the second time in competition and the first time in an individual event. 

“It feels amazing to be back on top of the podium. This is the second time I’ve competed full full fulls, but this is the first time in an individual competition, so I was able to do it in China in the team event, and I was really excited to put one down for myself, and we’re going to be right back at it tomorrow.

Tomorrow, the aerials athletes compete again in Lac-Beauport at 1:30 pm ET. 

RESULTS
Women
Men

Jessie Diggins capped off a historic week by taking second place in the final climb and winning the overall title at the 2025–26 Tour de Ski, marking the third time in her career that the Stifel U.S. Ski Team star has claimed victory in cross country's most prestigious stage race.

On the men’s side, Gus Schumacher delivered a breakthrough performance for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, finishing 16th and securing seventh overall in the Tour de Ski. Schumacher’s result stands as the best overall finish by an American man in the history of the event, surpassing the previous mark of 13th set by Ben Ogden at the 2022–23 Tour de Ski.

“I'm psyched,” said Schumacher. “My goal was to get top 10 coming in and it was nice to have a solid tour with some like really bright spots with the 5k.”

Diggins took the overall win by two minutes and 17 seconds, and only added to her lead on the iconic Final Climb up Alpe Cermis, a brutal uphill pursuit. The climb begins in the Val di Fiemme stadium before ascending straight up a ski resort, featuring gradients that reach up to 28 percent—comparable in steepness to Killington Resort’s Outer Limits or Deer Valley’s Champion trail. In her final appearance on the famed climb, Diggins once again proved her combination of endurance, power and tactics.

"We had such amazing help from so many people, such great cheering today," said Diggins. "We've had an amazing team vibe, great energy and I've had great skis every day of the tour and it really takes everything from everyone to make it happen and so I'm just so thankful for my team. It was so fun to close it down with a good one today and it'll be a great team celebration tonight!

It was Diggins’ final Tour de Ski title, as she announced her retirement from the World Cup after the 2025-26 season. Her win continues to solidify her legacy as one of the greatest cross country skiers in U.S. history—and one of the sport’s defining athletes of her generation.

"Honestly, the Tour de Ski is one of the hardest things to win," said Diggins. "When we won the Olympics, it's amazing, it's really special, but that's one race and the Tour is day after day after day after day after day. You have to put it together back to back, you have to be on, and you have to keep together under cumulative pressure and that is really hard. It's hard on you and it's hard on the team and I am so proud of the team for winning."

Behind Schumacher and Diggins, Ogden was 22nd and Zak Ketterson 35th in the 10k to finish 25th and 36th in the overall standings, respectively. Julia Kern took an impressive 14th on the day and 17th overall in the Tour de Ski, besting her previous 20th place overall Tour de Ski result.

The 2025-26 Tour de Ski opened in Toblach, Italy, with four stages before concluding in Val di Fiemme for the final two stages. Val di Fiemme will also serve as a host venue for cross country skiing at the upcoming Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games, adding further significance to the Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s strong performance on Olympic terrain.

RESULTS
Women’s 10k mass start skate
Men’s 10k mass start skate

Women’s overall
Men’s overall  

Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Mikaela Shiffrin delivered another thrilling slalom performance on Sunday’s slalom in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia charging to second place in a nail-biter of a World Cup that came down to the final turns.

“I'm motivated to push harder to find more speed for the next race, but today was really fun,” said Shiffrin. 

On a track offering perfect course conditions from top to bottom, Shiffrin laid down two aggressive runs to put herself firmly in the fight for the win. With time tight throughout the field, the race remained undecided until the final racers, making for one of the most exciting slaloms of the season. Notably, the first through fourth place skiers from run one stayed in the same positioning after second run, a testament to the talent in the slalom field. 

Shiffrin was up against the winner from the day prior, Switzerland’s Camille Rast, who is proving to be a strong force in the technical disciplines this season and took the win. 

“The biggest accomplishment for me today was to execute some small things with my skiing and then to watch the other women, especially Camille, and imagine what speed is still out there,” said Shiffrin.  

Shiffrin claimed her 163rd career World Cup podium, and remains podium perfect this season in slalom with five wins and Sunday’s second place out of the six slalom races thus far.

“I don't believe it's possible to win every race in the season with the competition level,” said Shiffrin, who was just .14 seconds off Rast. “I wanted to give it my best shot, but I think that this was a really amazing show today.” 

