In December, he finished 107th in the Scandinavian Cup at Lillehammer. During the opening race at Beitostølen, he placed 161st in the 10km classic. However, the 24-year-old from Norway has found success in the USA. In 2023, he became the American champion in sprint.

Haven’t you heard of Kristoffer Alm Karsrud from Raufoss, Norway? You’re probably not alone. His results in cross-country skiing in Norway haven’t made big headlines.
But after four years at Northern Michigan University in the small town of Marquette, the 24-year-old is about to complete his education while also winning a gold medal at the U.S. Cross-Country Ski Championships.

“It’s fair to say I’ve been living the American dream for the past four and a half years. The skiing scholarship in Michigan has allowed me to pursue cross-country skiing at a professional level while also earning an education to take home this summer. It couldn’t be better. I encourage every skier to seize such an opportunity if they get it,” Kristoffer Alm Karsrud told Oppland Arbeiderblad.

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The local Norwegian newspaper caught up with Karsrud it Lygna just before Christmas, where he won a sprint. Already on Boxing Day, he flew back to the U.S. for the national championships in Anchorage, Alaska. This time, his best result was 10th place in the classic sprint.

However, Kristoffer Alm Karsrud has previously won both on the U.S. Super Tour and at the American Championships. In 2023, he claimed the title in the classic sprint, beating World Cup skiers like Zanden McMullen, Luke Jager, Michael Earnhart, Jack Young, and John Steel Hagenbuch. In the same race last season, Karsrud finished 6th.

That same season, he also placed 5th in the sprint at the Winter Universiade held in the U.S. While his best results have been in sprints, last season, he also won a 20km classic mass start.

In Norway, his results have been less impressive. This season was also disrupted by illness, which caused Kristoffer to skip the Norwegian Cup at Gålå.

Coming Home with a Free Education

Kristoffer is in the final six months of his four-and-a-half-year program, working toward a master’s degree in economics and business administration—a degree he’s earned for free while pursuing skiing full-time.

“I’ve even landed a job at Ernst & Young in Oslo, where I’ll combine work with continuing my skiing career. My years in the U.S. have developed me a lot as a skier, and I’m very motivated to keep going when I return home,” he told oa.no.

With his skiing scholarship, the university covers most sports-related expenses, including travel, accommodations, and more.

After his successful 2023 season, Kristoffer Alm Karsrud was also awarded the title of “Best Male Athlete” at Northern Michigan University.

“It’s a very professional setup. We have roller skiing treadmills and all the facilities we could want. The program is excellent, and the school schedules classes to allow us to train a lot. I’ve enjoyed it immensely. With such a setup, you don’t have to choose between skiing and academics, which is often the case in Norway. For me, it’s been perfect,” he said.