When I raced at the Schutzenski festival for the first time 4 years ago, I had a borrowed rifle and so much to learn. I was fourteen and didn’t know what to expect but I knew I loved my sport and wanted to get better.

Coming back this year, everything felt familiar: the same trails, the same faces. But every season I’ve grown, learned, and found new reasons to love biathlon. I get to look back and see how far I’ve come in what feels like such a short time. This year finally, the faces are no longer strangers, they’re my friends, confidants, and idols.

This weekend of racing reminded me once again that biathlon rarely gives you what you expect. It’s exactly why so many of us love it! Some things went better than I could have hoped, while others gave me a clear vision of what I want to focus on before the snow season starts in about two weeks.

I’m so glad I made the trip down to Utah this year. These races were special because they were the first step of qualifying for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games. While I wasn’t racing to qualify this time, it was an incredible experience to race with the athletes who were. I’m excited knowing that in four years, I’ll have my own chance to make the team.

Thank you Team Soldier Hollow for taking me in during my time in Utah! Training with Team Soho really reinforced everything I’ve been working on this summer with Biathlon Stützpunkt Ostschweiz and Alaska Winter Stars, and I loved training alongside athletes I’ll be racing with again this winter.

Even when things don’t go the way I want, I always leave the races with more motivation to keep growing, and new lessons learned. The people, the challenges, and even the quiet moments between races remind me how lucky I am to live this life.

To everyone reading, thank you for supporting me on this journey. I’m so excited for the start of the season and so grateful to have you along for the ride! 

Thank you also to my sponsors; Taku Engineering, Lang and Associates, Alaska Antlers, Max Borsky Sport, Hydrate Alaska, Helly Hanson, and Maven Optics.