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Jack Young’s path to the top of U.S. cross-country skiing hasn’t been linear — and that’s exactly what makes this conversation so powerful. From growing up as a multi-sport athlete to fully committing to skiing, Jack reflects on the decisions, sacrifices, and mindset shifts that shaped his rise from college racing at Colby to the World Cup circuit.  This episode was actually recorded over a year ago but there are some great takeaways from Jack that are relevant today. We talk about breakthrough moments, including a career-defining sprint result in Davos last year, and the quieter, harder moments that don’t always make headlines — navigating disappointment, managing expectations, and learning how to stay grounded when the goals are big and the outcomes aren’t guaranteed. This episode is about progress over perfection, trusting the process, and redefining success when the finish line keeps moving. Jack was recently selected for Team USA for the Winter Olympic Games. Congratulations, Jack! However, he also found out he might not have a start in any of the races. In this episode, Jack shares what he's been going through recently and how he's been dealing with these polarizing emotions.  Whether you’re an athlete chasing a dream or someone learning how to stay patient through uncertainty, Jack’s perspective is honest, thoughtful, and deeply relatable.

On this episode I welcome Luci Anderson! Luci is a U.S. biathlete from Golden Valley, Minnesota, and a lifelong skier who grew up racing in the Midwest before going on to ski for the University of New Hampshire. After graduating in 2024, Luci found herself at a crossroads, unsure if she was ready to walk away from competitive skiing, but also curious about what else might be possible. That curiosity led her to try biathlon, a sport she’d always been intrigued by, but had never actually trained for. Within a year of picking up a rifle for the first time, Luci went from U.S. Biathlon development camps to racing on the IBU Cup, the World Cup, and even the World Championships, all in her debut season. For those who aren’t familiar with the biathlon world, the IBU cup circuit is essentially a step just below World Cup. It is still incredibly competitive and has athletes from all nations racing. It’s something that the Biathlon world has that the cross country circuit does not, to help support the development of athletes in the sport. In this episode, we talk about taking risks, learning something completely new under pressure, and what it’s like to live between two sports. Because Luci is ALSO racing Cross country world cups!!  I think Luci’s story reminds us that sometimes the most exciting paths are the ones you don’t plan for.

Today’s episode is about what it means to grow, evolve, and keep skiing at the center of it all, even as life adds new roles, new priorities, and new finish lines. I’m joined by two incredible women who embody that balance: Erika Flowers and Annie Van Fossan.  Both Erika and Annie are former professional cross-country skiers, both competed on the collegiate EISA circuit and then for the SMS T2 ski team. Both have gone on to pursue leadership positions in their careers, become mothers, and continue to keep skiing close to their hearts.  In our conversation, we talk about the transition from racing professionally to building fulfilling careers, the lessons skiing instilled that now guide their leadership and motherhood, and the evolving definition of “having it all.” Both Erika and Annie recently became mothers. And both have spoken beautifully about the tension and joy of this season; loving their children deeply while also honoring the other parts of themselves: the athlete, the professional, the dreamer. Most of all, we reflect on how skiing, whether it’s racing, coaching, officiating, or simply gliding through the woods, continues to shape who they are and how they move through the world. I hope you enjoy this episode of Extra Blue with Erika and Annie! Link to NNF: https://nationalnordicfoundation.networkforgood.com/projects/256302-d25-xc-2025

On this episode, I welcome Johnny Hagenbuch to talk about his build up for this season while training with the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. Johnny grew up in Sun Valley, Idaho and you’ll hear just how much the SVSEF program had an impact on him, particularly, from the former program director, Rick Kapala.  We also discuss Johnny's time as a junior in Sun Valley, and what it was like to be a part of a winning Junior World Championship relay team just one week before the world shut down for Covid. Johnny shares what it was like to train through Covid and how he learned a lot about himself and how sometimes you have to chase happiness over training hours. He’s carried that sentiment with him the past few years while he attends Dartmouth College, racing on the EISA circuit while chasing World Cup goals as well.  I hope you enjoy this conversation with Johnny as we dive into what gets him fired up for ski racing and for the winter ahead of us.  Johnny's Strava: https://www.strava.com/pros/45561878 Johnny's IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnsteelhagenbuch/ NNF Drive for 25: https://nationalnordicfoundation.networkforgood.com/projects/264502-alayna-sonnesyn-s-fundraiser Team Birkie Online Auction: https://www.32auctions.com/TeamBirkie2025

