FAIRBANKS – The Alaska Nanooks are going to be well represented at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games, with multiple current and former Nanook skiers set to compete for their countries in cross-country skiing next month in Italy.
Current Nanook Rosie Fordham made the cut for Team Australia, while former Nanook skiers Kendall Kramer (USA), Mariel Pulles (EST), Mike Ophoff (CZE) and Joe Davies (GBR) all got the call to represent their nations.
Fordham heads to the 2026 Winter Games after historic performances over the past year. The redshirt senior out of Sydney earned Australia's first-ever medal in an international cross-country ski event last February during the U23 World Championships in Schilpario, Italy, placing second in the 10k freestyle. She also notched a 13th-place finish in the World Cup 10k freestyle in Davos, Switzerland this past December, marking the best-ever World Cup finish by an Australian cross-country skier.
Kramer will represent Team USA, with the former National Champion and six-time All-American set to continue her cross-country skiing career in Italy. The former 'Nook and Fairbanks native ended her illustrious collegiate career last season, claiming the victory in the 20k freestyle at the NCAA Championships, finishing 36 seconds ahead of second place with a time of 50:14.0. She earned at least one All-American result in each of her five seasons at Alaska.
Pulles and Ophoff will join them, representing Team Estonia and Team Czechia, respectively. Pulles was a six-time All-American during her time in Fairbanks, while Ophoff secured the honor three times during his Nanooks career.
Additionally, Davies, who skied for Alaska from 2021-23, will compete for Great Britain.
The Opening Ceremony will be held on Friday, Feb. 6, at 8 p.m. CET (10 a.m. AKST), and the first cross-country skiing event will take place on Saturday, Feb. 7, with the women's skiathlon. The games conclude on Sunday, Feb. 22, with the teams taking part in the women's 50k classic mass start.
Follow the 'Nooks
IG - @NanookSkiing
X - @NanooksSki
FB - Alaska Nanooks XC
