Tag: Harry Potter

20-for-20 with Nina Armstrong

Nina Armstrong (Harvard Nordic Ski Team) racing in Stowe, Vt., earlier this year. (Courtesy photo)

In another 20-something-question, fill-in-the-blanks series, we checked in with the world-class U.S. and Canadian biathletes that will be competing at 2017 International Biathlon Union (IBU) Youth & Junior World Championships Feb. 22-28 in Osrblie (also known as Brezno-Osrblie), Slovakia.

Here’s 19-year-old Nina Armstrong, of Harvard University, who will be representing the U.S. at her first Junior Worlds.

***

“My full name is Nina Joy Armstrong. I was born in Albany, N.Y., raised in Lake Placid, N.Y., and one thing you should know about my hometown is that it hosted the Winter Olympics in 1932 and 1980.

I started cross-country skiing when I was 4 and started biathlon when I was 14, thanks to Lake Placid Biathlon. I currently train in Cambridge, Mass., with the Harvard Nordic Ski Team.

If I’m not skiing, you might find me doing a p-set in the library.

If I had to pick a favorite book, it would be the Harry Potter series.

One of the things I’m most excited about for Youth/Junior World Championships in Brezno-Osrblie is meeting new people.

This will be my first Youth/Junior World Championships, and this year, I’m competing as a junior. One race I’m especially targeting there is the sprint.

The best advice anyone ever gave me about skiing or racing was don’t look back.

One of the best race memories I have is winning states with my sister.

If I could meet one World Cup skier, it would be Jessie Diggins.

If I don’t end up being a professional skier, I’ll probably be a surgeon.

I’m missing seven days of school to be here, and my professors are probably thinking, ‘What is biathlon?‘

You can follow me on Instagram @ninaajoy.”

February 21, 2017
Under 23 Questions with Lauren Jortberg

American Lauren Jortberg (Dartmouth Ski Team) racing to 37th in the women’s 10 k skiathlon on Feb. 3 at 2017 Junior World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. (Photo: FlyingPointRoad.com)

In an effort to showcase the North Americans competing at this past week’s International Ski Federation (FIS) 2017 USANA Nordic Junior World Championships and U23 Cross Country World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah, we asked those qualifying athletes several questions about themselves — actually, we had them fill in the blanks. Here we have 19-year-old Lauren Jortberg, of Dartmouth College, representing the U.S. at her first Junior Worlds.

On the opening day of competition, Jortberg placed 20th in the women’s classic sprint, and on Friday, she finished 37th in the 10 k skiathlon.

***

“My full name is Lauren Jortberg, but you can call me Lo. I was born and raised in Boulder, Colo., and one thing you should know about my hometown is roller skiing is illegal and Crocs were created there.

I started cross-country skiing when I could walk thanks to my parents. I currently train in Hanover, N.H., with the Dartmouth Ski Team.

If I’m not skiing, you might find me running in the mountains. If I had to pick a favorite book, it would be ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire‘.

Lauren Jortberg (Dartmouth Ski Team) en route to 20th in the women’s classic sprint on Jan. 30 at 2017 Junior World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. (Photo: FlyingPointRoad.com)

One of the things I’m most excited about for Junior Worlds at Soldier Hollow is racing on home soil! The atmosphere should be really exciting. One race I’m especially targeting there is the classic sprint.

The best advice anyone ever gave me about skiing or racing was from Zeke Zdechlik. He always told me that I’ll ski faster if I relax and have fun out there.

One of the best race memories I have is my first every skiathlon when I was 6 years old. I had to change my boots as well as my skis, and I cried because everyone passed me. I’m hoping my second one goes a little better, thankfully now I have pursuit boots.

If I could meet one World Cup skier, it would be Stina Nilsson.

If I don’t end up being a professional skier, I’ll probably be a vet or a ski bum.

I’m missing 11 days of school to be here, and my teachers are probably thinking, ‘I don’t know if I believe the wifi is that bad.’

You can follow me on Instagram @ljortberg.”

