Crosscut’s Elite Team
The highest levels of training and performance
Crosscut’s Elite Team supports biathletes and para Nordic athletes as they train and compete on the national and international stage, elevating the sports of biathlon and para Nordic within the United States. This program develops athletes to achieve the highest levels in sport, while connecting elite athletes with our community through our programs for all ages, trails & facilities, and community events.
The Elite Team embodies a dedication to inclusivity, as well as performance. Our elite athletes in biathlon and para Nordic train together, sharing both the challenges of practice and the thrills of achievement. Elite Team athletes also have training time alongside our younger youth teams and our adult Masters program, to build a supportive community that celebrates athletes of all levels and encourages our teams to learn from and with each other. The Elite Team training in the same facilities, and sometimes alongside our youth athletes, is critical in Crosscut’s mission to inspire young participants to aspire toward international success.
At Crosscut Mountain Sports Center, our Elite Program goes beyond mere athletic training, serving as a platform for holistic development. Through the sport and program, athletes learn resilience in the face of challenges, cultivate a healthy perspective on competition, and foster a relentless pursuit of excellence. Athletes are empowered to become ambassadors for our organization, engaging with diverse stakeholders such as community members and donors. By embodying values of dedication, perseverance, and sportsmanship, athletes in our Elite Biathlon Program not only excel in their sporting endeavors but also make meaningful contributions to the broader community surrounding biathlon, leaving a lasting legacy of excellence at Crosscut Mountain Sports Center.
2019-24 Seasons Achievements
Over the past three seasons, our elite athletes qualified for:
Youth Olympic Games
FIS World Cup
Winter Olympics
Paralympics
WPNS World Cup
IBU World Cup
IBU Open European Championships
IBU World Junior Championships
IBU Cup
Coach Spotlight: Seth Hubbard
Seth Hubbard brings nearly a decade of biathlon coaching expertise to the Crosscut program. He is driven, generous, serious, respectful, and hilarious. Athletes of all levels are amazed by his measured approach to growing people’s skills and confidence by meeting people where they are.
Coach Spotlight: Nick Michaud
Nick Michaud works with U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing (USPN) and Crosscut athletes in Bozeman, and around the globe. A lifelong competitive skier, biathlete, and former BSF Elite Team member, Nick pursued Olympic-level training before transitioning from competition to coaching.
Coach Spotlight: Sydney Michalak
Competing as a professional athlete on international stages gifted Sydney with invaluable experience and knowledge to help athletes realize their own big goals. Sydney’s irresistible energy and careful attentiveness infuse her work with both purpose and fun.
Requirements + Application Process
Elite Team members are selected based on their potential to progress in the sport of biathlon, their work ethic, their potential to support and push their teammates by being a strong team player, and the alignment of their personal goals with Crosscut’s program goals and resources.
Team applications are open to all athletes. With a growing youth program, Crosscut is proud to support and prioritize developing athletes that have trained with us throughout their youth career. We also welcome athletes that have previously participated in biathlon with other teams and programs.
Team members are encouraged to train in Bozeman for the majority of the year. Crosscut’s coaches also work with athletes with varied travel schedules, including those training on the U.S. Biathlon Association National Team and U.S. Paralympics Nordic Team.
Crosscut aims to increase female athlete participation in biathlon with a more gender-balanced training environment. Gender is a consideration in Elite Team selection.
Elite Team members are selected on a year-by-year basis by a committee and sign an athlete agreement with Crosscut Mountain Sports Center. Athletes are selected based on the program’s three tiers — Tier 1, 2, and PG/Collegiate. Program fees and costs vary for each of these three tiers. Crosscut will work with athletes on payment schedules to spread payments out across multiple months.
To Apply
Applications for the 2024-25 Elite Team are closed.
Paralympic Partnership
As the homebase of the U.S. Paralympics Nordic Ski Team, Crosscut facilitates unique access and opportunity for world-class adaptive athletes pushing the boundaries of their sport, and adaptive skiers of all abilities following in their footsteps.