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World Class: The Making of the U.S. Women's Cross-Country Ski Team
What makes a great team? Sports journalist Peggy Shinn answers this question in her enthralling account of the dramatic rise of the U.S. women’s cross-country ski team, winners of eight medals at three world championships over the past five years. Shinn’s story―based on dozens of interviews with athletes, coaches, parents, spouses, and friends―paints a vivid picture of the obstacles that America’s female athletes must overcome not just to ski with the world’s best, but to beat them. In a sport where U.S. women have toiled for decades, mostly in the middle or the back of the pack, the development of a world-class team attests to the heady combination of a transformational leader, a coach who connects with his athletes, the super-fast individual skiers who are also conscientious teammates―and a bit of good luck. This is the story of Kikkan Randall, Liz Stephen, Holly Brooks, Jessie Diggins, Ida Sargent, Sadie Bjornsen, Sophie Caldwell, Rosie Brennan, and coach Matt Whitcomb―and how they created the perfect team.
- GenresSports
248 pages, Paperback
Published February 6, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 5, 2018
World Class is an exciting play-by-play account of the U.S. women’s cross-country ski team’s rise to prominence, and a fascinating study of teamwork – both its essential components and its importance.
After Kikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins won a gold medal in Pyeongchang – the first-ever Olympic gold for the U.S. in cross-country skiing after almost a century of winter Olympics – I went to the Internet to learn more. The videos I watched emphasized the whole team as well as the individual athletes’ stories. I became intrigued. When skiing is mainly an individual sport, what does it even mean to be on a ski team, and what is the role of teamwork?
This timely book answered all my questions and more. Peggy Shinn begins by giving us a fascinating look at the history of Nordic skiing in the United States, with a focus on women in the sport. I tell you, it’s one thing to have the general knowledge that women were sidelined in sports, and it is another thing to read about it and learn just how shockingly recent were the changes that allowed women to participate fully.
I’m not particularly a sports fan, and I know next to nothing about skiing, but this was one riveting read that taught me lessons I can apply to all areas of my life. I learned that cross-country skiing is one of the most brutal sports there is, using every muscle in the body, and requiring a decade of devotion in order to excel on the world stage. I learned about what effective leadership looks like, both in terms of coaching, and leading as a member of a group. I learned about perseverance – holy cow, did I learn about perseverance – as I read about the sport itself and the long struggle on the part of many individuals to develop the U.S. women’s ski team.
I highly recommend this clear, engaging story of the U.S. women’s ski team, the athletes’ personal stories, the components of true leadership, and just what goes into creating a gold-medal team.
After Kikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins won a gold medal in Pyeongchang – the first-ever Olympic gold for the U.S. in cross-country skiing after almost a century of winter Olympics – I went to the Internet to learn more. The videos I watched emphasized the whole team as well as the individual athletes’ stories. I became intrigued. When skiing is mainly an individual sport, what does it even mean to be on a ski team, and what is the role of teamwork?
This timely book answered all my questions and more. Peggy Shinn begins by giving us a fascinating look at the history of Nordic skiing in the United States, with a focus on women in the sport. I tell you, it’s one thing to have the general knowledge that women were sidelined in sports, and it is another thing to read about it and learn just how shockingly recent were the changes that allowed women to participate fully.
I’m not particularly a sports fan, and I know next to nothing about skiing, but this was one riveting read that taught me lessons I can apply to all areas of my life. I learned that cross-country skiing is one of the most brutal sports there is, using every muscle in the body, and requiring a decade of devotion in order to excel on the world stage. I learned about what effective leadership looks like, both in terms of coaching, and leading as a member of a group. I learned about perseverance – holy cow, did I learn about perseverance – as I read about the sport itself and the long struggle on the part of many individuals to develop the U.S. women’s ski team.
I highly recommend this clear, engaging story of the U.S. women’s ski team, the athletes’ personal stories, the components of true leadership, and just what goes into creating a gold-medal team.
March 8, 2018
I must admit that I am biased, but I loved this book. I spent 8 years working with U.S. Ski and Snowboard and the Cross Country teams and their coaches were some of my absolute favorite people. Reading this book brought back a lot of memories, but it also taught me things that I didn't know about this group. I am in complete awe of the athletes and their coaches for what they have built. In 2014 I only had the opportunity to attend the Women's 30km in Sochi. As I watched the race unfold, I cheered for the four women representing the USA as tears ran down my face. I was disappointed for them (never in them) because I knew they had results leading into the Olympics and would have more post Olympics. But since the USA only pays attention to those who win medals, I wanted that for them. This year I was up early for each race during the 2018 Olympics so I could support them in real time. There were cheers, prayers and tears when Kikkan and Jessie won that first gold medal in the team sprint. I hope that between that result and this book that more people will realize what an amazing group of women represent us in Cross Country. I cannot wait to see where the future takes these women.
May 7, 2018
Great book! Of course made even greater by the fantastic finish to win Olympic gold in 2018!
Excellent story about athletes working very very hard to improve, bond as a team, and produce great results. Work really hard, suffer for years, develop strong bonds with your teammates and you'll always have my respect!
I love the thought that from every competition find something to celebrate and something to learn from the event!
Perhaps only 4.5 stars. Rewatch the finish of the gold-medal event. As they enter into the stadium Diggins sits in third and powers through to win gold!!
This book was finished just before the 2018 Olympics, so it does not include information on the Randall Diggins gold medal.
Excellent story about athletes working very very hard to improve, bond as a team, and produce great results. Work really hard, suffer for years, develop strong bonds with your teammates and you'll always have my respect!
I love the thought that from every competition find something to celebrate and something to learn from the event!
Perhaps only 4.5 stars. Rewatch the finish of the gold-medal event. As they enter into the stadium Diggins sits in third and powers through to win gold!!
This book was finished just before the 2018 Olympics, so it does not include information on the Randall Diggins gold medal.
October 14, 2019
Fun read for nordic ski fans! Fascinating to learn the history of the women's US nordic ski team, and how it has been built up over the past 20 years or so to become a real contender. Also really interesting to learn the back stories of the athletes, with their very different paths to "making it" on the US Olympic ski team and World Cup circuit.
March 6, 2018
One month, one Olympics, and one gold medal later... this book needs a new edition.
If you want to understand what it means for these women to have earned a medal at the 2018 Olympics, look no further than this book. It’s an amazing story.
If you want to understand what it means for these women to have earned a medal at the 2018 Olympics, look no further than this book. It’s an amazing story.
September 3, 2018
Enjoyed reading this book as it provides a great history of cross country skiing and the history of the sport in the US. I am fascinated by winter sports though, so I may be bused. Really great insight into the sport as well as how the US has elevated their performance.
August 18, 2019
Wow. This is an in depth tribute to my favorite sport. As a young skier very involved in the nordic community, this was a great read! I know Liz Steven personally, as she is my coach, but this revealed things I didn't know about the others skiers.
February 24, 2021
An inspirational true story written by respected ski competition writer, Peggy Shinn. This is a great read for coaches and competitors in any undertaking, be it athletic or business or otherwise. World Class is the truth about the long haul to the top of a sport, starting from the back of the line.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews