Summer and Fall Recap
Plus European team selection races in three weeks!
Fast, fall training in CO with beautiful, leafy rollerskis and fresh crisp air!
Happy Autumn Everyone!
Since the last update was sent in early April, I have been training hard and preparing for this winter with fresh vigor and focus. What a season last winter was! Due to the break out results I achieved, I was formally named to the US Biathlon National Team as an athlete they are looking forward to seeing progress with high hopes!
It is very exciting to be recognized for my hard work that is paying off. Especially when I came out of retirement purely for a love of ski racing and with no guarantee of international racing. And now my name appears in Team USA news. I guess my racing career wasn't over.
Speaking of racing, Biathlon World Cup Trials and European Team selection is happening near Park City, UT in 3 weeks! Holy cow, the race is already here. Before winter officially starts, below is a quick summary of my summer and early fall along with a bit more about team trials.
I hope everyone has had a great summer. It has been so nice to see some of you in person. Thank you so much for the support I've started getting to start the season strong, I couldn't do it without you. Cheers!
Racing summer Biathlon Nationals in Jericho, VT in 90 deg heat
All day run to a high mountain hot springs with Russell
PJ & I on an icy raft trip down the Alsek River after years of planning
Crust skiing up mountains with the team in Bend, OR in May
Summer Summary
This past summer has been busy, to say the least. I am sure everyone has felt it, but for me things have certainly felt as if there are no brakes anymore, only a gas pedal. Hence blinking and realizing I haven't sent an update in 5 months.
After the season ended, April was filled with alpine skiing, mountain biking, sleeping and evaluating if another year of training was in order. Ultimately I decided I love training/racing too much to be done yet, but it was time to make some changes to help promote the longevity of income-less racing.
May saw the beginning of the training year with a big hours training camp on-snow in Bend, OR, then settling into life based back in CO. Being in CO is not only wonderful training, but also allowes for more time with PJ and my parents.
By late June I was traveling again, first to Bozeman for a camp with the team and on range training. Then to Jackson where I got to see so many of you and briefly help with the Summer Shakespeare theater set. I do miss my Jackson community and love the summer training there.
After much deliberation on what to pursue as a I side job to generate a bit of revenue, I landed on We-Cycle in July. It is the local community bike share program here in Aspen where I not only felt very good about helping reduce traffic/emissions in town, but also became a part of the community in a new way. Both very important things to me and finding ways to both train and work have become critical to continue ski racing moving forward.
As per tradition, the first week of August held Summer Biathlon National Championships in Jericho, VT. Also part of the tradition was the 90 degree heat and 90% humidity. Being in VT allowed time for training in Craftsbury as well and spending time in New England, a place I love from my college years and am looking to spend more time in.
Most recently, after years of pandemic postponement and months and months of planning, the beginning of September held our Alsek River trip. The Alsek River flows from the Yukon into the ocean through the largest non-polar icecap in the world and boy was it amazing! I have never been a trip like it before. The Yukon is BIG country and the glacial rivers are mighty, cold and wild. More to come on that trip.
As October nears, I am enjoying the fall colors while roller skiing and increasing my focus on race prep. On October 14th &15th, in Soldier Hollow, UT, US Biathlon is hosting European Team Selection where I will be competing to continue my spot for racing on the IBU circuit. I am eager to race again and will be sending an update after the trials.
As you can see, the summer has been jam packed - honestly I have been struggling to keep up on it all, plus there is a lot on deck for the near future. Most of the summer I have been deadline driven to finish things instead of getting in front of them, it's been difficult to feel grounded and ready; anyone else feeling that? Though, I have loved my consistent training and it's been wonderful to be with friends more often, my community close (and of course Ember the cat), and be in the mountain town where my ski racing career started 20 years ago!
Thank you so much for following my Biathlon career, I hope everyone is having a fantastic change of seasons. See you on the trails.