Season Ending World Cup Event Draws 35,000 Cross Country Ski Fans

More than 35,000 people attended the 3-day Stifel Lake Placid Finals.

Phillip E. Belena

Posted Wednesday, March 25, 2026 2:30 pm

Significant U.S. Team Landmarks in 2025-2026

• First Men’s Team Sprint World Cup podium: Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher

• First time a U.S. man and U.S. woman have won on the same day: Tour de Ski 5k – Jessie Diggins and Gus Schumacher

• Starting the most World Cups of any other athlete in history: Jessie Diggins

• First silver medal since Bill Koch in 1976: Ben Ogden

• First-ever Olympic silver medal in the team sprint: Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher

• The most decorated American man in cross-country skiing: Ben Ogden

• Jessie Diggins won her fourth Olympic medal

Courtesy Leann Bentley, USSA

Ron Bergin

The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) successfully hosted the Stifel Lake Placid Finals, March 20-22, marking the conclusion of the Coop FIS Cross-Country World Cup season. The event brought world-class cross-country skiing competition to Mt Van Hoevenberg, featuring elite international racing and drawing a total of 35,622 attendees over three days, with strong daily turnout throughout the weekend (10,909 Friday; 12,866 Saturday; 11,847 Sunday) across spectators, athletes, coaches, media, volunteers, partners, and staff.

The Finals also marked a historic moment for the sport, serving as the final World Cup race of Jessie Diggins’ career and adding a meaningful and memorable dimension to an already exceptional weekend of competition.

Keywords

New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority, Stifel Lake Placid Finals, Coop FIS Cross-Country World Cup season, World Cup race, Jessie Diggins