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This page will see periodic updates posted from April to December increasing in January until daily updates begin as the MWC trip kicks off.
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Official Race Organizer Website: www.MWC2026.com (event registration, race schedule, race maps, start lists, results)
MWC Race Registration Helpful Info
MWC2026 List of Registrations To Date
USA Relay Selection Process (a few things here will be updated closer to the trip)
Frequently Asked Questions of newer MWC skiers (prepared by AXCS)
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Ski Service for MWC2026 (provided by Boulder Nordic Sport)
Weather Forecasts: yr.no
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Team USA Lodging Options in Sappada/Forni Avoltri:
Hotels: Cavallino * Bach Hotel * Venezia * Posta * Bladen * Oberthaler
Retreat: Eirl Dolomites Retreat
B&B's: Chalet Le Coccole * Mulhbach House * Il Nido
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International Ski Travel 101 (AXCS has developed this extensive resource filled with tips from past MWC trips -- great stuff for skiers new to international ski trips & good reminders for veteran travelers)
Pre-Trip Countdown Checklist (Shorter "do this and don't do that" resource)
Ski Travel Baggage Tips (Useful AXCS travel resource for packing skis & wax gear)
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MWC2026 TEAM USA UPDATES
Updates posted by AXCS National Director J.D. Downing
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Current Team USA Trip Chart (last update: December 26 3:30pm PST)
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Friday, December 26 -- 3:30pm Pacific Time updates
Booking Flight Tips To Best Coordinate with Charter Buses to/from Sappada
If you have not done so already, AXCS now suggests that you at least look into booking your flights in/out of Venice (VCE) Marco Polo Airport relatively soon so that you have the best availability on flight options.
When you get to this step, please note the following:
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a. For your best options on arrival charter bus shuttles from VCE airport up to Sappada hotels, you want to physically be at the Venice Airport ideally by the morning to mid-day of Wednesday, January 28. Arriving later in the afternoon will greatly restrict your options for convenient bus transfers.
That said -- please see the note above about the potential for one USA charter bus in the evening of Jan 28 due to a USA group already with 5pm arrival tickets.
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b. If you prefer to have more fudge room on your arrival travel to Europe, it is entirely reasonable to book your flights to get into Venice (VCE) anytime on Tuesday, January 27. You can then book (on your own) an airport hotel so that you are ready for any and all bus transfers on Wednesday, 28th. AXCS has a special hotel offer mentioned in this email.
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c. For departure, your best options for departure bus transfers back to Venice (this is for people NOT doing the optional Olympic Weekend add-on) is booking a flight for departure as late as possible on Friday, February 6 or anytime on Saturday, February 7. Bus shuttles from Sappada to the airport can take up to 3+ hours plus you need allow a minimum of 2 hours for airport check-in. So you would ideally aim only for flights leaving mid-day or later on Friday, February 6.
You also can opt to spend the night of February 6 at a Venice airport hotel or in Venice itself (the city clears out in the evenings, so evenings are often an amazing time to be a tourist!).
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Wednesday, December 24 -- 1:30pm Pacific Time updates
A Couple MWC Race Notes for USA Skiers
-> FLUOROCARBON WAXES NOT ALLOWED AT MWC RACES!
As was the case the past two years, the World Masters Association is implementing the same no-fluorocarbon wax policy as other FIS events. This goes for both glide waxes and kick waxes.
The Sappada organizers say that they will have random ski testing in place. This may or may not actually happen, but all skiers should be ready to have your skis tested and USA folks are strongly urged to adhere to a non-fluoro personal wax policy both before and during MWC2026. Disqualification is the worst case scenario with "dirty" skis in a positive test.
What we found last year is that "cleaning" your skis with a few applications of "clean" no-F waxes plus wiping down your top sheets/sidewalls with wax cleaner was enough to avoid any positive tests. Zero USA skiers had a positive test.
It is highly advisable to purchase a new supply of race waxes that all are "clean" no-F standard soon (if not already) so you aren't in a panic closer to the trip. The newer stuff from multiple brands is performing just as well (or even better) than top sheet F waxes even in the prime fluorocarbon conditions.
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-> RACE SEEDING....WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE ANY WMA POINTS?
As per standard AXCS protocol with regards to race seeding, all USA skiers that lack WMA points because you have not done a Masters World Cup in the past three years are eligible to apply to your USA National Director (JD Downing) to have points assigned to improve your start position.
