From Olympic history and World Championships to legendary athletes and surprising facts, this Christmas quiz challenges your knowledge of traditional cross-country skiing. How many of the 30 questions can you answer correctly?

Christmas time is also quiz time, and for cross-country skiing fans, it’s the perfect moment to look back at the sport’s rich history, iconic athletes, and memorable moments. From Olympic champions and World Championship heroes to lesser-known stories and surprising facts, traditional cross-country skiing offers endless material to test even the most dedicated fans.

We have put together a 30-question Christmas quiz focused entirely on traditional cross-country skiing. The questions span different eras, nations, and disciplines, covering everything from World Cup winners and Olympic venues to legendary skiers, clubs, and breakthrough names.

Whether you follow the sport closely today or grew up watching the great champions of the past, this quiz is designed to challenge your knowledge and spark a bit of healthy debate around the Christmas table.

Good luck and enjoy the quiz!

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

1) Who won the men’s Cross-Country World Cup in 2025?

a) Harald Østberg Amundsen
b) Johannes Høsflot Klæbo
c) Petter Northug Jr.

2) The well-known Pål Gunnar Mikkelsplass married Marit, who, under the name Marit Mikkelsplass, also became a top skier. What was her surname before she got married?

a) Hansen
b) Nilsen
c) Wold

3) In 1968, Italian Franco Nones won his country’s first Olympic gold medal in cross-country skiing when he won the 30 km in Grenoble. He later married a Nordic woman. From which country?

a) Sweden
b) Norway
c) Denmark

4) Petter Northug Jr. was the big favorite in the sprint at the 2011 World Championships in Holmenkollen, but he was beaten by a Swede who later had a hill in the course named after him. Who was it?

a) Johan Olsson
b) Marcus Hellner
c) Emil Jönsson

5) During the 2011 World Championships in Holmenkollen, Canada surprisingly won the team sprint. One of the skiers was Devon Kershaw, who later moved to Norway. Who was the other skier?

a) Andy Newell
b) Gus Schumacher
c) Alex Harvey

6) At the 2003 World Championships in Val di Fiemme, a Czech skier unexpectedly won the final 50 km. Who was it?

a) Lukáš Bauer
b) Martin Koukal
c) Miloš Bechvar

7) The Cross-Country World Cup has twice been held in Szklarska Poręba, in 2012 and 2014. In which country is it located?

a) Slovakia
b) Czech Republic
c) Poland

8) American Kikkan Randall was one of the world’s best sprinters for many years. Which city is her hometown?

a) Denver, CO
b) Anchorage, AK
c) Boston, MA

9) This year’s Norwegian breakthrough skier, Einar Hedegart, comes from the same place as a former Norwegian cross-country star. Which one?

a) Frode Estil
b) Eldar Rønning
c) Petter Northug Jr.

10) Bente Skari was one of the world’s best cross-country skiers and the daughter of the recently deceased Odd Martinsen, who was also a top skier. Bente’s son is now a junior world champion. What is his name?

a) Petter
b) Filip
c) Lars

11) A Finnish cross-country skier died tragically in 2011 after several years of alcohol abuse. He was, among other things, Olympic champion in the 30 km in 1998. What was his name?

a) Mika Myllylä
b) Juha Mieto
c) Harri Kirvesniemi

12) A Finnish skiing legend also became famous for winning Olympic gold in the 50 km in 1952 with a time of 3:33.3. What was his name?

a) Eero Mäntyranta
b) Veikko Hakulinen
c) Juha Mieto

13) Czech skier Neumannová won Olympic gold in the 30 km in 2006. What is her first name?

a) Krystyna
b) Barbara
c) Kateřina

14) Where will the cross-country skiing events take place at this winter’s Olympic Games in Milan/Cortina?

a) Val di Fiemme

b) Toblach/Dobbiaco

c) Antholz/Anterselva

15) Edvin Anger, Torgny Mogren, Jens Burman, Thomas Wassberg, and Jan Ottosson are just some of the stars who have skied for this Swedish club, which comes from a small town also known as “Guldbyn” (“The Gold Village”). What is the club called?

a) Åsarna IK
b) Funäsdalens IF
c) Högbo GIF

16) Krista Pärmäkoski got divorced last year. What was her surname before she got married?

a) Hämäläinen
b) Lähteenmäki
c) Kuitunen

17) What is the place in Härjedalen where the Swedes traditionally (every other year, previously every year) hold their season-opening races?

a) Vemdalen
b) Östersund
c) Bruksvallarna

18) Gina Del Rio is a new name on the cross-country skiing circuit. She has won Junior World Championship titles and hails from a small European country. Which one?

a) Liechtenstein
b) Monaco
c) Andorra

19) Which Norwegian national team skier comes from Sørreisa in Troms, far north in Norway?

a) Didrik Tønseth
b) Erik Valnes
c) Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget

20) The World Cup season opener is held in Ruka in northern Finland. It is located outside a town where the teams land by plane. What is the town called?

a) Kuusamo
b) Oulu
c) Jyväskylä

21) In 2002, German Johann Mühlegg won Olympic gold for another nation. He was later caught for doping and disqualified. Which country had he switched to?

a) Austria
b) Spain
c) Portugal

22) In 1994, Bjørn Dæhlie was surprisingly beaten in the final sprint of the relay at the Lillehammer Olympics by Italy. Who skied the final leg for Italy?

a) Silvio Fauner
b) Marco Albarello
c) Federico Pellegrino

23) Germany’s national team coach in cross-country skiing this year won medals himself at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. What is his name?

a) Jochen Behle
b) Frank Ullrich
c) Peter Schlickenrieder

24) A Norwegian cross-country skier became the big star of the 1996 World Championships in Holmenkollen, winning three gold medals and achieving true hero status. What was his name?

a) Ivar Formo
b) Hallgeir Brenden
c) Gjermund Eggen

25) Tour de Ski celebrates its 20th anniversary this winter. Where was the very first Tour de Ski stage held?

a) Val di Fiemme
b) Olympic Stadium, Munich
c) Oberstdorf

26) Who won the women’s 10 km freestyle at the 2015 World Championships in Falun?

a) Marit Bjørgen
b) Therese Johaug
c) Charlotte Kalla

27) A Finnish cross-country skier has won the Tour de Ski. Who is it?

a) Virpi Kuitunen
b) Iivo Niskanen
c) Matti Heikkinen

28) What is the name of the ski stadium where the cross-country events were held at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics?

a) Whistler Mountain
b) Soldier Hollow
c) Park City

29) Torgny Mogren saved Sweden’s honor when he won the 50 km at the 1993 World Championships in Falun. A French skier finished sensationally in second place. What was his name?

a) Jean-Pierre Poirat
b) Maurice Manificat
c) Hervé Balland

30) The 2018 Winter Olympics were held in PyeongChang. In which country is it located?

a) Japan
b) Korea
c) China

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Correct answers

1-a, 2-c, 3-a, 4-b, 5-c, 6-b, 7-c, 8-b, 9-c, 10-b, 11-a, 12-b, 13-c, 14-a, 15-a, 16-b, 17-c, 18-c, 19-b, 20-a,21-b, 22-a, 23-c, 24-c, 25-b, 26-c, 27-a, 28-b, 29-c, 30-b.