Strength for cross country skiers of all ages and abilities. On this episode, I welcome US Ski team strength coach, Tschana Schiller. Tschana is the leader for all things related to strength for cross county skiers in the US. She has been with the ski team for over 20 years and has brought so many insights into the philosophy of strength for us cross country skiers. She works with athletes like Jessie Diggins and Gus Schumacher but really her strength concepts get trickled down into clubs all across the country and are incorporated into many young athletes programs. Today we are diving into what skiers should be focusing on and how to get to the start line feeling their like strongest and best self. We talk about where the areas of focus should be for young skiers in high school or starting college. We then talk about the time-crunched athlete and how they can make the most of a few minutes out of a packed schedule. Finally, we talk about the secrets behind strength training for world cup athletes! I hope you enjoy this episode with Tschana Schiller!

Today’s guest is someone who has inspired me since I was a teenager on the Wayzata ski team. I sit down with Maggie (Pierson) Bowman to talk about the realities of being a woman in endurance sports; the pressures, the expectations, and the ongoing challenge of balancing athletic goals, career ambitions, and family planning. Maggie shares how the pressures she felt around body image and performance in high school and college shaped her philosophy on training, recovery, and self-worth.  Maggie was a Wayzata runner/skier, where she was MY team captain when I was in 8th grade. She went on to become a 14-time All-Conference athlete at Luther College, the Dean of Students at The Blake School, and now a full-time running coach. Maggie has built her career on creating supportive spaces where women can talk openly about fueling, cycles, and long-term health.  We dive into how she’s reframed success, what it means to pursue sport through different life stages, and why it’s so important to give women permission to dream big, while honoring their bodies and their lives beyond racing.

Sammy Smith is a member of the U.S. Ski Team, a D1 soccer player at Stanford University, and one of the most exciting young athletes representing Team USA right now. At 19, she’s a World Cup regular on the ski circuit, with a silver medal from the 2024 World Junior Championships in Planica, numerous top-30 World Cup finishes, and a growing reputation as one of the U.S. team’s top sprinters. But her story goes far beyond skiing. When she’s not chasing podiums on snow, she’s competing on the soccer field for the Stanford Cardinal, one of the top collegiate soccer programs in the country, and she’s already represented the U.S. at the Under-17 Women’s World Cup and the Pan American Games. Today, we’re chatting about how she balances two elite sports, at an incredibly high level, with some fierce competitiveness, as well as what she’s learned from setbacks and success, and what it really looks like to chase big dreams in both summer and winter. Link to Go Big Foundation: https://www.gobiginc.com/ Link to Sammy's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthasmith__7/

On this episode I welcome Adam Witkowski and Skylar Patten. Both Adam and Skylar are new athletes to Team Birkie and recent graduates from Michigan Tech University.  Both Adam and Skylar have faced numerous injuries over the years. We discuss how they dealt with training through injury, rehab, and staying motivated and driven throughout the healing process.  There’s no easy way to say it, injuries suck. But these two have put their heads down through the healing and rehab process to continue pursuing their goals in ski racing. 

I welcome Team USA ski racer, Luke Jager. Luke is from Anchorage, Alaska where he grew up skiing for Alaska Pacific University. From a young age, Luke stood out as a top American junior and solidified this notion in 2019 when he, was a key member of the men's relay team that won World Junior Championships. An outstanding result at the time and what has really set the bar for Team USA at these international junior competitions.  Luke went on to ski at the University of Utah where he continued to balance racing the NCAA schedule along with international competitions, his first world cups, first World Championships, and the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. In this episode we talk about some of these highs and we also discuss how over those years the progress hasn’t always been linear… It’s been both a blessing and a curse to have grown up with such a talented group of other guys. How it’s hard not to compare yourself and your progress to those around you. We talk about how Luke has worked to overcome some of those disappointing moments and at the end of the day keep the focus on his love for skiing. But we also acknowledge through both of our experiences how sometimes that easier said than done! Luke and I go on to chat about what it means to no longer be on the US National team, what that means for him this winter, and what his training has looked like this summer to prepare for the winter ahead. I hope you enjoy this episode with Luke!

