Day 1 – Start of Swiss Ski Nordic Week

Swissski is the host of every swiss cross country skier and biathlete from the ages of 15-18. Once a year everyone gathers to train, bond, and enjoy their sport. I was lucky enough to join them in the Skissski Nordic Week this year.

Or first day started off with a drizzle. After a month and a half of sunshine, I’ve gotten used to being dry on my morning runs, so I was dreading getting wet in the rain.

Once I got moving, it became a really lovely start to my morning. I had music playing and the trails to myself. Somewhere along the way, I found ripe wild strawberries and stopped to grab a few handfuls. Then I stumbled across a patch of huckleberries too.

That afternoon marked the start of camp with our first shooting session. I was curious what it would be like to train with over 50 biathletes and more than 150 athletes total. Safe to say, it’s a bit chaotic having that many people on a small course, especially on roller skis with no brakes.

Shooting-wise, it wasn’t my day. We did the American test, a paper test, and a single-shot test. My standing shooting went fine, but prone did not quite meet my expectations, but days like this happen with biathlon. I reminded myself that you can’t achieve every goal or meet every expectation every single shooting day.

One thing that added to the challenge was being the only native English speaker in the group. During moments of confusion or fast transitions, it can still be hard to keep up. I think that this extra challenge is part of what will make me so much better in the end. Shooting is a mental sport and my brain is being exercised in so many different ways. I came to Switzerland prepared for and wanting this challenge.

Day 2 – Technique Work and a Relay With a Twist

We had a 6 a.m. start. I was half-asleep through breakfast, but once I laid down on the mat at the range, my brain snapped into gear.

Our training block was focused on technique and mixed shooting. I really enjoy every kind of shooting drill, even the boring ones. I wouldn’t consider myself much of a perfectionist in many areas of my life, but when it comes to shooting, I always have something I want to focus on.

In the evening, we had what can only be described as organized chaos. I loved it! It was a short relay biathlon race for all of the 150 athletes. It was a five-minute sprint for each athlete, but the whole event took about 45 minutes because everyone raced. To make it fair for both biathletes and cross-country skiers, everyone shot prone on standing targets and no one was allowed to use a cuff. If you know biathlon, you know how important the cuff is for stabilizing the rifle. Without it, even the biathletes were missing what were supposed to be easy targets.

It was a fun race, but there was pressure. Because the targets were supposedly “easier” than what we usually shoot, there was an expectation that the biathletes should hit everything. The best part of the evening was seeing the range completely packed. The venue was full of athletes who were all there just to enjoy the sport. It wasn’t structured training. It wasn’t about performance. It was just for the fun of it, which isn’t something you see often at this scale.

Day 3 – Sprint Intervals and Mental Exhaustion

We did 200-meter sprint intervals in the morning, and while I enjoy long runs, and 10-15 minute intervals, sprints on foot are another story. I always feel like I’m dying halfway through. But once I get through them, I feel unbeatable. And they always make lunch taste better.

Lunch has been one of my favorite parts of the day. I’ve developed a real appreciation for Spätzle, and I’m glad I didn’t have to cook it myself this week. But more than the food, lunch is when all the athletes get to talk and connect. I had the chance to make new friends from all over Switzerland this week. Most of the conversations bounced between German and French, and keeping up with both at once was exhausting. I tried to pick up what I could, but at some point I reached a language overload. But this is everything I wanted, to be surrounded by people from different countries, pushing myself in new environments. This was the one of the first times this trip that I felt an effect that the different languages had on me. But the conversations and new friendships were entirely worth it!

Day 4 – Mountain Hike and Gingerbread Motivation

We spent the day hiking in the mountains, and that was another highlight. We hiked for about five hours, passed a bright blue alpine lake, took a tram down at one point, and hiked back up again. There were wildflowers blooming everywhere, later season at higher elevation, and the air was cold and clear. Perfect for a long tour.

This was my first gondola experience, and it gave us a short break before climbing again. Sandwiches at the top tasted better than any meal all week. My coach also introduced me to a Swiss hiking snack: gingerbread filled with marzipan. It doesn’t melt or freeze, so it’s perfect for skiing trips.

Day 5 – Strength, Frustration, and Resetting Expectations

We started with a circuit strength session and some yoga outdoors. It felt good to get moving again after the long hike the day before.

The evening shooting practice was mentally tough. I am always chasing perfection and it becomes a little nagging when I haven’t reached it a single time in an hour and a half. Since this was a self-planned workout, I focused on race prep for the final day.

After a long week, fatigue definitely played a role. Being tired, mentally and physically, makes a real difference when it comes to precision shooting. I tried not to let it get to me and reminded myself that one off session isn’t a step backwards.

Day 6 – Time Trial and a Good Finish

I was really looking forward to the time trial! Getting to race against athletes who have performed very well on the Junior World stage isn’t something I usually get outside of international competition. The best part? It wasn’t a super serious race, just a time trial, but with a strong field.

Hearing the start countdown in German gave the race an international feel, which I loved. We had four shooting stages, and that gave me a chance to work through mistakes. My first two stages weren’t great, but I improved during the third and fourth. I would’ve loved to hit everything clean, but it was still a solid effort. More importantly, I left the venue feeling prepared for the next race and aware of what I still need to fine-tune. That was the goal of this time trial!

It’s been five years since I did a camp that ended with a race, and I forgot how much I like that format. It gives a sense of closure and progress that you don’t always get after a week of just training.

Looking Back

This camp was a mix of everything: high volume, tough shooting days, a lot of language barriers, new friendships, and so many new memories. I left tired, but the kind of tired that comes from doing exactly what you came to do. I got better. I learned. And I gained yet another experience that I will remember forever.