Over the weekend New Zealand hosted their very first Ski Classics Challengers, the Merino Muster. We interviewed some of our podium place getters, on their race and why is Snow Farm, New Zealand such a destination for training for many cross-country skiing stars.

With a collection of World Cup winners and World Champions competing, it was a small but quality field. The newly signed Ski Classics Challengers is on its 29^th event year in the South Island of New Zealand. 

Also Read: Merino Muster – First Ski Classics Challengers event in New Zealand this weekend

The story continues below.

Winner of the 42km Merino Muster, Jessie Diggins, commented on her winning performance, “It was hard, but it was a really awesome race. One of the highlights was obviously dressing up a sheep and getting to join the little kids’ race.”

After a nightfall of rain down in the valley, Jessie mentioned, “It was really sunny and I am grateful for that, the volunteers are always so nice, and they did an amazing job preparing the course.”

“This is a really amazing ‘punctuation point’ on our training camp!”

Julia Kern, who finished in 2^nd place in the Merino Muster, commented on the race, “Today was incredible, it was just another dream day at Snow Farm. Incredible conditions and great atmosphere.”

Nordic Combined World Champion Akito Watabe, winner of the men’s 42km race, spoke about his race: “It’s really amazing, the weather is really perfect, and I really enjoy the atmosphere.” Despite a broken pole 2km into the race, Watabe was able to gain his leading position back with the help of Jason Cork and the US team’s spare poles, “I could not have finished without their help, I want to say thank you to them”

Read More: Diggins and Watabe shine at Merino Muster 2024

A Steady Succession of Top Athletes

Over the past decade, there has been a steady succession of top World Cup athletes making the journey to train in New Zealand. Teams from Canada, Poland, Japan, China, and the U.S.A., to name a few, have called Snow Farm (known as Waiorau in Māori) their training base over the past 15 years.

While the name “Snow Farm” might mean something different in Davos, Switzerland. The Snow Farm’s name originates from its history as a Merino Sheep Station (Farm). Snow Farm in NZ does not use artificial snow.

Read more about Snow Farm HERE

U.S team coach Jason Cork spoke about why NZ and the Merino Muster are such a unique opportunity for Diggins and Kern, “It’s a great opportunity to come to a really well-run event, really good grooming and good snow consistently here, it’s just always really fun to come out in August and September and be able to xc ski on amazing trails and get in training we would not normally be able to get.”

Jessie also spoke on why NZ is such a special place to spend part of her summer training, “It’s awesome training, I feel like there are places you can go, you can go ski in the tunnel, you can go ski in a lot of places, but here you are outside in real snow, in variable conditions” she continues “I have always needed to work on my striding  and my classic a lot, and I feel like I really get that here!”

Watabe mentioned what brings him to NZ, “I like NZ, it is a really great atmosphere, I am not only enjoying the training stay in NZ, but everything, the food, the culture and the people.”

Are you interested in Ski Classics and long-distance skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.