The World Cup fever and excitement is through the roof: Tickets to the upcoming World Cup races in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on February 17 and 18 sold out about as quickly as they came up for sale.
There is good reason for the excitement: American racers are increasingly posting victories and podiums and making headlines both at the World Cup and major international championships including the Olympics and the FIS Nordic World Championships, most recently taking home the 2024 women’s overall Tour de Ski victory.
Additionally, Canada is hosting four World Cup races prior to the double-header in Minneapolis. Those events are scheduled for February 9 through 13 in Canmore, Alberta.
The North American World Cup events are expected to attract nearly 200 athletes from more than 20 nations.
“Tickets to the stadium sold out quickly. The atmosphere will be electric,” US Ski and Snowboard Program Director Chris Grover says.
See all the dates and the full race schedule below
Photo by: Nordic Focus
Showtime - at home!
Obviously, with his own recent success and progress, as well as that of the rest of his team, Madshus US Ski team star Ben Ogden is looking forward to racing his first-ever World Cup on home turf.
But the North American World Cup events are among the biggest highlights of the 2024 season for the entire Madshus team, including 2024 Tour de Ski winner and World Cup leader Harald Østberg Amundsen (NOR).
“I’m super excited about the World Cup rounds in the United States and Canada in February,” says Østberg Amundsen, and continues:
“I’ve never raced in North America, but I think it will be a giant party, with huge crowds and a lot of excitement.”
Bringing the action downtown
Over the past eight years, there have only been three World Cup rounds outside Europe: Twice in Canada (2016 and 2019) and the pre-Olympics in South Korea in 2017.
The last World Cup races in the United States were back in 2001, when Soldier Hollow, Utah, hosted races the year prior to the 2002 Winter Games. For the organizers, bringing the World Cup back to the US, is a big deal as well: North America represents a hugely underserved market, both in terms of fans and future skiers.
Accordingly, the organizers have put a huge effort into the venues and bringing the action to the people.
Both the skate sprint on Saturday, February 17, and the 10-kilometer skate race on Sunday, February 18, will take place in Theodore Wirth Park, close to downtown Minneapolis.
In just a couple of weeks, the urban park and golf course will be turned into a cross-country World Cup racecourse, attracting nearly 200 athletes from more than 20 nations to the heart of the USA - for the first time in over 20 years.
Photo by: Nordic Focus
2024 North American World Cups
February 9th to 13th: Canmore (CAN)
- February 9th: 10-kilometer skate, interval start
- February 10th: Skate sprint
- February 11th: 20-kilometer classic, mass start
- February 13th: Classic sprint
February 17th to 18th: Minneapolis (USA)
- February 17th: Skate sprint
- February 18th: 10-kilometer skate, interval start