The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) has several prominent Nordic skiing events ahead on the calendar, highlighted by the Swix Lake Placid Loppet on Saturday, Feb. 24 and the U.S. Ski & Snowboard (USSS) Cross Country Junior National Championships on March 11-16 at Mt Van Hoevenberg.
Mt Van Hoevenberg will also host the Nordic races of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Championships on Feb. 26-27 and the U.S. Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association (USCSA) Nationals on March 4-9. The New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) U16 Eastern Championships will take place at the North Creek Ski Bowl at Gore Mountain on March 8-10. All of the above cross country skiing events are open to the public to spectate for free.
Olympic Authority venues have already held a multitude of Nordic skiing events this season, including a few that were previously canceled at other Eastern facilities and relocated to Lake Placid and North Creek. Among the notable races held at Mt Van Hoevenberg were a Super Tour/Eastern Cup event sanctioned by FIS, USSS and NENSA and the Clarkson Invitational. The North Creek Ski Bowl was home to a Junior National Qualifier event. Utilizing modernized, high-efficiency snowmaking and grooming equipment, the Olympic Authority Nordic skiing venues have hosted a substantial number of high school, amateur, recreational and college-level skiers since the start of the 2023-2024 winter season.
The Swix Lake Placid Loppet, presented by Ariens, is a cross country skiing event open to the public that originated in 1982 as a way to showcase the trails used during the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Games. Over the years, the event at Mt Van Hovenberg has expanded to include the original 50 kilometer Loppet distance, a 25 km Kort Loppet, and citizen races of 3, 6, and 12 kilometers. Participants can choose between classic or freestyle skiing for each distance.
The Lake Placid Loppet is expected to be held as scheduled on Saturday, Feb. 24 with a modified 12.5 kilometer course and limited classic track. With some low snow conditions, Mt Van Hoevenberg is closely monitoring the weather, particularly the recent rise in temperatures. If trail conditions necessitate any postponements or adjustments, updates will be posted on the Swix Lake Placid Loppet web page.
The USSS Junior Nationals at Mt Van Hoevenberg will bring together some of the best young Nordic skiers from 10 divisions across the United States competing in distances ranging from 5 km to 15 km. Age groups include U16, U18 and U20, with classic, freestyle and a mixed relay classic on the racing schedule. Junior Nationals is part of U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s development pathway and often acts as a launching pad for future U.S. Ski Team prospects. Now in its 59th year, the competition rotates between different venues around the country each year.
The USCSA National Championships is a multi-discipline collegiate skiing and snowboarding event with races taking place at Mt Van Hoevenberg and Whiteface Mountain. The Championships kick off Monday, March 4 with an opening ceremony at the Olympic Center’s 1980 Herb Brooks Arena and conclude Saturday, March 9 with an awards ceremony in the Lussi Ballroom at the Conference Center.
UPDATED INFORMATION: All race schedules are subject to change. The most up-to-date information can be found at each venue’s website: Mt Van Hoevenberg, Whiteface Mountain, and Gore Mountain.