The annual message on this seeding equation is that it is very rare year that seeding will matter for skiers in the M/F 1-2 categories and/or skiers in the M/F 11/12/13 categories. Those cats almost never have multiple rows of skiers.
Similarly, for nearly all women's categories from F1 to F12, it is rare for more than 20 women to be in the same technique race. MWC start lines are typically 20 start spots wide. So seeding rarely ever matters.
With men from M3-M10 categories, skiers without WMA points need to decide if you will likely be fighting it out for the top 10-15 places. If you feel that is likely (the best way to tell is to look at past MWC results and see how USA skiers you often race around are doing), then go ahead and send an email to JD Downing to ask for seeding assignment. Please provide a short, data-based argument for your request (example: Joe has raced very comparably against X and Y USA skiers the last two years at this and that USA races. X and Y are routinely in the top 15 places at the MWC.)
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-> BANNED NATIONS (WHAT'S UP?)
USA skiers have not been asking, but a few skiers from other nations were wondering if skiers from two particular nations banned by the FIS for the past few years due to the war against Ukraine will be allowed to ski in Sappada. This question came up because the IOC and the involved nations pressured FIS to allow so-called "neutral" athletes from those nations to do Olympic qualifiers.
The short answer related to the Masters World Cup is "NO". Skiers will not be allowed to represent the banned nations at a Masters World Cup until the war is over.
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Wednesday, December 17 -- 1:30pm Pacific Time updates
We are at the phase of trip planning where AXCS actively is now encouraging USA skiers to start registering of the MWC2026 (if you have not already).
The main reason in coming weeks is that up until December 31, registration is a flat fee of 220 EUR.
As soon as we hit New Years Day, that flat registration fee jumps up to 250 EUR.
Your loyal AXCS National Director (JD) can make changes to any race selections up until close of registration (roughly two weeks prior to first race). So if you are inclined to wait to register because you aren't sure what technique/race schedule you want to set up -- there is no reason to wait. Whatever you set up now, we can change in coming weeks.
To help both veteran MWC skiers and newbies, AXCS has updated for 2026 our world-famous MWC Race Registration Helpful Info page. MWC registration has a few "quirks" that are unique to this event. You will save yourself and AXCS time/hassle if you use the helper page.
Note: Unless you have a way to do split screens, the helper info is most useful if you quickly read through the items first before you get into the actual Datasport website. That way you cut down on flipping back and forth between registration page and helper page.
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Monday, December 8 -- 3:30pm Pacific Time updates
Newer MWC skiers typically have similar questions related to various pieces of the event.
To help answer those questions, AXCS has "refreshed" a FAQ list that we've used in past years.
https://xcskiworld.com/mwc-usa-participant-faq
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Tuesday, December 2 -- 9:30pm Pacific Time updates
AXCS has gotten several questions about race distances offered for each age category. So for those wondering, here you go.....
Men M 01-06 (aged 30-59) 20 km, 10 km, 30 km Blue course
Men M 07-09 (aged 60-74) 15 km, 10 km, 30 km Blue course
Men M 10-13 (aged 75 and over) Green course
Women F 01-06 (aged 30-59) 15 km, 10km, 30 km Blue course
Women F 07-08 (aged 60-69) 15 km, 10 km, 20 km Blue course
Women F 09-13 (aged 70 and over) 10 km, 5 km, 15 km Green course
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Thursday, September 24 -- 9:30am Pacific Time updates
AXCS has arranged a special group booking block for the night of Tuesday, January 27 at the same Venice Airport Courtyard Hotel that the Lumi Olympic Weekend Add-on people will be using (or at least dropped at) on Sunday, February 8.
If you know that you will be arranging an air ticket to arrive on the 27th (a night before the main charter bus travel day of Wednesday, January 28 from VCE Airport up to Sappada) -- this is a nice offer with some consistency of lodging (at least for the Lumi Olympic Weekend folks).
A few notable notes....
a. Note that you can find cheaper VCE Airport hotels. AXCS doesn't get anything out of this deal. So if you want to book with another property based on saving some $ -- feel free to do so.