February 6, 2017
Under 23 Questions with Maya MacIsaac-Jones

Maya MacIsaac-Jones (l), of the Alberta World Cup Academy and Canadian National U25 Team, with her younger sister Anna (r) at their home trails in Athabasca, Alberta, in late December. (Courtesy photo)

In an effort to showcase the North Americans competing at this week’s International Ski Federation (FIS) 2017 USANA Nordic Junior World Championships and U23 Cross Country World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah, we asked those qualifying athletes several questions about themselves — actually, we had them fill in the blanks. Here we have 21-year-old Maya MacIsaac-Jones, of the Alberta World Cup Academy, Rocky Mountain Racers and the Canadian U25 Team, who’s representing Canada at her first U23 World Championships after competing at Junior Worlds last year. On Tuesday, the U23 championships begin with classic sprints.

***

“My full name is Maya Anna-Christina MacIsaac-Jones, but you can call me Maya. I was born in Westlock, Alberta, raised in Athabasca, Alberta, and one thing you should know about my hometown is the ski trails are great and the people are even better!

Maya MacIsaac-Jones (AWCA/Canadian U25 Team) during a NorAm freestyle race in December in Rossland, B.C.

I started cross-country skiing when I was four, thanks to my parents. I currently train in Canmore with Alberta World Cup Academy / Rocky Mountain Racers.

If I’m not skiing, you might find me reading. If I had to pick a favorite book, it would be ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’.

One of the things I’m most excited about for U23/Junior Worlds at Soldier Hollow is watching my teammates kill it out there! One race I’m especially targeting there is the classic sprint.

The best advice anyone ever gave me about skiing or racing was to listen to my body and trust my own judgment. One of the best race memories I have is winning the team sprint at Nationals 2015 with Andrea Dupont.

If I could meet one World Cup skier, it would be Kikkan Randall.

If I don’t end up being a professional skier, I would love to be a professional fiddle player, but considering I can’t play the fiddle, that probably won’t happen.

I’m missing zero days of school to be here; I take online school through Athabasca University, so I don’t have to miss any school to ski race!

You can follow me on Instagram @maya.macisaacjones or Twitter at @_MayaMJ.”

January 31, 2017
Under 23 Questions with Claire Grall-Johnson

Nakkertok’s Claire Grall-Johnson (3) leading a junior classic sprint quarterfinal at 2017 U.S. nationals earlier this month at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. (Photo: Jackie Schneider)

In an effort to showcase the North Americans competing at this week’s International Ski Federation (FIS) 2017 USANA Nordic Junior World Championships and U23 Cross Country World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah, we asked those qualifying athletes several questions about themselves — actually, we had them fill in the blanks. Here we have 19-year-old Claire Grall-Johnson, of the Nakkertok Junior Development Team, who’s representing Canada at her first Junior Worlds.

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“My full name is Claire Grall-Johnson but you can call me Clairebear. I was born in Montreal, Quebec, raised in Ottawa, Ontario, and one thing you should know about my hometown is everyone is pretty bilingual and if ever you’re there you should hit up a sweet doughnut shop called ‘SuzyQ’.

I started cross-country skiing when I was four, thanks to my parents (who had to drag my brother and I out the door). I currently train in Ottawa with the Nakkertok Junior Development Team.

If I’m not skiing, you might find me working on some homework or hopefully eating something delicious. If I had to pick a favourite book, it would be ‘Harry Potter’ (duh) or ‘All the Light We Cannot See’ by Anthony Doerr.

One of the things I’m most excited about for Junior Worlds at Soldier Hollow is that it’s a beautiful venue with some tough courses. One race I’m especially targeting there is the classic sprint.

The best advice anyone ever gave me about skiing or racing was to appreciate the lifestyle I get to live as a student-athlete. One of the best race memories I have is the final day at Canadian Nationals in Whistler in 2013 when all the girls on our team had a super good day.

If I could meet one World Cup skier, it would be Krista Pärmäkoski.

If I don’t end up being a professional skier, I’ll probably be up to something science related.

I’m missing around 20 days of school to be here, and my teachers are probably thinking, ‘Good luck catching up!‘

You can follow me on Instagram @clairegrall.”

