Team USA Delivers Momentum for Milano Cortina 2026 at Cross-Country World Cup Opener

The 2025-26 FIS Para Cross-Country World Cup series opened in Canmore, Canada, with Team USA returning to the international stage for the first time this winter. Over three days of racing, U.S. Para Nordic skiers posted podium results and showed competitive efforts across distance and sprint events, marking a strong start to the season. 

Oksana Masters led the way for Team USA in the Women’s Sitting category, making a triumphant return to world cup competition after missing much of last season. Masters opened the week with a silver medal in the 10km Interval Start before surging to victory in both the Sprint and the 10km Mass Start. Kendall Gretsch joined her teammate on the podium in both distance races, earning bronze medals in the Interval Start and Mass Start while also advancing to the sprint final. 

In the Men’s Sitting category, Team USA showed depth across all three events. Aaron Pike reached the sprint final and earned a bronze medal before adding a silver medal in the 10km Mass Start. Dan Cnossen, Josh Sweeney, Michael Kneeland, and Ty Wiberg each contributed solid results across the distance races and sprint rounds, gaining early-season experience in a competitive international field. 

The Standing categories saw consistent performances from U.S. athletes throughout the weekend, too. Dani Aravich finished fifth in the Women’s Standing 10km Interval Start and advanced to the sprint final, where she placed fourth. In the Men’s Standing races, Jack Berry delivered top 10 finishes in both distance events, placing sixth in the Interval Start and ninth in the Mass Start, while also advancing to the sprint semi-finals. 

In the Vision Impairment category, Max Nelson represented Team USA across all three races, finishing 12th in both distance events and competing in the sprint qualifier as he continues to build world cup experience. 

SILVER 
Oksana Masters – Women’s Sitting 

BRONZE 

Kendall Gretsch – Women’s Sitting 

Other Team USA results: 
Dan Aravich – 5th, Women’s Sitting  
Dan Cnossen 6th, Men’s Sitting 
Jack Berry – 6th, Men’s Standing 
Josh Sweeney – 8th, Men’s Sitting 
Nicole Zaino – 9th, Women’s Sitting 
Erin Martin – 10th, Women’s Sitting 
Max Nelson – 12th, Men’s Vision Impaired (VI) 
Zhenghong Schlechte – 15th, Men’s Standing 
Michael Kneeland – 15th, Men’s Sitting 
Zhenghong Schlechte – 21st, Men’s Standing 
Ty Wiberg – 23rd, Men’s Sitting 

GOLD 
Oksana Masters – Women’s Sitting  

BRONZE 
Aaron Pike – Men’s Sitting 

Other Team USA results: 
Dani Aravich – 4th, Women’s Standing 
Kendall Gretsch – 4th, Women’s Sitting 
Josh Sweeney – 6th, Men’s Sitting 
Nicole Zaino – 8th, Women’s Sitting (Semi-finals) 
Erin Martin – 11th, Women’s Sitting (Semi-finals) 
Jack Berry – 10th, Men’s Standing (Semi-finals) 
Dan Cnossen – 12th, Men’s Sitting (Semi-finals) 
Max Nelson – 15th, Men’s VI (Qualification) 
Zhenhong Schlechte – 16th, Men’s Sitting (Qualification) 
Michael Kneeland – 19th, Men’s Sitting (Qualification) 
Ty Wiberg – 22nd, Men’s Sitting (Qualification) 

GOLD 
Oksana Masters – Women’s Sitting 

SILVER 
Aaron Pike – Men’s Sitting 

BRONZE 
Kendall Gretsch – Women’s Sitting 

Other Team USA results: 
Dan Cnossen – 7th, Men’s Sitting 
Nicole Zaino – 8th, Women’s Sitting 
Jack Berry – 9th, Men’s Standing 
Josh Sweeney – 9th, Men’s Sitting 
Erin Martin – 12th, Women’s Sitting 
Max Nelson – 12th, Men’s VI 
Zhenghong Schlechte – 19th, Men’s Standing 
Ty Wiberg – 27th, Men’s Sitting 
 

Complete results can be found on the FIS website.