In this crazy time that we currently live in, I felt extremely fortunate to get called up to represent the USA in IBU Cups 3 & 4 in Orsiblie, Slovakia. Luke (Crosscut Elite team member), Carsen (a new Team USA athlete), and I took to the friendly skies on February 1st to meet up with the rest of the team in Germany for a mini training camp before the next races. Fast forward many travel hours later and we arrived in Arber, Germany and reunited with the team, which included a couple of our fellow Team Crosscut athletes: “Slucy” Lucy and “Fully Engaged” Vincent! Our team worked hard this past off-season with great team chemistry and supportive coaches, and the results have shown it!
First ski in rainy Arber, Germany!
Training in Arber
The first few days I spent some time settling in, COVID testing (the team is tested every 3–4 days), and getting in some real foggy, rainy skis. The following week was spent with some quality time on the range in Arber along with some intensity sessions to “wake” the body back up. After eight days in Arber it was off to Slovakia — an eight-hour drive away. After some “adventures” at the Austrian border, we all made it into Osrblie on a very snowy night. Our hotel was right at the venue and we arrived with the Swedes (STINA!) along with several other counties. With this being my first IBU Cup and international race debut, it was all a bit of a whirlwind the first few days (I can’t wear my Crosscut neck buff, but whhhhy!?!) but I got it all sorted and started things off with a Sprint Race. I shot well and actually skied decently so I made the Pursuit in my first international race. Can’t ask for much more than that! The following races didn’t go quite as well as my first race and I could slowly feel myself getting into a hole from the not-so-nutritious Slovakian food. I would have loved to have something else besides potatoes with my potatoes, but such is life in Slovakia!
First Pursuit race!
Maddie placed 3rd in the Short Individual!
After the final races in Osrblie we headed over to Vienna, Austria, where some teammates were heading home and some to World Juniors (Go Vincent and Ari!!). The rest of us piled — and I mean PILED — into a single van and headed to Antholz, Italy for a two-week training camp while we awaited word on what the final IBU Cup team would look like. I had high expectations for Antholz and let me tell you that it has lived up to them and then some! The skiing is seriously gorgeous and the Biathlon venue is literally world class. (And future Olympic site!) The first week some of the USA World Cup team was also training in Antholz after the World Championships so we all had some really good quality training sessions. I was pushed way beyond my comfort zone in both skiing and shooting, but what great training it was! This past week has consisted of some really great focused training and shooting along with plenty of stunning long skis.
Antholz Biathlon venue
Luke and I on a beautiful ski in Dolomiti di Sesto
The final IBU Cup races have been moved to Obertilliach, Austria, where I’m happy to say that I have been named to the USA team as well! It’s a full week of racing so I’m looking forward to ending the season on a high note before finally heading back home to Bozeman!
