Zanden McMullen
Raucous fans in Minneapolis made the first World Cup in the United States in 23 years one for the ages.
Organizers estimated 15,000-20,000 fans attended at Wirth Park, and the relentless cheering began while racers warmed up for the freestyle sprint qualifier and never let up.
While some of the 14 Alaskan or Alaska-affiliated racers wish they’d placed higher, they raved about the unparalleled support they’d received.
“That was awesome,” said JC Schoonmaker of Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center on Instagram. “Huge thanks to all the fans who brought the energy and to everyone who helped make this race happen. You all made it a very special day that I think many of us will remember for a long time. Wish I coulda done some more laps out there but hopefully next time!”
Schoonmaker, the 13th ranked sprinter in the world, finished 28th and failed to advance from his quarterfinal heat after breaking a pole.
Zanden McMullen’s day ended after the qualifier as the Anchorage native placed 46th of 72 racers with only the top 30 advancing to the heats.
“Far from my best race, but DEFINITELY the coolest experience I’ve been a part of in my ski career to date,” McMullen said on Facebook. “The numbingly loud crowd filled my heart so much today and I couldn’t be prouder to represent any other nation.”
Former Alaska Skimeister Gus Schumacher out of Service High (center) races in the men’s quarterfinal heat in front of Minneapolis’ cheering throng. Photo by Modica/NordicFocus
Gus Schumacher of Anchorage had the best qualifier of his career in fourth place but was eliminated by just half a second in his quarterfinal to place 17th.
“I was more proud than I’ve ever been to be an American skier today, and that’s because of so many people that make this community great,” Schumacher said on Instagram.
The support wasn’t exclusive to American racers. When Jules Chappaz of France had an equipment problem that forced him to remove a ski and run, the crowd encouraged him to keep going. Chappaz acknowledged them with a wave of appreciation despite his disappointment.
And when leaves fell onto the course on the chilly, breezy day, a volunteer with a leaf-blower was encouraged by chants of “Blow the leaves, blow the leaves,” by the gleeful crowd.
Even Johannes Klaebo, the Norwegian legend who won his 77th World Cup, praised the crowd and organizers.
“I think we need to come back here way more often,” Klaebo said in a post-race interview as the crowd cheered some more.
The biggest cheers were reserved for Jessie Diggins of nearby Afton, Minn. The 2018 gold medalist was instrumental in helping bring the World Cup to Minneapolis and the crowd showed its appreciation, cheering wildly on every warmup lap as well as her four race laps.
Diggins, the top-ranked skier in the world, placed fourth behind two Swedes and a Norwegian but the day felt like gold to her.
“This was the coolest day of my entire racing career. It was so special. It was really overwhelming,” Diggins told reporters in a post-race interview.
Diggins related crying upon seeing former teammates like Alaskan Holly Brooks who came to Minnesota as spectators but never had the opportunity to race in the U.S.
FOURTH IN MINNEAPOLIS ⭐️@jessdiggs skied to fourth place at the Stifel Loppet Cup, with the whole United States + 20,000 screaming fans at Wirth Park cheering her on 🫶#stifelusskiteam pic.twitter.com/ltilYD9eUF
— U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team (@usskiteam) February 17, 2024
Diggins’ cohort Rosie Brennan of Anchorage placed 21st but remains fifth in the overall World Cup standings.
Other Alaskan results had Michael Earnhart of Eagle River 44th, Christopher Kalev (an Estonian attending UAF) 56th, Derek Deuling (a Canadian attending UAA) 61st and Luke Jager of Anchorage 62nd of 72 racers.
For the women, Mariel Pulles (an Estonian attending UAF) was 42nd, Renae Anderson of APU took 48th, Marlie Molianaro (a Canadian attending UAA) ranked 55th, Rosie Fordham (an Australian attending UAF) was 57th, and Tuva Bygrave (an Australian attending UAA) placed 59th of 61 racers.
A host of Alaskans are on the start list for Sunday’s 10-kilometer interval start freestyle race. Hunter Wonders will be the first of 76 men’s racers to leave the start line at 10:30 a.m. local time. The crowd is sure to give him a roar and keep cheering him along three laps at Wirth Park.