Elite Team: Christian Gostout

Christian Gostout, Nordic

What is your Instagram handle?

@the_rad_chilla

What is your hometown?

Rochester, MN

What is your favorite race venue?

Jackson, NH

What is your go-to pre-race song/soundtrack?

Changes every year to some unsuspecting EDM banger. Most recently it was "Rave Teacher" by Scooter.

What other hobbies and/or side gigs do you have going on?

I work at Explore Rentals in Bozeman and also for an online tech company. In between training work and recovery, I generally am building something, trying to get out and climb some rocks, or swimming/fishing in all of our beautiful rivers and streams!

What would an ideal day look like for you?

Waking up to 10 feet of stable, well bonded powder. You can probably fill in all the rest, but there also has to be a sauna and a hole in a frozen lake involved at some point.

Any sponsor shoutouts?

Haven't bonked since I started bringing Untapped maple snacks to my workouts, and of course I can't wait to get back on my rippin' Fischer skis this winter.

Follow Christian

@the_rad_chilla

Elite Team: Hannah Cole

Hannah Cole, Nordic

What is your Instagram handle?

@hanncole

What is your hometown?

Honeoye Falls, NY (Bonus points to anyone who can pronounce "Honeoye" correctly without coaching.)

What is your favorite race venue?

Sovereign Lake Nordic Center up in B.C. for its big climbs, snow-laden pines, and high energy racing atmosphere.

What is your go-to pre-race song/soundtrack?

I'm all for anything that calms me down. During college, it was "Hero" by Family of the Year.

What other hobbies and/or side gigs do you have going on?

I'm coming up on three years at Cafe M. Shoutout to the owner, Tom, my co-workers, and the regulars who have provided me with ample coffee, conversation, and community. Pre-COVID-19, I helped cover DIII cross country and track and field, but that's taken a pause. Currently, my free time is mostly spent studying for the MCAT, contesting the NYT daily crossword, and hanging out on the "Basecamp" porch.

What would an ideal day look like for you?

An early alarm to give plenty of time to drink a good cup of coffee before heading out for a long run in the mountains. Preferably the route is a loop and somewhere I've never been before. Something in the Spanish Peaks or the Beaten Path tops my list right now. After some downtime in the afternoon, it'd be dinner on the porch and a bike down to the local ice cream shop before catching the sunset from the top of Story Mill. Any sponsor shoutouts?Yes, a big thanks to Madshus for top of the line skis, boots, poles, and service, Toko for their gloves, and Enjoy Winter for their Bliz glasses and Swenor rollerski product support.

Follow Hannah

@hanncole

Elite Team: Felicia Gesior

Felicia Gesior, Nordic

What is your Instagram handle?

@fel.gesior

What is your hometown?

Waukesha, WI (Southeastern WI).

What is your favorite race venue?

Michigan Tech Trails in Houghton, MI

What other hobbies and/or side gigs do you have going on?

Teaching English to Chinese students online, substitute teaching at the local elementary schools, and reading all sorts of books in my free time.

What would an ideal day look like for you?

Long trail run adventure in the mountains followed by lots of sweets and jumping in a lake.

Any sponsor shoutouts?

Bliz

Follow Felicia

@ifel.gesior 

Elite Team: Amanda Kautzer

Amanda Kautzer, Nordic & Biathlon

What is your Instagram handle?

@mandy_rose_kautzer

What is your hometown?

Plymouth, MN

What is your favorite race venue?

MTU Trails, Houghton, MI

What is your go-to pre-race song/soundtrack?

"Mandy Gets Psyched to Run Fast" - a custom playlist one of my best friends made me. Songs: Aldrig Mer, Dream of Something Sweet, Spirals, Fade, Far Away, Spectre

What other hobbies and/or side gigs do you have going on?

Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering, research with the Kinesiology department at MTU, internship at Plexus, continued professional development, waterskiing, climbing

What would an ideal day look like for you?

Wake up around 5:30 after a full 8 hours of sleep. Sip on a coffee while chatting with a friend/teammate/family member sitting on a porch overlooking water and/or mountains. Eat a tasty breakfast. Go for a trail run. Lunch. Adventure workout: climbing, kayaking, swimming. Dinner with friends/family. Sunset+reading a book.

Any sponsor shoutouts?

I hope more soon!!! For now just Rossignol.

Follow Amanda

@mandy_rose_kautzer

Elite Team: Aaron Pike

Aaron Pike, Biathlon

What is your Instagram handle?

@aaronlevipike

What is your hometown?

Champaign, IL

What is your favorite race venue?

Ostersund, Sweden

What is your go-to pre-race song/soundtrack?

“Good as Hell” by Lizzo

What other hobbies and/or side gigs do you have going on?

US Track and Field, compete in world marathon majors, fish when I get the chance.

What would an ideal day look like for you?

Wake up workout somewhere on the open road in the racing chair or on the mountain XC skiing with a group of friends and then have a BBQ and fire to cap off the day.

Follow Aaron

@aaronlevipike

Elite Team: Anna Sellers

Anna Sellers, Biathlon

What is your Instagram handle?

@anna4036

What is your hometown?

Canmore, Alberta, Canada

What is your favorite race venue?

Sjusjeon ,Norway

What is your go-to pre-race song/soundtrack?

Arcade Fire 🔥 🔥🔥

What other hobbies and/or side gigs do you have going on?

I work as a professional photographer and at Sauce Active wear. I am also taking online classes through UBCO for environmental science!

What would an ideal day look like for you?

Either going for an epic crust ski or watching the sunset from the top of a mountain. Both options would include yummy snacks, some good tunes and awesome friends!!

Any sponsor shoutouts?

Rundle sport roller skis, Auclair gloves, Brubeck Bodyguard, Buff Canada, Woodpecker European timber framing, Fischer skis, Swix poles, Julbo eyewear

Follow Anna

@anna4036

Elite Team: Anna French

Anna French, Nordic & Biathlon

What is your Instagram handle?

@anna.french

What is your hometown?

Plymouth, MN

What is your favorite race venue?

Crosscut Mountain Sports Center, MT

What is your go-to pre-race song/soundtrack?

“No Hell” by Cloud Cult

What other hobbies and/or side gigs do you have going on?

Doing graduate school and research in the Boyd lab at MSU! This summer I have been studying microbes to understand how they meet their metabolic needs using metal sulfide clusters. My graduate research will be focused on the influence of seismic activity on microbes deep in the subsurface of Yellowstone National Park. Both these projects aim to address questions relating to the origins of life.

What would an ideal day look like for you?

My ideal day would be waking up in a tent, going for a long run adventure in the mountains with my teammates and friends, climbing in the afternoon, enjoying tacos for dinner, and watching the stars by a campfire at night. Or it would involve achieving my lifelong goal of becoming a true Minnesotan by jumping in all 11,842 Minnesota lakes. But really, any day outside is a good day.

Any sponsor shoutouts?

Department of Microbiology at MSU :)

Follow Anna

@anna.french