About me
I grew up in Steamboat Springs, CO, and am a member of the US Ski Jumping Team. I spend most of the summer, fall, and winter living in Lillehammer, Norway for training. During the winter months, I travel every weekend to compete at a different venue as a part of the World Cup circuit. Training and competing take up the majority of my time, but I also love exploring the outdoors, reading, coming up with new recipes, as well as working to continue my education through the University of Utah.
I have always loved adrenaline-fueled activities and pushing the limits of my mind and body. Ski jumping, one of the most extreme Winter Olympic sports, felt like the perfect fit for me. The first feeling of true flight is what initially captivated me, and since then it hasn't faded. I love pushing myself in training and seeing the improvement in my jumps. The sport also combines the thrill of competition, the camaraderie of being on a team, and the cultural experiences of traveling the world, making it so much more than just flying down a mountain. ​​
Growing up
I began skiing around the time I could walk, and instantly loved it. In elementary school, the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club offered a program for kids to try different types of winter sports. I took a stab at a few, including alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, and ski jumping. As soon as I tried ski jumping, I knew I had found the one for me. I started on the smaller jumps with alpine skis before moving on to the longer ski jumping skis. These skis made it possible to hone in on the technique of ski jumping and fly farther down the hill. I was addicted to the feeling and wanted to move up to bigger and bigger jumps. I was also lucky to be surrounded by a team of friends who were constantly challenging me to jump farther and train harder, even from a young age. They also made every day of training fun and exciting, and something new to look forward to.
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Jumping on alpine skis at age 5
Steamboat Springs, CO
Starting on jump skis at age 9
Park City, UT
Continental Cup - Park City 2018
I qualified for my first Junior Nationals when I was 12 years old. Around that same time, I also began traveling with my club team to competitions. These trips were always so fun and a great chance to not only jump new hills and get more training, but also get some new life experiences. When I began traveling with the US Women's National Team, the atmosphere became more focused and the training more serious. After getting used to the differences, I found that a lot of the training continued to be fun in ways similar to when I was younger.
Training with my brother
Me on the right (9 years-old) my brother Erik on the left (7 years-old) with our coach
Me and my brother
My brother and I started ski jumping together when we were little. We would watch the older athletes train on the bigger hills and it sparked a fascination in both of us, knowing that we wanted to fly as far as them one day. At home, we watched World Cup competitions admiring the technique and skills of the athletes competing. During the winter, we loved building jumps in our backyard and holding fun competitions jumping off on our cross-country skis.
As competitive siblings, we immediately started pushing each other. Every training session, every jump, and every competition turned into a challenge, of who could jump farther and improve faster. This competitiveness was a big part of what motivated me during my early journey as an athlete and ski jumper. Ski jumping has become something that we not only enjoy but also both care deeply about, pushing each other to grow as athletes and as people. It is special to share a passion with a sibling, especially one who supports me and pushes me to be the best version of myself on and off the hill.
Me (Right) and my brother (left) 2023 National Championships in Lake Placid NY.
My season
My summer season starts in July and ends in September, and my winter season starts in November and ends in March. In the summer, we tend to focus more on maintaining a consistent training schedule, so we do not compete every weekend. In the winter, we compete almost every weekend, traveling to the different countries that are holding World Cup competitions. We typically compete around central Europe, but we also have two competitions in Japan, and this year China as well! Traveling can be stressful and exhausting, and I am so grateful for my teammates and coaches who help make each season great.
Willingen, Germany in 2023
Zao, Japan Winter 2023
Courchevel, France Summer 2024
Oslo, Norway Winter 2023
Every hill on the circuit is different and has a different feeling. Part of the challenge is adapting and figuring out the feeling of the new hill each weekend. This can be a fun, but frustrating part of ski jumping. My favorite hill on the circuit is Willingen in Germany. For the women, it is also the largest hill on the circuit besides Vikersund ski flying hill. I have had my longest jump and best feelings on this hill making it my favorite. Another place I enjoy competing is Japan. The culture is different, and it's overall just an amazing and fun experience. However, my favorite time is when my parents and sometimes extended family can come out to watch me compete and I get to spend time with them. It means a lot to have them there since they have been my biggest supporters from day one.
Living in Norway
In 2022, the US Ski Jumping team was offered an incredible opportunity to train with the Norwegian ski jumping team. I, along with the other athletes on the US National Ski Jumping team, moved to Lillehammer, Norway to begin training with the Norwegian coaches and athletes. The Lillehammer Olympic Jumping Complex is a facility that offers incredible training in both summer and winter. Also, the first World Cup is held in Lillehammer every year! ​​
I spend most of the year living in Lillehammer. It is a cool small town with a great community of people. When I am not training I love being outside. In the summer my favorite thing to do is swim and hike near the river. It stays light out for the majority of the day which makes for lots of time to go out and adventure. During the winter months, I love to cross-country ski and run on the snowy trails in the little bits of spare time I have between competitions. Norway is an incredible country, and I feel so lucky that I have the opportunity to live and train here.
Training on the Big Hill in Lillehammer this fall 2024
Lillehammer Ski Jumps
Running near the river in Lillehammer