World Champs

Feb 27-Mar 8, 2025

I competed at the World Ski Championships! Still trying to sink in how crazy these last two weeks have been. Two hundred THOUSAND spectators showed up to watch the races creating the most insane atmosphere I have ever raced in. It was incredible to see how stoked on Nordic sports people were coming from the U.S where Nordic Combined is more niche. The benefit of having World Championships in a Nordic country! Here’s a little recap of the past two weekends!

After a week-long World Champs pre-camp in Lillehammer, the team and I drove up to Trondheim on February 24th. The first few days were pretty relaxed getting settled into the hotel and previewing the courses we would be racing. This World Championships was one of changing conditions: Sun, rain, snow, sleet you name it. Our course previews and pre-race intervals were all carried out on rock hard-icy fast conditions, but on Thursday the rain came. Despite salting the course and hard work by the volunteers to keep the course in good condition, the snow was soft and deep making for some heavy racing. Definitely some of the toughest conditions we’ve had all year (Mad respect for everyone who raced the 50km).

The first competition was the women’s mass start. Alexa had an incredible day finishing a record FOURTH, just off the podium. This was the best individual finish by an American over all disciplines at the World Championships. Next came the mixed team, the U.S team consisting of Niklas Malacinski, Ben Loomis, Alexa Brabec, and Annika Malacinski. Stephen, Erik, and I were on cheering squad for this one.  The team jumped well, especially Alexa who threw down one of the longest jumps of the round, securing a strong fifth place going into the ski race. The race unfortunately did not go as hoped and the team dropped back to ninth. 

The mixed team also set the tone for the next two weeks: Drama. In the final straight away fighting for the bronze medal, Austria’s Johannes Lamparter made a dirty move switching lanes and completely cutting off and bumping into Japan’s Ryota Yamamoto. The Japanese team immediately sent in a protest, but after around an hour of deliberation, with athletes waiting in the pouring rain for the flower ceremony, FIS, to almost everyone except the Austian’s dismay, decided that the move was clean and awarded them with the Bronze. This controversial decision was the talk of the town for the next few days, picked up by the cross-country skiers who were equally shocked by the jury’s decision.

Finally, it was my turn to compete at the pinnacle of Nordic sport. Saturday was the men’s 7.5km compact race, the same event in which I scored my World Cup points two weeks prior. It was exciting to compete in front of all the spectators, the energy in both the jumping stadium, and the cross country was next level. My comp wasn’t quite what I had hoped for performance wise, but being my first World Champs, the biggest take away was the experience. It was also pretty great to have my parents there cheering me on. I ended the day in 38th place. The compact ended up being my only event at World Championships, with Erik racing off the big hill.

It was an incredibly humbling and motivating experience. The passion and dedication that the athletes, coaches, and fans showed was truly amazing. I am definitely coming away from the World Championships knowing that I will need to work harder if I want to stack up against these titans of sport. This World Championships was historic for many reasons. First was the Norwegian cross country skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo achieving the “grand slam” winning, for the first time ever, every single event: 6 out of 6. He also surpassed Petter Northug’s gold medal record to become the greatest male cross-country skier of all time. (Marit Bjørgan is still the GOAT). Next was the women having the first 50km World Champs event in history, Frida Karlsson becoming the first World Champion in this event. I was lucky enough to be watching on the sidelines right by the finish for both of these historic moments. Next was the crowd! Trondheim drew some of the biggest crowds in history, just look at the pictures from the Nordic Combined team event or the men’s 50km mass start. (Photos from Nordic Insights) Insane. Another historic moment, which will change the sport in the years to come, was the Norwegian ski jumper’s cheating scandal. Every race at this World Championship was down to the line making for some of the most exciting races I’ve ever seen or competed in!

Getting to compete in front of the huge crowds and being part of this historic World Championships was amazing, but there is one moment outside of the racing that I believe was the most memorable moment for me of this World Championships. It was a part of the sport that you never really see, but it is what makes sport so incredible. That moment was when Gyda Westvold Hansen came across the finish line to take her third gold medal of the World Championships. The moment that will stick with me was not the win, or the incredible achievement of winning every event, but instead was the reaction of her coaches at the finish. It’s easy to forget that an athlete’s success isn’t only about the athlete. It’s a win for the coaches, for the team, for the community who have worked so hard to support them. I’d be willing to bet her coach’s heart rate was higher than hers at the finish! When she crossed the finish line after her final race, the raw emotion from the team surprised me and was incredibly touching and inspiring. Seeing how much the coaches care, and how badly they want their athletes to succeed. That moment will stick with me and motivate me to hopefully give my coaches and support team that same feeling.

It was a reminder that success is not only for you, but also for everyone rooting for you too. Thank you to everyone who helped me get here. I am incredibly honored to be able to say that I have competed at World Champs. What an incredible experience! I look forward to what the future holds, but I know that with this team behind me, sky’s the limit! 

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