The Courtyard Venice Airport property is just a pretty nice place and close to the terminal (it'd be reasonable walking distance, 1km or so, in good weather -- the main issue is hauling big/heavy bags). Cost with the AXCS booking arrangement is 209 EUR with 10% VAT tax for the room + 3.10 EUR per person local tax = roughly $275 USD one person or $280 two people. The room cost should be the same single or double.
b. The AXCS group booking does include breakfast which would normally cost $39 per person. Our group booking also allows no-penalty cancellation until January 20.
c. The hotel does not have shuttles. On-line notes say that you'll need to use Uber/Lift/taxi for about 20 EUR. That or you can tough out the 1km walk with your bags.
If you want to take advantage of the AXCS booking block here's the instructions (deadline is December 4):
Email the following info to [email protected]
-> Full name(s) of guest(s)
-> Number of guests
-> Preferred room type (double or single)
-> Group Code: 511701
The booking code will work until December 4th or until all the reserved AXCS rooms are filled.
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Thursday, June 26 -- 4:00pm Pacific Time updates
==>>Lodging Package Terms & Conditions Updated
AXCS has received the lodging package Terms and Conditions for MWC2026. A fresh update has been made this afternoon to the Trip Deposit page (scroll down).
There are a couple items that AXCS is still clarifying with the Sappada OC. But overall the Terms are in line with WMA international requirements and typical for MWC trips.
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Tuesday, May 20 -- 11:00am Pacific Time updates
==>> Lodging Package Deposit Payment system open + Lumi Experiences Olympic Weekend Add-On Sign-up Now Open
Although AXCS is still gathering more required information from the MWC2026 Organizing Committee (OC) to flesh out complete Terms & Conditions on our 2026 Lodging Packages, we don't want to hold off any longer on having folks get started with the $750 per person deposit payments to hold in place your preliminary lodging reservation for the MWC2026 trip.
So -- the link below details two options for payment (check via postal mail or on-line payment). To give everyone a bit more time to pay deposits, AXCS has shifted the due date for deposits to June 15. If you cannot pay a deposit by that date, please notify AXCS and JD will work with you on a schedule solution.
MWC2026 AXCS Lodging Package Deposit Payments
All the information you need to complete deposits should be found on that link above.
Also very notable.....
The Lumi Experiences Olympic Weekend Add-On package is now open for sign-ups.
The Olympic Weekend informational flyer is found here.
The Olympic Weekend Booking Survey (required for sign-up) is found here.
Please note that there is a significant discount for sign-ups before June 14 and also that there is an initial sign-up capacity on this Add-On package.
And.....
Lumi Experiences Marcialonga Pre-MWC2026 Trip Option
Several MWC skiers have expressed interest in a “pre-trip” option to ski the Marcialonga: Italy’s Worldloppet event, January 23 - 27, 2026 -- the weekend before the Master's World Cup. If you'd like to learn more about Lumi's Marcialonga Pre-Trip, you can request information on Lumi's Marcialonga Pre-Trip page. This trip is only open to Master's World Cup skiers. Fill out the form by May 30 to express your interest.
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Thursday, April 24 -- 2:00pm Pacific Time updates
==>> As of yesterday (April 23) AXCS has gotten more lodging information from the event Organizing Committee (OC). Two key items not confirmed as of print time for the AXCS Spring Digest have been updated.
1.) Our three USA B&B houses (Chalet Le Coccole, Mulhbach House, and Il Nido) are all now confirmed to be rated as 4-star lodging with pricing matched accordingly.
2.) Although AXCS is still waiting for an absolute confirmation on our calculations, we have estimates for Single Room Added Charge ("Supplements") prices and will share those directly with AXCS membership via a late April e-MasterBlast as well as individual preliminary reservation request confirmation notes.
==>> There are a few more details that we still need to nail down with the exact room/bed configurations at each lodging location and also terms/conditions with each booking. AXCS hopes to get the complete room/bed info shortly, but we should be able to do preliminary placement at many lodging options as of early May based on information in hand.
Terms/conditions for bookings we have more time to secure since initial lodging deposits are not due until June 6.
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-> AXCS members that have already submitted a preliminary request for MWC2026 lodging will see a listing of names by early next week (target date is Monday, April 28). If you provided a ranked list of your preferred lodging options, AXCS will place you into random draws taking place shortly after May 1. We will go down the list of every member's preferred choices until we have a placement match for you in the random draws. If you have "linked" your reservation to other folks, that will be factored in to the random draw and placement process.
-> AXCS members that have NOT already submitted a preliminary request for MWC2026 lodging can still submitted requests at any time this spring. There is no deadline. But please note that some of your preferred lodging options will likely fill in the random draw process mentioned above.
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