Historic!
Jessie Diggins atop the podium after the 10 km Freestyle
It’s been an exciting and historic week at the 2023 Nordic World Championships in Planica, Slovenia.
We have had two Lumi Experiences groups at the championships and both have already been trailside to cheer on two US cross country medals!
The first group cheered trailside as Jessie Diggins and Julia Kern pulled the field apart in the Team Sprint, earning a bronze medal – the first medal of this championships for the US team. Knowing that they are really good friends and have been working hard to train for an event like this for the past 8 years makes it that much more significant. Lumi guests celebrated with Jessie and Julia after the race and step inside the US team’s wax truck, along with the teammates, coaches and wax techs that support the racers. We learned that the team’s strategy was simply to hammer from the gun and try to pull the field apart, knowing that their fitness would land them on the podium.
Celebrating with Jessie and Julia after their team sprint
The first week trip was also a Lumi Experiences fundraiser to support the Trail to Gold Fellowship. The proceeds from the trip helped make a $4,000 donation to support this program, started by the National Nordic Foundation and Women Ski Coaches Association to help get more women coaches to the World Cup.
The Trail To Gold Fellowship was inspired by the book: Trail to Gold: The Journey of 53 Women Skiers; a collective effort by a community of women skiers to tell each other’s stories, and in doing so, set a track for the next generation of US skiers to find success based on the themes and values represented by those who came before them. The net proceeds from the book go towards the Trail to Gold Fellowship and provided the initial funding for the project. The book offers an excellent history of US women’s cross country skiing and is an inspiring read.
Since 2018, Lumi Experiences is thrilled to donate over $20,000 to the National Nordic Foundation in an effort to support cross country skier development in the United States through Lumi’s cross country ski vacations to World Cup and World Championships events.
Reach out to info@lumiexperiences.com to be first to learn about our upcoming trips to World Cup events.
The second week of the championships kicked off on Tuesday with a gold medal for Diggins in the 10 km Freestyle, taking home the first-ever individual gold medal at a World Champs for a US cross country skier!!
Jessie sprinting in the 10km Freestyle
The US women entered the 4 x 5 km relay with bib number 5, the number representing the team’s world ranking. Guests placed bets at the breakfast table before the race as to the skiers on the team and the order. Everyone agreed on the skiers who would make up the team: Brennan, Diggins, Kern and Swirbul, but no one guessed the order correctly. In the end, the team matched their world ranking, finishing 5th after a solid relay day. The team took the time to chat with Lumi guests after the races, sharing insights into the course, competition and mindset.
Julia Kern greets Lumi Experiences guests and founder Garrott Kuzzy sporting his relay socks after the 4 x 5 km
A few impressions from the past few days at the 2023 Planica Nordic World Championships.
Lumi Experiences guests from New Moon Ski + Bike shop cheering for Jessie
Go USA!
New Moon Ski Shop owners Judy and Kristy congratulate their employee and US Team wax tech Chris Hecker
Norway fans celebrating after the 4x5 km
Nadine Fendrich’s Swiss supporters sharing schnapps shots
Lumi trip leader Anna with fans from Norway and Sweden who have a love-hate relationship
Let the cheering, excitement, glitter, and historic moments continue…!
In between the World Championship events, Lumi guests have been soaking up the sunshine, craggy mountains, sledding, and stellar skiing around our favorite hotel just across the border from Planica in Italy. Speaking of history, it’s hard to believe that this border was practically closed until the early 1990s, but it’s helpful for our cross-border adventures that Lumi trip leaders Anna and Matija are fluent in four languages: Slovenian, German, Italian, and English!
Skiing the trails in Italy's beautiful Saisera Valley
Strolling around picturesque Lake Bled followed by dinner at one of the lake-side restaurants
If you think Slovenia & Italy look beautiful in winter, you should see them in the summertime! How about joining us for the Factory Tour trip this August, where you can ski on the Dachstein Glacier, glide through the Planica Ski Tunnel, see how skis are made, and hike in Slovenia's stunning Julian Alps?
If you’d prefer to join a trip to Italy next winter to cheer on your favorite athletes at the Tour de Ski, email Garrott to get the trip itinerary as soon as it’s available. Plus, save $300 / person when you sign up for any 2024 Lumi Experiences trip by March 31!
See you on the trail,
Garrott Kuzzy