Nakkertok’s Claire Grall-Johnson (in yellow) during a skate sprint heat at 2016 Canadian nationals in Whitehorse, Yukon. (Photo: Jim Hawkings)

January 30, 2017
Under 23 Questions with Grant Andrews

Grant Andrews (Park City Nordic Ski Club) jumping in a Junior Worlds qualifier earlier this month in Park City. (Photo: USSA/Tom Kelly)

In an effort to showcase the North Americans competing at this week’s International Ski Federation (FIS) 2017 USANA Nordic Junior World Championships and U23 Cross Country World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah, we asked those qualifying athletes several questions about themselves — actually, we had them fill in the blanks. Here we have 19-year-old Grant Andrews, of the Park City Nordic Ski Club and U.S. Nordic Combined development group, who’s representing the U.S. at his first Junior Worlds.

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“My full name is Grant Andrews. I was born in and raised in Steamboat Springs, Colo., the best town in the USA to grow up as a Nordic Combined skier.

Grant Andrews (c) on the podium in first at the first Junior Worlds qualifier at his home in Steamboat Springs, Colo., with Koby Vargas (l) in second and Tucker Hoefler (r) in third. (Photo: Courtesy photo)

I started skiing when I was three and jumping when I was eight, thanks to my dad introducing me to the sport. I currently train in Park City, Utah, with the Park City Nordic Ski Club and lived in Europe for three months this fall for a training camp with the U.S. Ski Team members.

If I’m not skiing, you might not find me unless you’re with my friends and teammates. If I had to pick a favorite book, it would be ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows‘.

One of the things I’m most excited about for U23/Junior Worlds at Soldier Hollow is the hometown advantage. One race I’m especially targeting there is 10 k NC race.

The best advice anyone ever gave me about skiing or racing is to only worry about yourself.
One of the best race memories I have is winning the Steamboat Springs World Junior qualifier this last December after feeling overtrained the few weeks before.

If I could meet one World Cup skier, it would be Jarl Riiber.

If I don’t end up being a professional skier, I’ll probably end up being a pilot, nothing beats flying.

I’m missing zero days of school to be here because I graduated in January last year.

You can follow me on Instagram @grant_andrews_.”

American Grant Andrews (r) racing in a 10 k at last weekend’s Continental Cup in Otepaa, Estonia. He placed 40th on Saturday, Jan. 21, and 44th on Sunday, Jan. 22. (Courtesy photo/screenshot)

January 29, 2017
Under 23 Questions with India McIsaac

India McIsaac (Rocky Mountain Racers) striding during the Frozen Thunder classic sprints on Nov. 1, 2016. (Photo: Jenn Jackson)

In an effort to showcase the North Americans competing at next week’s International Ski Federation (FIS) 2017 USANA Nordic Junior World Championships and U23 Cross Country World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah, we asked those qualifying athletes several questions about themselves — actually, we had them fill in the blanks. Here we have 16-year-old India McIsaac, of Rocky Mountain Racers, who’s representing Canada at her first Junior Worlds.

***

“My full name is India Rose McIsaac but you can call me India. I was born in Calgary, AB, raised in Calgary, AB, and one thing you should know about my hometown is we have great running paths by the river.

I started cross-country skiing when I was nine (although technically it was biathlon), thanks to someone in my competitive swim club. I currently train in Canmore with Rocky Mountain Racers.

If I’m not skiing, you might find me driving 2.5 hours to get to and from training. If I had to pick a favourite book, it would be anything Harry Potter.

One of the things I’m most excited about for Junior Worlds at Soldier Hollow is familiar food and no time change. One race I’m especially targeting there is 5 k skate.

The best advice anyone ever gave me about skiing or racing was ‘Just go’. One of the best race memories I have is racing any first race of the season, as it’s so nice to pop on real skis and race on snow.

If I could meet one World Cup skier, it would be Jessie Diggins.

If I don’t end up being a professional skier, I’ll probably be a Doctor.

I’m missing 12 days of school to be here, and my teachers are probably thinking, ‘Well there goes her grades 🙂‘

January 27, 2017