Truckee’s Matt Gelso is among the 16 cross-country athletes named by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association to compete in the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Falun, Sweden, from Feb. 18-March 1.

Gelso, a former national junior champion with Far West Nordic as well as a national collegiate champion with the University of Colorado, is the only California athlete on the U.S. team. Gelso, who graduated from Truckee High in 2006, now lives in Idaho and races for the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Olympic Development Team.

Gelso will be joined by Liz Stephen, Kikkan Randall, Jessie Diggins and Simi Hamilton. Randall and Diggins are the defending champions in the team sprint from 2013 in Val di Fiemme, Italy.

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“There are good opportunities for us in bringing a big U.S. team to Falun,” said U.S. coach Chris Grover. “We have a mix of experienced World Cup skiers and some new faces looking to make their mark at the highest level.”

 

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U.S. World Championships team

Men

Dakota Blackhorse-von Jess, Bend, Ore.

Kyle Bratrud, Eden Prairie, Minn.

Erik Bjornsen, Winthrop, Wash.

Matt Gelso, Truckee, Calif.

Simi Hamilton, Aspen, Colo.

Noah Hoffman, Aspen, Colo.

Kris Freeman, Andover, N.H.

Andy Newell, Shaftsbury, Vt.

 

Women

Rosie Brennan, Park City, Utah

Sadie Bjornsen, Winthrop, Wash.

Sophie Caldwell, Peru, Vt.

Jessie Diggins, Afton, Minn.

Caitlin Gregg, Minneapolis, Minn.

Kikkan Randall, Anchorage, Alaska

Ida Sargent, Orleans, Vt.

Liz Stephen, East Montpelier, Vt.

World Championships schedule

Feb. 18 — Opening Ceremony

Feb. 19 — Classic Sprint

Feb. 21 — Skiathlon 

Feb. 22 — Freestyle Team Sprint

Feb. 24 — Women’s 10K Freestyle

Feb. 25 — Men’s 15K Freestyle

Feb. 27 — 4x10K Relay

Feb. 28 — 30K Women’s Classic Mass Start 

March 1  — 50K Men’s Classic Mass Start