The top cross-country skiers from across Alaska and America will compete for more than prestigious national titles in the 2018 L.L.Bean U.S. Cross Country Championships, which begin Wednesday, January 3, and continue through Monday, January 8, at Kincaid Park.

The races will also be used as part of the selection process for Olympic berths as well as to determine roster spots on the FIS Junior World Championship, U23 Championship and U18 Scandinavian Cup teams.

The competitions will feature two freestyle and two classic events for men and women. The top American in each race will be crowned national champion.

While primary selection for the 2018 Olympic Cross Country Team will come from World Cup races, some final spots can be determined from Nationals results. Olympic team nominations will be announced the week of January 23.

Here is some media-specific information to assist in covering the events, whether from Kincaid Park in Anchorage or from afar.

Events schedule: All races at Kincaid Park; schedule subject to change

      • 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, January 3
        Men’s 15k freestyle interval start; Women’s 10k freestyle interval start
      • 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, January 5
        Men’s and women’s freestyle sprints
      • 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, January 7
        Men’s 30k classic mass start; Women’s 20k classic mass start; Junior men’s 10k classic mass start; Junior women’s 5k classic mass start
      • 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, January 8
        Men’s and women’s classic sprints

      Find a full schedule – race days and off-days – at www.anchoragenordicski.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2018-US-Nationals-Event-Schedule-Coast.pdf.

    • Results from every race will be posted in a timely manner at www.anchoragenordicski.com/nationals18/results/. Photos with captions will also be posted there as they are available.
    • In addition, a race day recap press release will be sent at the end of each event day. The releases will include quotes, attached photos and more. On non-race days, additional news, updates or sidebars will be sent in media advisories, as appropriate.
    • The races will be livestreamed by CXC Skiing/X-Country Live. U.S. Ski & Snowboard will host the livestream at www.facebook.com/usskiandsnowboard/ and it will also be shared at the 2018 Nationals Facebook page, www.facebook.com/xcusnats2018/. Timing will be provided by Superior Timing.
    • For media attending the events, credentials will be available. Please send requests to media@usnationals2018.com;you will be added to a list and informed on when/where to receive your credentials. You may also be provided with a bib that identifies you as media for when you are in the racing areas.
    • There will be a media working area with electricity and internet access available upstairs in the Kincaid Park chalet.
    • Results from the freestyle races and the classic distance events will be used to determine the teams for the 2018 FIS Junior & U23 World Ski Championships in Goms, Switzerland, January 28-February 3. All races in Anchorage are also part of the 2017-18 SuperTour and points will count towards the overall SuperTour titles, Olympic Winter Games selection and international World Cup starts. The long distance and team championships will take place March 23-28 in Craftsbury, Vermont.

Additional 2018 L.L.Bean U.S. Cross Country Championships event, race and athlete information is available at:

Official website: www.usnationals2018.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/xcusnats2018/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/usnats18/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/usnats18

Photo courtesy L.L.Bean U.S. Cross Country Championships