- Men
- Bjørn Dæhlie, 22, in his 2nd season – the WC 1 (15 km C) in Salt Lake City; also first podium
- Christer Majbäck, 25, in his 6th season – the WC 2 (15 km F) in Calgary; first podium was 1984–85 WC 7 (15 km) in Syktyvkar
- Jochen Behle, 29, in his 9th season – the WC 3 (15 km F) in Calgary; first podium was 1981–82 WC 9 (15 km) in Štrbské Pleso
- Terje Langli, 25, in his 4th season – the WC 10 (30 km C) in Örnsköldsvik; also first podium
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- Women
- Stefania Belmondo, 20, in her 2nd season – the WC 2 (15 km F) in Salt Lake City; also first podium
- Larisa Lazutina, 24, in her 6th season – the WC 3 (15 km C) in Thunder Bay; first podium was 1986–87 WC 7 (20 km F) in Oberstdorf
- Trude Dybendahl, 24, in her 5th season – the WC 4 (30 km F) in Moscow; first podium was 1988–89 WC 4 (15 km C) in Kavgolovo
- Manuela Di Centa, 27, in her 6th season – the WC 5 (15 km F) in Pontresina; first podium was 1988–89 WC 5 (10 km C) in Klingenthal
- Svetlana Nageykina, 25, in her 5th season – the WC 7 (10 km C) in Bohinj; first podium was 1987–88 WC 10 (10 km F) in Rovaniemi
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