On this episode of Extra Blue, I welcome guest, Mary Kate Cirelli. MK and I discuss her experience with disordered eating starting as a young athlete and her path to recovery. We also talk about what it’s like to carry that with you for the years to come. How it’s nearly impossible to never let it affect you again, but that it also doesn’t need to define you. We chat about MK's challenges on another college team and how she navigated that, as well as the struggles that occur when moving on from the sport. I appreciate MK being so willing to share her story on Extra Blue and we both agree that we hope this episode serves as awareness to the realities of disordered eating as an athlete and how a support system can make a huge impact. Resources: Eating Disorder Hotline: https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/treatment-for-eating-disorders/eating-disorder-hotlines The Emily Program: https://emilyprogram.com/ Talking to High School Students About Eating Disorders: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/talking-students-eating-disorders/

From National Champ to World Championships, on this episode of Extra Blue I welcome guest Kate Oldham. Kate had a standout season this past winter, winning her first national title in the 10k skate in Anchorage, qualifying for her first World Cup where she DOMINATED, enough to qualify her for the World Championships in Trondheim, Norway. Although it was a whirlwind of a season, I had a front row seat to watch as Kate handled herself with grace, allowed herself to be patient and strategic, and race with the ebb and flow of a ski season. Kate and I frequently roomed together during our travels this winter and it was super fun to get to know her better and about her journey from Colorado, to Vermont, to Montana. Battling through covid uncertainty, and searching for the right place that felt like home to her. Kate recently graduated from Montana State University and has joined the BSF Pro Ski team in Bozeman, Montana where she is preparing for her first Period 1 on the World Cup come November. 

How to Wax for a World Cup Podium! On this episode of Extra Blue I welcome World Cup skier, Gus Schumacher, along with his wax technician, Chris Hecker. We catch up with Gus about how his summer training is going and how he’s been trying to find as much snow as he can this summer, whether that be in Bend, OR or on the Glacier in Alaska. We also talk to Chris about how he’s working with the US Ski Team this summer to conduct more ski, grind, and wax testing on snow, with travels to Bend, OR, Norway, and the Ramsau, Austria to get on glaciers. Later in this episode we get into the nitty gritty of Gus’s ski fleet and how Chris supports him throughout the World Cup season by managing his fleet, testing skis constantly, preparing them for race day and ultimately working with Gus to pick out the best ski, grind, and wax for each race. We dive into the step-by-step process that went into waxing for Gus's second place finish at the Falun World Cup this past winter.

We launch a new era of Extra Blue powered by Gear West! In this episode, we welcome Margie Freed, Minnesota native, fellow UVM Catamount and now a standout member of the Craftsbury Green Racing Project and the US National Biathlon team. We discuss what it was like for Margie to make this transition from cross country to biathlon, how often she still classic skis, and some of her favorite memories so far competing around the world as a World Cup Biathlete.

On this episode I welcome guests, Zak Ketterson and Quinn McCloughan for a little Q&A on all things related to cross country skiing.  I did a full episode with Zak back in 2023 so if you’re interested in learning more about him I recommend giving it a listen! Zak and I welcome Quinn to the podcast as the owner of Bearskin Lodge, a supporter of Team Birkie, and a lifelong ski enthusiast. Quinn runs the Bearskin Lodge up in Grand Marais, MN where he lives with his family. The lodge is open season-round to guests and is just off the Central Gunflint trail. We chat a little bit about Bearskin and how it represents authentic northern Minnesota living.  In this episode we flip the narrative and Quinn is the one doing the interviewing! He asks Zak and me questions about life on the road, competing at the World level, and plenty of other ski-related topics.

On this episode of Extra Blue I welcome friend and former college teammate, Lizzie Larkins. Lizzie recently wrapped up three years as the assistant coach at Montana State University. During her time there, she also continued her education and graduated from MSU with a Master’s of Science in Sport and Coaching Sciences. It was during her studies that Lizzie conducted a research project titled: Navigating the Transition: How US Nordic Skiers Transition Out Of Competitive Ski Racing. I think this is an incredible topic that is often overlooked. For many skiers, our self-identity is intertwined with being a ski racer. In this conversation, Lizzie and I talk about what she discovered about this transition, both from her own experience of stepping away from racing and through her research. What she found was that camaraderie is a huge theme for individuals navigating this process and that talking about it or going through it with the safe space to talk about it and feel supported is so important.