Behind Shiffrin, her Stifel U.S. Ski Team teammates put together a strong collective showing. Paula Moltzan skied one of her best slalom races of the winter, attacking both runs with confidence and composure to finish fourth. Moltzan was content to have two strong races this weekend, after finishing on the podium in the giant slalom.  

“I'm happy to try and compete with the best here,” said Moltzan. “Clearly Mikaela and Camille are on an entirely different level, so it kind of just shows how much room for improvement there is.” 

AJ Hurt continued her return to racing form, finishing 13th in her first slalom start after spending time away earlier this season due to a hip injury. Hurt showed solid execution and speed, a promising sign as she builds momentum moving forward.

“It feels really good to be back and be in the top 15 again,” said Hurt.  

Stifel U.S. Ski Team athletes Nina O’Brien and Elisabeth Bocock scored points for the U.S. team, placing 19th and 30th, respectively. For Bocock, the result marked a meaningful milestone: her first career World Cup slalom points.

Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener rounded out the podium in third. Shiffrin continues her lead of the overall standings, as well as the slalom standings. 

The U.S. women remain at the top of the Nations Cup standings with the team’s strong performances in Kranjska Gora and will look to add to their advantages in Zauchensee, Austria at the speed events Jan. 10-11. The tech women will race again in Flachau, Austria on Jan. 13.

RESULTS
Women's slalom

In true Calgary style, the week leading up to the classic Snow Rodeo was cold and snowy, but the weather didn't deter Nick Goepper, who walked away with the win after putting down a flawless second run. Stifel U.S. Ski Team teammate Birk Irving also stood on the podium in third. On the women's side, Svea Irving finished third.

Goepper swapped his classic last-hit bone air for a switch right bio 900 to up the difficulty on his second run, and the judges rewarded him with a 94.80. With the win in Calgary, three-time Olympic medalist Goepper clinched his spot to represent Team USA at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games - his first Olympic Games for halfpipe skiing.

Birk Irving also had an unreal second run to finish third, his first podium since 2023. He has been consistent throughout the 2025-26 season, with a top 10 finish at every event thus far. Goepper and Birk Irving were joined on the podium by New Zealand's Finley Melville Ives in second.

On the women's side, Birk Irving's sister Svea Irving also finished third. She performed well under pressure, putting down a smooth run two with a left cork 900 and back-to-back 720s. After a disappointing start to her season in Copper Mountain, Svea Irving was thrilled with the result. She was joined on the podium by Australia's Indra Brown in first and China's Kexin Zhang in second.

It was a great overall day for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team men, with Matt Labaugh taking fourth, just .25 points off the podium. Hunter Hess finished fifth, Aaron Blunck seventh, Dylan Ladd ninth, Evan Wischmeyer 10th and Tristan Feinberg 13th.

Abby Winterberger was the only other American woman who progressed through to the finals, ending the day in ninth. Winterberger is an up-and-coming American to watch, with two top 10 finishes in her first season on the World Cup circuit.

Next up, the World Cup circuit heads to the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix in Aspen for halfpipe and slopestyle Olympic qualifiers Jan. 7-10, 2026.

RESULTS
Women's halfpipe
Men's halfpipe

Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete Paula Moltzan delivered a stellar giant slalom performance in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, skiing to third place. It marks her seventh career World Cup podium. It was also a standout team performance with the winningest skier of all time, Mikaela Shiffrin, fifth, Nina O'Brien eighth and Elisabeth Bocock in 14th. 

Moltzan was fast and composed across both runs on the course, capitalizing on excellent conditions and well-set courses to secure her spot on the podium. With firm snow, clear visibility and fair conditions throughout the day, the race allowed athletes to push from top to bottom, and Moltzan did just that when it mattered most. 

“I'm really happy,” said Moltzan. “I think it's nice to come back after two DNFs last weekend and be back on the podium. It’s a confidence boost that I still belong here.” 

The podium was also an impressive feat after a bad crash in Semmering just a week prior, which Moltzan was still feeling in Kranjska Gora.  

“I think we're lucky that the snow was really good today because it does help you ski the course and hill the way that you want to,” said Moltzan. 

