BY WILL FALLTRICK
Three Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Gold Team athletes competed at the COOP FIS Cross Country World Cup Finals at Mt. Van Hoevenberg near Lake Placid March 20-22.
They joined a 12-athlete U.S. contingent at the season-ending championship event.
Will Koch, John Steel Hagenbuch and Sammy Smith represented the SVSEF at the historic event, which drew 14,000 fans and marked the final World Cup races for American legend Jessie Diggins.
The three-day event featured 10km Classic Interval Start, Classic Sprint, and 20km Skate Mass Start competitions, but the weekend transcended racing results. The entire cross country ski community gathered to celebrate retiring champions, present Crystal Globe awards and witness the next generation of American skiers step onto the World Cup stage.
"World Cup Finals on home turf was an incredible experience for both our athletes and especially all the young fans out there," said Chris Mallory, SVSEF Head Comp Team Coach, who attended with his son Finn, a Devo South athlete. "American fans turned out in force just like in Minneapolis two years ago with 14,000 in attendance. The next generation will certainly carry a lot of stoke from the weekend with them."
Sammy Smith began her very busy weekend with Friday’s 10km Skate Classic race where she finished 47th to get the racing underway for SVSEF Gold Team members in Lake Placid.
Saturday’s Skate Sprint Final race saw Smith (on her second of three races during the weekend) notch an incredible 17th in a highly competitive field. Koch raced hard in snowy conditions, finishing 55th.
For the final race of the weekend, Smith and Hagenbuch pushed their skiing to the limit in the challenging 20km Mass Start Free race, finishing 50th and 69th respectively.
"Through rain, sun and snow, the energy of the crowd was unbelievable—a tribute to the dedication of US Nordic ski fans," said Koch. "What stands out most from the weekend is less the racing and more feeling a part of something bigger. Every foreigner I spoke to felt welcome and I was proud to be part of such an amazing community."
An emotional highlight came on Sunday when approximately 400 youth skiers braved three hours of rain to participate in "One Last Lap" with Jessie Diggins following her last World Cup race before retiring from competitive racing. The moment epitomized Diggins' impact on the sport and her dedication to inspiring young athletes,
The multi-generational nature of the weekend was exemplified by the Mallory family's presence. Mallory, former SVSEF Gold Team coach and current Head Comp Team Coach, shared the experience with his son Finn and father Leigh, creating memories that connected past, present, and future generations of cross-country skiers. When asked what he liked about being there, young Finn replied simply: "Cheering for all the ski racers."
The World Cup Finals provided SVSEF Gold Team athletes with invaluable experience competing at the sport's highest level while participating in a celebration of cross-country skiing's past champions and future stars. The expanded U.S. quota allowed a dozen American athletes ready to take the leap and lead the next chapter of U.S. cross country ski racing to gain critical World Cup experience.
SVSEF Athlete Results
Friday, March 20 – 10km Classic Interval Start
Men’s: John Steel Hagenbuch – 32nd
Women’s: Sammy Smith – 47th
Saturday, March 21 – Classic Sprint Final
Men’s: Will Koch – 55th
Women’s: Sammy Smith – 17th
Sunday, March 22 – 20km Skate Mass Start
Men: John Steel Hagenbuch – 69th
Women: Sammy Smith – 50th
Results for the WC Finals can be found at https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/xcworldcupfinals/.
About the FIS Cross Country World Cup Finals
The FIS Cross Country World Cup Finals represents the culminating event of the international cross country ski racing season, featuring the world's top athletes competing for final World Cup points and Crystal Globe championships. The 2026 Finals in Lake Placid marked a historic homecoming for the event and drew record crowds to celebrate both retiring legends and the sport's future stars.