The US Ski & Snowboard Cross Country Sport Committee approved the selection criteria for the 2025 Trondheim Nordic World Championships and the 2024/25 World Cup season earlier this year. Learn how it works.

The US Ski Team criteria are pivotal in determining which American traditional cross-country skiers will compete on the world stage in the coming months.

Understanding the Selection Process – US Ski Team Criteria

The selection criteria are a roadmap for US athletes aiming to compete at the highest levels, including the World Championships, World Cup, and U23 and Junior World Championships. Advancement through the US Ski & Snowboard’s athlete development pipeline is grounded in transparent, objective criteria.

These criteria, which may vary by event, team, or project, are based on athletic performance, rankings, or points lists. While most selections are objective, discretionary selections may be applied under specific circumstances.

Criteria for the 2025 US Cross-Country Ski Team

The US Ski Team’s selection process for the 2024/2025 season is designed to identify and promote the most qualified athletes—those with the highest potential to win medals at future World Championships and Olympic Games. Read more here.

The selection focuses on performance during the Selection Period, which spans from November 24, 2023, to March 17, 2024, and World Ranking based on FIS points accrued between March 28, 2023, and March 24, 2024. Applying these criteria falls under the responsibility of the US Ski and Snowboard Cross Country Program Director, with oversight from the US Ski & Snowboard Chief of Sport.

A-Team Selection

Athletes are selected for the A-Team based on the following objective criteria:

World Cup Performance

• Athletes finishing the 2023/2024 World Cup season in the top-15 of the FIS World Cup Sprint & Red Group List or the top-15 of the FIS World Cup Distance & Red Group List
• Athletes achieving one top-6 finish and one top-12 finish in FIS individual distance or individual sprint World Cup events during the 2023/2024 season (excluding “Winner of the Day” performances in pursuit events)

World Rank

• YOB 1999 or earlier: World Rank of 20 or better (men and women)
• YOB 2000: World Rank of 30 or better (men) and 25 or better (women)
• YOB 2001: World Rank of 40 or better (men) and 30 or better (women)
• YOB 2002: World Rank of 60 or better (men) and 40 or better (women)
• YOB 2003: World Rank of 75 or better (men) and 50 or better (women)

Also Read: US Team for the World Cup period 1 – season 2024/2025

B-Team Selection

B-Team athletes, who are expected to compete in World Cup events, will be selected based on the following:

World Rank

• YOB 1995 or earlier: World Rank of 40 or better (men and women)
• YOB 1996: World Rank of 45 or better (men and women)
• YOB 1997: World Rank of 50 or better (men and women)
• YOB 1998: World Rank of 60 or better (men) and 55 or better (women)
• YOB 1999: World Rank of 70 or better (men) and 60 or better (women)
• YOB 2000: World Rank of 90 or better (men) and 70 or better (women)
• YOB 2001: World Rank of 125 or better (men) and 80 or better (women)

U23 World Ski Championships Performance

• Any YOB 2001 athlete finishing twice in the top-10 in individual events at the 2024 U23 World Ski Championships or achieving one top-10 U23 World Ski Championships finish and one top-30 individual result in a World Cup race during the 2023/2024 season.

D-Team Selection

The D-Team focuses on athletes eligible to compete at and succeed in future World Junior and U23 World Championship events.

World Rank

• YOB 2002: World Rank of 175 or better (men) and 125 or better (women)
• YOB 2003: World Rank of 250 or better (men) and 175 or better (women)
• YOB 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007: World Rank of 400 or better (men) and 250 or better (women)

Championship Performance

• Any YOB 2002 or 2003 athlete finishing in the top-10 in an individual event at the 2024 U23 World Ski Championships
• Any athlete finishing in the top-10 in an individual event at the 2024 Nordic Junior World Ski Championships

Discretionary Selection

US Ski and Snowboard reserves the right to make discretionary selections, including promoting athletes from the D-Team to the B-Team based on criteria beyond the objective standards. This discretionary selection may consider:

• Completion of individual performance markers set by US Ski Team coaching and high-performance staff
• The athlete’s attitude and commitment to the complete camp and competition program
• Illness or injury during the Selection Period
• Indicia of medal potential in future Olympic and World Championship competitions
• Other unanticipated factors that may suggest an athlete’s potential to meet US Ski Team program goals

Commitments and Conduct

Selected athletes are required to fully commit to the US Ski Team’s camp and race season structure. They must also adhere to US Ski & Snowboard’s Core Values, Code of Conduct, and athlete safety policies, including mandatory SafeSport and avalanche training, and pass any necessary background screening.

For complete details and further inquiries, the full criteria are available on the US Ski & Snowboard website.

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.