Shiffrin continued her strong progression in giant slalom, finishing fifth and less than two tenths of a second off the podium–as she builds momentum and confidence in the discipline following her crash in Killington last season. It was her third top-five result in giant slalom this season. Shiffrin showed consistency and speed across both runs and was all smiles in the finish as she can see her skiing building in the right direction. 

"I think ‘happy’ and ‘satisfied’ are different because I would like to be faster but I'm taking steps and I feel very good with that," said Shiffrin "It's pretty incredible to be here one year later and to be in the mix with the fastest women right now.”

Nina O’Brien backed up recent strong results with another solid performance, placing eighth on the day. O’Brien skied two controlled runs to remain firmly in the mix.

“I think it was a totally solid day, and I had some moments of really good skiing,” said O’Brien. “We had a (team) result like this since Soelden and it hasn't quite come together for everyone again since then, so I'm just happy to see everyone have a good day together.” 

Elisabeth Bocock rebounded in a big way, returning to the top 15 after a stretch of difficult races marked by DNFs. Her result marked an important step forward and a confidence boost moving deeper into the season.

“I'm so so relieved to be able to get one down after the first run,” said Bocock. “I tried to push more second run, which was a good game plan.”

AJ Hurt rounded out the American results finishing 25th to score World Cup points. Switzerland’s Camille Rast won, with Austria’s Julia Scheib finishing second. Mary Bocock of the U.S. squad also raced but did not qualify for the second run. 

After a strong day of giant slalom, the women will be back on the hill Sunday for a slalom race. 

RESULTS
Women's giant slalom 

If there is any place on the World Cup circuit that feels more like home for Jessie Diggins, outside of Minneapolis, MN, it's Toblach, Italy. Today, on her final day of racing in Toblach for the fourth stage of the Tour de Ski, Diggins did what she does best - win.

In her 14th Tour de Ski, Diggins is walking away from her favorite course on the circuit with her 32nd victory and 85th podium. Of those 85 podiums and 32 wins, 15 of them have been right here in Toblach and eight of those have been victories. Toblach was the first place Diggins has ever won a race, dating back to 2016. Today, she did just that, for the second time in two days. 

"Honestly, it's the year of dreams coming true. This venue is so special to me and a place of so many amazing memories since my first Tour in 2012. It's really cool, and I am so thankful to everyone here. It was a hard race, it was a lonely race, but I was pushing hard and wanting to leave it all out on the course and fight for every second while remaining efficient."

Today's race format did not favor Diggins. Due to the nature of the pursuit race, each athlete pursues the leader of the Tour, which happens to be Diggins. Meaning she started 1 minute and 10 seconds ahead of the second-place start, Moa Ilar of Sweden. The entire race, Diggins was alone. 

Behind her, Sweden’s Ilar and Austria’s Teresa Stadlober emerged as the primary chasers. The pair worked together to manage the gap, sharing the workload across the flats and climbs, but the deficit continued to grow. Midway through the race, Diggins had stretched her lead well beyond a minute, with the rest of the field trailing even farther back as sunlight settled over the Toblach course.

"You know, every Tour i've done, there is always one day where I go, 'this is the day you have to be so gritty... if you want to win the Tour, you have to make it happen now.' And so I went in with that mindset. Sometimes I don't like how it feels to feel that much pressure but I know I perform well under it, so I just said to myself , ‘If you want to win the Tour, today is your day to be gritty." 

"I believed in my team, my skis were perfect, I would change nothing with the skis, and so a huge kudos to them. This was a win for the truck and the coaches and really the credit goes to them, because to have a good race on this course where you have to have really good kick and fast glide, you have to have the best of both worlds."

Going into Val di Fiemme and the final two races, Diggins has a sizable lead in the Tour de Ski standings, with 1 minute and 30 seconds ahead of Ilar of Sweden. With Norway's Astrid Slind, who was second in the overall standings, dropping out of the Tour due to sickness, Diggins' path is more straightforward as we enter the next two stages. 

"I am taking it day by day. But I am excited because it's going to be the Olympic courses, it's a new sprint course, new for everyone, and the thing for me is learning learning learning. I am here to learn, take notes, improve, get in lifetime reps, and just see this as a growth opportunity. And that plan has not changed. Tour lead or no Tour lead. That's the mindset I have going into Val di Fiemme." 

