8 skiers with Alaska connections named to US team for 2023 Cross Country World Championships
Feb. 11—Eight skiers with Alaska connections were named to the 2023 U.S. Cross Country Ski Team that will compete at the FIS Cross Country World Ski Championships later this month.
Six of the skiers who will compete in Planica, Slovenia, for Team USA are members or alumni of the vaunted APU Elite team.
Olympians Hailey Swirbul and Rosie Brennan, both APU team members, were named to the women's contingent for the World Championships.
From the men's side of the APU program, Olympian Scott Patterson and Hunter Wonders were named to the team.
Fairbanks skier David Norris, now with the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, and Anchorage's Luke Jager, skiing for University of Utah, both have ties to the APU team.
Two other skiers with Alaska connections were named to the team: Anchorage's Gus Schumacher, who competes with the Alaska Winter Stars club team, and Olympian JC Schoonmaker, who skied at UAA.
The World Championships start Feb. 22 and run through March 6. In total, 18 athletes were named to the team, including eight women and 10 men.
The championships include teams from more than 60 countries competing in sprints, distance races and relays in both classic and freestyle disciplines.
