BY HEATHER FOSTER AND KAREN BOSSICK

Sun Valley’s Sammy Smith was called up to the Women’s FIS Cross Country World Cup in Falun, Sweden this past weekend.

And she didn’t waste any time asserting her speed on skis as she became the third American to cross the finish line in the sprint qualifier.

Smith, who is on the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation XC Gold Team, was called up to compete alongside such teammates as Jessie Diggins, Julia Kern and Sun Valley’s Sydney Palmer-Leger after taking fifth place in the Women’s Sprint Classic at the 2025 FIS Cross Country Junior & U23 World Championships in Schilpario, Italy.

She ended up competing in the Classic Sprint and the Freestyle Distance 20-kilometer Mass Start in Falun. American Gus Schumacher took second in the men’s 20K skate mass start. And Diggins nailed her sixth World Cup win of the season with a commanding victory in the 20K skate mass start

It was Diggins’ 28th World Cup win and 78th podium.

Smith finished 38th in the Women’s 20K Mass Start behind Jessie Diggins, who won the race; Julia Kern (6), Sophia Laukli (16), Alayna Sonnesyn (25) and Sydney Palmer -Leger (26t).

She finished third in her U23 sprint quarterfinals behind a Swedish and Italian racer.

“It was great to see Sammy competing in Falun and being right in the mix,” said Peter Holmes, SVSEF XC Gold Team Head Coach. “She had a great sprint qualifier and made it as far as the quarter finals. She is one of the hardest working athletes I have ever seen. It is exciting to see that work pay off as the season continues and she has more opportunities to race.”

What makes Smith’s showing even more remarkable is that she didn’t get on snow until just before the U.S. Cross Country ski championships in January in Anchorage, Alaska. A 19-year-old freshman at Stanford, she was a member of the Stanford University soccer team, which made it to the national semifinals this year.

She won a bronze medal at the 2023 Pan American Games on a U-19 team competing against senior national teams. And she was part of the U.S. national team at the U-17 World Cup.

That meant the 19-year-old was tied up with soccer until Christmas, missing out on precious time on the snow.

Still, she came away with a national title in the classic sprint at the U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships in Anchorage. She finished third in the women’s 1.3-kilometer classic sprint behind two international competitors, making her the U.S. champion since the first two places were claimed by international competitors.

Smith had a great season in 2023-24 competing against some of the best female skiers in the world on the World Cup ski tour. She won a silver medal at the Junior World Championships last year, tying for the best-ever finish by an American in her event.

This season she became one of the youngest skiers to be named to the U.S. Ski team’s A squad.

In the lead up to Falun, Smith competed in the Junior events at the Junior/U23 World Championships. This will be her final year as a Junior—she will move into the U23 class next season.

“Junior/U23 World Championships is one of my favorite events,” said Smith’s XC Gold Team Coach, Peter Holmes. “Being able to be there and work with Sammy has been incredible the last two years. This year we were both hoping for a lot and we’re really close to winning this sprint. Nonetheless, Sammy had some really good days that I’m super proud of.

“The waxing conditions were super tough and myself, along with the rest of the tech team, worked super hard to provide the best skis possible for all the athletes. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s tough to compete with the waxing staff and budget of Norway. Next year Sammy moves into the U23 class and I have high hopes for her to find a lot of success not only at U23 world champs but in all her ski racing endeavors.”

FIS Cross Country Junior & U23 World Championships, Schilpario, Italy (Feb. 3-9, 2025)

Women's Sprint Classic Junior (Feb. 3)

5th – Sammy Smith – USA – Qualification. (Top 30 move on to the Heats)

Women’s Sprint FINAL Classic – Junior (Smith made it through all the heats to the final). (Feb. 3)

5th – Sammy Smith – USA – Final Sprint 

Women's 20 Km Mass Start Classic Junior (Feb. 5)

14th – Sammy Smith – USA

Women’s 10km Interval Start Freestyle Junior (Feb. 7)

8th – Sammy Smith - USA

Mixed 4 x 5 Km Relay CC+FF Junior (Feb. 9)

11th – Sammy Smith, 4  TEAM USA - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Classic - FLOWERS Cole M / Classic -INGELFINGER Maeve W / F WILMOT Lucas M / F SMITH Sammy W 

FIS Cross Country World Cup presented by Coop, Falun, Sweden (Feb. 14-16, 2025)

Women’s Sprint Qualification Classic

14th – Sammy Smith (3rd American). Top 30 make it into the Heats and compete for the overall sprint title.  

Women’s Sprint Final Classic (Heats)

30th – Sammy Smith (3rd American)

Women’s 20km Mass Start Free

38th – Sammy Smith (6th American)