Off the race course, there was a moment after the win that marked something even more meaningful for Diggins. A place that has followed her journey from breakthrough athlete to one of the sport’s all-time greats, Diggins was honored after the race by having one of the bridges on the course named after her. "Jessie Bridge" is officially a part of the Toblach World Cup venue. 

The eventual podium for the women's race was led by Diggins, with Ilar in second and Austria's Stadlober in third. Julia Kern was 18th. 

For the men, Gus Schumacher shone once again. After his victory in yesterday's 5k skate, he was among a strong chase group behind the Tour leader, and eventual winner of the day, Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo. Schumacher played the game today, trading off leading the group, then falling behind to take on the draft on the high-speed downhills. It was a race of tactics, and Schumacher played it well. Into the stadium, it was an all-out sprint to the finish. Across the line, he was in a photo-finish for fourth, fifth and sixth, but ultimately was placed sixth. He now sits third overall in the Tour de Ski standings, going into stage five in Val di Fiemme. The day was won by Klaebo, with second place going to Norway's Mattis Stenshagen and third was Sweden's Edvin Anger. Ben Ogden was the next American finisher in 29th. 

Tomorrow, the athletes will check out the Olympic Winter Games venue and the updated sprint course, with the fifth stage, the classic sprint going down on Jan. 3. 

RESULTS
Women
Men

TOUR DE SKI STANDINGS
Women
Men

History doesn’t always arrive in a single decisive moment. Sometimes it reveals itself through patience, teamwork and the ability to give it your all and wait for the result. That was the case on Wednesday at the Tour de Ski, where the final times from the 5k skate heat mass start told a story far bigger than any one race.

For the first time in history, an American man and an American woman won a cross country World Cup on the same day. Gus Schumacher and Jessie Diggins delivered a milestone result for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, both winning the 5k mass start, heat, event for the third stage of the Tour de Ski. 

Diggins continued to build on her already legendary resume, earning her 31st World Cup victory and 84th career podium. Schumacher matched the moment on the men’s side, capturing his second career World Cup win and third podium. Together, their results also marked the 25th World Cup podium for the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team in Toblach alone, underscoring a long and meaningful history of American success at this venue. 

Both victories came in a brand-new format: a 5k skate contested in four staggered heats, with final results determined purely by time.

It was the first time in many years that the World Cup featured a 5k skate, and the hybrid nature of the event—blending sprint speed with distance endurance—reshaped the way athletes approached the race. Winning was no longer about position alone, but about committing to pace, efficiency and collective decision-making within each heat, and between all nations. 

For Diggins, that collaborative element became one of the most defining and enjoyable parts of the day. 

“What I thought was so cool and fun was feeling the camaraderie,” she said. 'I was talking to all the girls beforehand and was saying, ‘team number three, we’re going to do this! And we’re going to go fast and change leads… and when I go out first and blow up, you can go.' We had really great teamwork out there and I think that is why we had a really fast heat. It was fun to feel that excitement with other countries and friends from the World Cup. Maybe that wasn’t the goal to get teamwork across countries, but for me, that was the goal.”

“I think this is a distance that suits me,” Schumacher said. “It was so fast, so fun and my group was working together really well, which made it fun.” The collaboration wasn’t accidental. “The other guys and I talked about our strategy before the race, and truly, I was impressed by how responsive they all were. The goal was to make the whole heat a lot faster by how hard we went out—and it worked.”

Across the day, that shared understanding echoed through each heat - it was all about producing the fastest possible time.  In several heats, athletes worked together, trading leads to maintain speed without unnecessary effort before the climbs, then committing even more fully as the course began to descend. This was evident in both Diggins' and Schumacher's heats, where at each time check, a different athlete was leading the pack. In an event that is so short and fast, timing was everything, and so were calculated movements. 

Schumacher’s winning heat showcased just how high that bar was. Off the gun, Schumacher was quick. Setting the pace that did not slow. Knowing the other heats were finishing in under 10 minutes, he knew he had to do so. With the coaches and wax technicians out on course with whiteboards writing down splits, the entire U.S. team knew where they were in their heat. Across the finish line, though, Schumacher may have won, but he needed to wait for two more heats to race before knowing the final result. For Diggins, the sentiment was the same - hurry up and wait. 

Beyond the racing itself, Diggins was quick to credit the team behind the scenes. 

