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DULUTH — American cross-country skiers Jessie Diggins and Kikkan Randall’s gold-medal victory at PyeongChang in 2018, and Chad Salmela’s epic call, will forever be cemented in U.S. Winter Olympics lore, but it’s hard in the present to know what that will mean for the future of U.S. Nordic skiing.
Closer to home, it’s easily more apparent, and the impact certainly transcends gender.
Diggins, a Minnesota native, is known for wearing glitter, saying it’s a reminder that sports are fun, or at least, supposed to be fun.
Duluth East cross-country coach Bonnie Fuller-Kask said many boys now wear glitter on their faces like Diggins does, perhaps with a little friendly urging from their female teammates.
“We’re all inspired by Jessie,” Fuller-Kask said. “It’s very neat that boys and girls are looking up to Jessie as an athlete to admire.”
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As they should.
Good is good, no matter the gender.
Duluth East, fresh off runner-up finishes for both boys and girls at the Minnesota State High School League meet Feb. 17 at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, is certainly not done for the season, even if the MSHSL is complete.
Lily Brown, brothers Ian and Carl Morse, Oliver Miatke and James Kyes have all qualified for the Midwest Team to compete in the Junior Nationals March 6-12 in Minneapolis.
East also has six girls and three boys expected to compete in the 29-kilometer Kortelopet and one girl in the Prince Haakon 15K as part of the 48th running of the American Birkebeiner Saturday from Cable to Hayward.
Among those, Jenna Johnson, Lydia Kraker, Leah Coleman and Tuuli and Paavo Rova will ski the Korte. Tuuli and Paavo’s dad, Jonathan, just got back from the Swedish Vasaloppet 100-year anniversary special race of 90K.
Diggins, meanwhile, continues to inspire, winning silver in the 30K freestyle and bronze in the individual sprint this month in Beijing.
Diggins, a Minnesota prep phenom, won the Korte freestyle in 2008 and 2009. The entire week holds a special place with her family. Her parents are expected to be at the Birkie on Saturday.
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American Birkebeiner executive director Ben Popp thought it was “fantastic” when hearing some boys have worn glitter in homage of Diggins.
“That’s so great — I love it,” Popp said. “Jessie is so amazing, and it really does inspire us all, it really does. It just gets people fired up by the fact that Jessie and the U.S. Ski Team are winning medals, and they’re just great ambassadors, living great lifestyles. They’re great people, and there’s just no doubt we’re really fortunate to have them in our sport.”
A look at the elites
Popp said earlier this week that it was hard to put a number on how many Olympians will compete Saturday because travel has been difficult, but he said France definitely will have a strong contingent at this year’s Birkie.
Jason Cork agreed. The former Duluthian and World Cup coach expects Rosie Frankowski, (two-time Birkie champion), Alayna Sonnesyn and Caitlin Patterson to break away early and then fight it out for a while.
“It’s a toss-up on who wins,” Cork said. “Caitlin was in China for three weeks, so she has had an altitude block, which might be useful in the Birkie.”
Jessica Yeaton, who won the Birkie women’s freestyle in 2020 but had to settle for the “Virkie” virtual option last winter, is also in the field, as is five-time champion Caitlin Gregg and recent Worldloppet winner Celine Chopard Lallier of France.
Randall is in the field but is more of a sprinter. Either way, it’s cool she comes out to participate and is certainly a great ambassador for the sport. Sadie Bjornsen, Sophie (Caldwell) Hamilton, Liz Stephen, Erik Bjornsen and Simi Hamilton are all former U.S. Ski Team athletes/Olympians.
On the men’s side, Adam Martin and David Norris are standouts while Cork expects Ian Torchia and Finn O’Connell to also be in the mix.
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“The biggest potential spoiler for an American win is Jean-Marc Gaillard (of France),” Cork said. “Another notable entry is Andrew Joda, who is a wax tech for the U.S. Snowboard Cross team, which just had some amazing success in Beijing. He ought to have fast skis.”
The fact this race is even going on, amidst a pandemic, and despite a blizzard earlier this week, is a blessing, Popp said.
“We got really lucky,” he said. “It’s a real testament to the professionalism of our team. We saw that snow coming four or five days before it arrived, so everybody worked 12 hours a day over the weekend, putting in extra time, to get us ahead of schedule. The attitude was ‘let’s get ‘er’ done.’ The world is coming to northern Wisconsin and we’ve got to be ready.”
48TH AMERICAN BIRKEBEINER
What: North America’s largest cross-country ski race
Where: Cable to Hayward
When: 8 a.m. Saturday
Saturday forecast for Hayward: Mostly sunny with a high of 33 and 16 mph wind
