The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association named 13 athletes Saturday (Jan. 19) to the team that will compete in the 2013 FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Val di Fiemme, Italy.

Current World Cup sprint leader Kikkan Randall (Anchorage), the silver medalist in the World Championship sprint four years ago, leads a team that blends youth with strong international experience. It will be her seventh Worlds.

2013 U.S. World Championship Cross Country Team
Men
(Name, hometown, birthdate, USSA club, past World Champs)
Erik Bjornsen, Winthrop, WA, 7/14/91, U.S. Ski Team/Alaska Pacific University
Tad Elliott, Durango, CO, 7/2/88, U.S. Ski Team/Ski and Snowboard Club Vail (2011)
Kris Freeman, Andover, NH, 10/14/80, Maine Winter Sports Club (2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011)
Simi Hamilton, Aspen, CO, 5/14/87, U.S. Ski Team/Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (2011)
Noah Hoffman, Aspen, CO, 8/1/89, U.S. Ski Team/Ski and Snowboard Club Vail (2011)
Andy Newell, Shaftsbury, VT, 11/30/83, U.S. Ski Team/SMS T2 (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011)
 
Women
Sadie Bjornsen, Winthrop, WA, 11/21/89, U.S. Ski Team/APU Nordic (2011)
Holly Brooks, Anchorage, 4/17/82, U.S. Ski Team/APU Nordic (2011)
Sophie Caldwell, Peru, VT, 3/22/96, SMS T2
Jessie Diggins, Afton, MN, 8/26/91, U.S. Ski Team/SMS T2, (2011)
Kikkan Randall, Anchorage 12/31/82, U.S. Ski Team/APU Nordic (2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011)
Ida Sargent, Orleans, VT, 1/25/88, U.S. Ski Team/Craftsbury Nordic (2011)
Liz Stephen, E. Montpelier, VT, 1/12/87, U.S. Ski Team/Burke Mountain Academy (2009, 2011)
 
SCHEDULE
FIS Nordic Ski World Championships
Val di Fiemme, Italy
Feb. 20 – Opening Ceremony
Feb. 21 – Classic sprint
Feb. 23 – Skiathlon (men 15k CL/15k FS; women 7.5k CL/7.5k FS)
Feb. 24 – Freestyle team sprint
Feb. 26 – Women’s 10k freestyle
Feb. 27 – Men’s 15k freestyle
Feb. 28 – Women’s 4x5k relay (CL/FS)
Mar. 1 – Men’s 4x10k relay (CL/FS)
Mar. 2 – Women’s 30k classic
Mar. 3 – Men’s 50k classic