DENVER – Graduate student
Florian Knopf of the University of Denver ski team will make his season debut on the FIS Cross-Country World Cup circuit this weekend in Davos, Switzerland.
The Denver Nordic skier earned a spot on the German team for this Sunday's 20-kilometer classic race after a strong performance last weekend in a pair of FESA Cup events. Knopf placed 11th in the 10K classic interval last Saturday and 21st in the 15K freestyle interval start on Sunday in Schlinig, Italy.
Davos is the third stop on the Cross-Country World Cup circuit after the season began in Ruka, Finland, on Nov 29-Dec. 1 and continued in Lillehammer, Norway, last weekend. Sunday's interval start begins at 11:30 a.m. local time and will be streamed in the U.S. on
https://skiandsnowboard.live/ (subscription required).
The Bernau am Chiemsee, Germany native has taken part in five World Cup events previously in his career, including four in February during the event in Canmore, Alberta. He posted the best World Cup result of his career in the 20K classic mass start last season by placing 31st on Feb. 11 in Canada.
Knopf had a strong his first collegiate season in 2024 for the Pioneers, as he recorded top-five finishes in nine of his 10 races and earned four podiums—all of which were runner-up placements. He picked up a pair of first-team All-American awards at the 2024 NCAA Championships by placing fifth in the 7.5K freestyle on March 7 and earning silver in second place in the 20K classic on March 9 in Steamboat, Springs, Colorado.
Prior to joining DU skiing last season, he was a member of the German National Team and also competed for his home club SLV Bernau.
The Pioneers' Nordic squad just wrapped up its winter training camp in British Columbia and will reconvene before the New Year in Alaska for the start the 2025 campaign. The RMISA season begins at Kincaid Park in Anchorage with the U.S. Cross Country National Championships on Jan. 2-4, which will also double as the Nordic portion of the UAA Seawolf Invitational.
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