USSA Cross Country Ski Junior National Championships
Fairbanks, Alaska – March 13-16, 2023
Welcome to the 2023 USSA Cross Country Ski
Junior National Championships
Presented by Conoco Phillips Alaska
Junior Nationals 2023
Fairbanks, Alaska – March 13-16
The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks (NSCF) will host the 2023 US Ski & Snowboard (USS&S) Junior National Cross Country Ski Championships on the Jim Whisenhant Ski Trails at the Birch Hill Recreation Area in Fairbanks, Alaska Monday, March 13 through Thursday, March 16. 2023 will mark the fifth time that the NSCF has organized the Junior National Championships at Birch Hill, having hosted the event previously in 1977, 1995, 2003 and 2013. In addition to being a five-time JN competition venue, Birch Hill has hosted a FIS Men’s World Cup race in 1984 (won by Gunde Svan of Sweden), the 2008, 2009 and 2017 USS&S SuperTour Finals, and the Arctic Winter Games cross country events in 1982, 1988 and 2014. Birch Hill is one of the premier competition venues in North America.
This year, by vote of the Junior National Oversight Committee, comprised of the Team Leaders of the various divisions and districts, JN’s will consist of three races over four days, rather than the traditional four races over six days. The three individual races (interval start, sprint, mass start) have been retained, and the relay has been dropped for at least this year. This decision was spurred by the rising cost to young skiers for participation in Junior Nationals.
Another change this year is that in the interval start event both genders of all classes will compete over the same distance – 7.5Km. This change came about in response to a spring 2022 decision by the International Ski Federation (FIS) to make competition distances for men and women the same. Also, for the first time, all the individual competitions at Junior Nationals will be scored for FIS points in addition to being scored for the USS&S National Ranking List (NRL).
General Schedule
- Saturday, March 11 – Training and course/stadium inspection
- Saturday afternoon – Opening Ceremonies (location TBA)
- Sunday, March 12 – Official Training on Interval Start course
- Monday, March 13 – Interval Start Classic Technique
- Tuesday, March 14 – Sprint Free Technique
- Wednesday, March 15 – Official Training on Mass Start course
- Thursday, March 16 – Mass Start Free Technique
- Thursday evening – Final Banquet (location TBA)
The NSCF’s JN2023 Organizing Committee is led by Steve Taylor.
John Estle is the Chief of Competition
Special thanks to Lance Parrish for permission to use his photos
from the 2013 Junior National Championships in Fairbanks.
Latest News
Mass Start Free Technique Race Information
Because of the shortened, three-event format of the 2023 Junior Nationals, the JN's will close with the mass start event, rather than with the traditional relay event. With the move to equal distances across genders, the male and female skiers of a class will compete over the same distance. U16...
The Freestyle Sprint – A Full Day of Racing
The sprint day is a very long day, so whether you are a racer, coach, official, volunteer or spectator, prepare for a full day out at Birch Hill . . . and then some. In the qualifying round, both genders and all classes will compete over the 1350m sprint course. Having all skiers compete over the...
Classic Race to Kick Off 2023 Junior National Championships
Competition will kick off for the USSA Junior National Cross Country Ski Championships on Monday, March 13 with the Interval Start Classic Technique races. All races will be held in Fairbanks, Alaska at the Birch Hill Recreation Area on the world class Jim Whisenhant Cross Country Ski Trails. For...
Sponsors
Thank You To Our Sponsors
Conoco Phillips Alaska
Presenting Sponsor
Sophie Station
Opening Ceremony Sponsor
Bear Lodge
Opening Ceremony Sponsor
Usibelli Foundation
Race Sponsor
GVEA Good¢ents
Wax Facility Sponsor
Golden Heart Emergeny Physicians
Sponsor
University of Alaska
Sponsor
Alaska Fuel Services
Sponsor
3 Tier Alaska
Race Sponsor
FNSB Parks and Recreation
Sponsor
Fairbanks North Star Borough
Sponsor