Last week, our team loaded up and headed north to Fairbanks, AK, for the first period of SuperTour races. Not long after arriving, we learned that race organizers had to move the events to Anchorage because of the extreme cold in Fairbanks. While it wasn’t the plan we expected, we made the most of our quick stop there. Coach Andy woke up early to get groceries and surprised us with a pancake breakfast, and we finished the day with a long, relaxed ski at Birch Hill. The trails were beautiful, a true winter wonderland with fresh snow coating every branch. Even though we didn’t get the chance to race there, it was my first time in Fairbanks, and I loved getting to ski those trails and check that destination off my bucket list.

The next day, we packed up again and made our way to Anchorage, shifting gears into race preparation. It could’ve been a stressful transition, but our Coaches, Andy, Kaelyn, and Gray, worked incredibly hard to rearrange plans, organize new lodging, and keep everything running smoothly. Their calmness and adaptability made the whole change feel seamless, and we’re all so grateful for the effort they put in behind the scenes.

I was excited to return to Kincaid Park in Anchorage for the fourth time, my first being Junior Nationals back in 2019. The conditions were icy and fast, and the race organizers did a fantastic job pulling everything together on such short notice, making snow, setting courses, and ensuring the races could still happen safely and competitively.

There were many team highlights from the weekend: Emma Albrecht’s 2nd place in the skate 10k interval start and 4th in the classic sprint, Graham Houtsma’s 4th in the skate 10k and 6th in the sprint, and Reid Goble’s impressive 5th in the classic sprint. Going into the first races of the season always comes with nerves, and you never quite know how things will shake out. But our team showed up strong, and it was exciting to see everyone lay such a solid foundation for the season ahead. It makes us all psyched and motivated as we look toward US Nationals in Lake Placid this January.

Race weeks are very different from our training camps. We ski every day, but there’s more downtime since the focus shifts from volume to sharpening, speed, and recovery. Alaska has minimal daylight this time of year, but we found plenty of cozy indoor activities and leaned into the festive season. Some of our favorite moments were building gingerbread houses, listening to Christmas music, and catching the sunset at Beluga Point. We also got to ski at the Hillside trails during one of our training days—new terrain, ocean views, and an extra reminder of how lucky we are to travel and explore places together as a team.

Now we’re gearing up for another race weekend in Anchorage before returning to Bozeman for the final training block leading into US Nationals. I’m so proud of how our team has started the season, and I’m excited to keep building momentum and getting faster together. A massive thank-you to our coaches for their endless work, energy, and organization they poured into making this trip possible. Their support made our first races of the season successful and fun.

I also want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors, supporters, and the Bozeman community. Your belief in us makes these opportunities possible, and knowing you're cheering us on from home, whether you're following along on social media or just sending good vibes our way, means more than you know. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

Until next time,Nina

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