Julia Kern is a U.S. Ski Team cross-country skier who grew up just outside of Boston in Waltham, Massachusetts. Growing up, Julia played lots of sports and recalls that having a dream of being some type of Olympian has been there for as long as she can remember. As a child, Julia’s love for the sport of cross-country skiing began at Weston Ski Track, which is a golf course in the summer and a cross country ski track in the winter. Weston maintains fifteen kilometers of trails that are groomed for both skate and classical skiing and is a place that provides accessible outdoor recreational opportunities in the Boston Area.
Other than spending lots of time at Weston, Julia also says that her older sister of four and a half years, Nadja, had a big influence on her. Even with the large age gap, Julia wanted to do everything Nadja did, and said that, “Nadja was always good at sports, was really kind and a good student, so I really strived to follow in her footsteps.”
Since living outside of Boston, Julia has come a long way in the sport of cross-country skiing. A member of the U.S. Ski Team since 2017, she is a World Championship Bronze medalist and a 2022 Winter Olympian. She is also a four-time US National Champion and was the youngest American to ever podium on World Cup.
Since living outside of Boston, Julia has come a long way in the sport of cross-country skiing. A member of the U.S. Ski Team since 2017, she is a World Championship Bronze medalist and a 2022 Winter Olympian. She is also a four-time US National Champion and was the youngest American to ever podium on World Cup.
Julia started skiing on Atomic during the 2022 ski season and said she “was drawn to Atomic’s drive for innovation to create skis that continue to push the limits of what is possible.” Julia races on the Gen S and S9 race skis. She also explains she was stoked to join the Atomic family, not only for the top-of-the-line equipment but also for the other athletes who represent the brand. For Julia, “the journey of a ski racer feels much more meaningful and impactful when you are working with a team together to achieve success and support each other as a family.”
Looking ahead to this season, Julia let us know that one of the World Cup stops she is most looking forward to is the COOP FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Minneapolis. The 2024 Loppet Cup presented by Stifel will be the first Cross-Country World Cup on American soil in over twenty-three years.
Julia is excited to race in front of her family and friends with hopes to inspire the next generation of American nordic skiers. Beyond the Minneapolis event, Julia has her sights set on some big goals this upcoming season. She is aiming to finish in the top five ranking in the World Cup Sprint Overall while capturing some individual World Cup podiums along the way.
Julia is excited to race in front of her family and friends with hopes to inspire the next generation of American nordic skiers. Beyond the Minneapolis event, Julia has her sights set on some big goals this upcoming season. She is aiming to finish in the top five ranking in the World Cup Sprint Overall while capturing some individual World Cup podiums along the way.
We can’t wait to see Julia perform this upcoming season and we wish her the best of luck!
To learn more about the 2024 Loppet Cup, click on the link below.