“Huge congratulations to all of the wax techs,” she said. “Today’s win was a huge part thanks to them.” She also shared in the significance of the moment on the men’s side. “I am also so proud of Gus and so excited for him. He works so hard and really deserves this.”

“I think it’s super cool,” he said when asked what it meant to make history alongside Diggins. “Jessie had to be a huge favorite today, so it was up to us to hold up our end,” he added with a laugh.

The historic double victory carried meaning well beyond the podium. Diggins and Schumacher stood as the first American woman and man to win the same World Cup event on the same day. That momentum extended down the results sheet, with Julia Kern finishing 10th, her first top-10 result of the season, Ben Ogden in 20th and JC Schoonmaker in 29th. Jessie Diggins continues her sizable lead in the Tour de Ski overall standings. Schumacher now sits in sixth overall. 

Tomorrow, the fourth stage will be the 20k pursuit, where athletes chase the overall leaders of the Tour de Ski based on their time behind the overall leader. 

RESULTS
Women
Men

Tour de Ski Standings 
Women
Men

Jessie Diggins delivered a strong performance in the second stage of the Tour de Ski on Monday, skiing to third place in the women’s 10k classic and moving into the overall lead of both the Tour de Ski and continuing her lead in the overall World Cup standings.

Diggins finished behind Norway’s Astrid Øyre Slind, who claimed victory and Austria’s Teresa Stadlober in second. The podium marked the 83rd World Cup podium of Diggins’ career and her 13th career World Cup podium in Toblach, Italy, a venue that has been central to her success since her first win there in the 5k skate in 2016.

Conditions in Toblach evolved throughout the day. The men raced under warm, sunny skies in classic Toblach weather, while the women took to the course with the sun set behind the Italian mountains, leaving the track fully shaded. 

Diggins, who favors individual start events due to the "race against the clock mentality," was aggressive from the opening gun, posting strong, steady splits through each checkpoint and keeping herself firmly in contention throughout the race. At the 2.1k time check, Diggins was 12.6 seconds out from the lead, sitting in fourth, behind Sweden's Frida Karlsson, Slind and Stadlober. Then, she turned on the jets. At the halfway mark, Diggins was sitting in third, decreasing the time back from the leader. With Karlsson's lead dwindling, it was now a fight between the American, Austrian and Norwegian. Over the final two kilometers, the effort intensified as she fought to the line. At each coaching zone, the U.S. tech team and support staff were in position, screaming at Diggins to just keep fighting. Fighting, she did. 

She ultimately crossed the finish line in third, a result that proved decisive in the overall standings. Diggins now holds the Tour de Ski lead and remains atop the World Cup standings, a position she carried into the Tour. A two-time Tour de Ski champion, Diggins finished third overall last season and is racing her final Tour de Ski with a focus on both performance and enjoyment.

In a discipline Diggins never considered her strong suit, classic racing has started to really take form for her. Winning the classic event last year at the Tour — the first classic victory of her career — Diggins was surprised with how well she skied today. 

"I was super surprised when I heard I was fighting for the podium," said Diggins when a reporter asked her if she was surprised by the result in a classic event. "I was like, 'no', but then realized I was one of the last starters, so I suppose it was true when my techs told me I was in the mix. But I was just trying to ski as smoothly as possible and try to put my best classic technique, so that I can retire liking classic!" 

On the men’s side, Gus Schumacher led the U.S. team with a 17th-place finish in the 10k classic. JC Schoonmaker finished 42nd, Kevin Bolger 43rd, Ben Ogden 47th, Zak Ketterson 79th and Jack Young 93rd. Ketterson was fighting for a top-15 finish when a crash on the downhill took crucial seconds away. He is okay. For Ogden, an unfortunate pole break in a distant part of the course took away important seconds. Julia Kern placed 41st for the women.

The Tour de Ski pauses on Tuesday for a rest day before resuming on Wednesday, Dec. 31, with the third stage — a 5k skate featuring a heat-start format, a returning and still relatively new format for the Tour.

"I'm taking it one day at a time. You never know what is going to happen on the Tour, you just have to enjoy every day and do your best. And now, I am just going to eat a lot of pizza, rest a lot tomorrow and probably watch Netflix with Julia (Kern)." 

RESULTS
Women
Men

TOUR DE SKI STANDINGS
Women
Men