JNQ Races

Junior National Qualifier Races

If you are interested in skiing in college, want to improve at skiing, or want to experience a higher level of competition then Junior National Qualifier races are for you. These races feature the best competition in the Midwest with some of the best skiers in the Nation. There are 4 weekends of racing with a race on Saturday and a race on Sunday for a total of 8 races. If you perform well at these races you have a chance of making the Midwest Junior National Team. The more races you do the better shot you have at making the team. It is also beneficial to start doing these races when you are younger because it can be a difficult team to make and the more racing you have under your belt the better you will do the next year. Aside from these races being qualifiers for Junior Nationals they are plain and simple great ski racing experiences. You do not need to be an experienced skier to participate in these races. Racing in the Telemark JNQ can be a very technical race, but throwing yourself into an environment that is not comfortable will make you a stronger skier. To get more information about the logistics of JNQ races visit the CXC website.

What are Junior National Qualifier (JNQ) races?

Junior National Qualifiers represent the highest level of skiing for juniors 14-19 years old at a regional level. All races are broken up into age groups. There are 4 weekends of races in December, January, and February (total of 8 races) where skier earn a spot on the Midwest Team that competes at Junior Nationals. The races are broken into three age groups U20 (18 and 19-year-olds), U18 (16 and 17-year-olds) and U16 (14 and 15-year-olds). Registration closes at 12 pm the Tuesday before the race.

Who should go to JNQ's? What level of experience is needed?

The JNQ's are a step up in competition from MN high school skiing and is a great experience for all skiers looking to improve and race at the next level. The JNQ races include all the top high school skiers from MN and WI, plus college athletes all trying to make the Midwest team and represent the highest level of competition for junior skiers in the region. Skiers who make the Midwest team are usually the top skiers in their sections and are competing in the top 30 at the MN state meet. If you are not at that level of ability yet, that doesn't mean you shouldn't go to JNQ races at all. Going to these races will prepare you to race at a high level and will give you the necessary racing experience to be successful in your high school races.

Note that JNQ racing is age group based - so if you are 14 years old, it means you are racing the top athletes in your age group, not athletes who are 4 years older than you.

If you plan on Nordic ski racing in college, it is important to do JNQ races. It is the only way that college coaches can measure your progress compared to other athletes.

How many JNQ races count toward qualification for Junior Nationals?

Your best 4 races count of the 8 available races regardless of technique or race format. It's always to your best advantage to attend all or most of the races if your goal is to qualify for the Junior National Championships. For those who are not likley to qualify in their first year of JNQ racing, it may make sense to do 2 or 3 weekends instead of 4.