Just back from the Junior World Cross Country Ski Championships in Lygna, Norway, we asked Sammy Smith to share a bit about her experience. Sammy took 5th in the Individual Skate Sprint after qualifying 8th in the prelim, then advanced through the quarters and semis into the final.

Here’s what she had to say!

“World juniors was an experience that I will cherish for a very long time. To be able to compete against the top juniors in the world is an incredible opportunity. Be it my first international event, I didn’t know what to expect, but I was blown away when I got there. To have all the different nations staying in the same hotel, eating in the same rooms, riding on the same shuttles—all of it encouraged a really unique atmosphere. I felt like I learned a lot about different countries’ ski cultures, and none topping the host nation, Norway, where cross country skiing is truly engrained into the lives of every person. Beyond that, the actual racing was incomparable and so was the venue. To stand on the line with skiers from all nations knowing you were going to be competing against the best juniors the world had to offer was so nerve racking and motivating! It was such a privilege to be able to attend World Juniors and I’m so grateful for all of the people who made it happen! Thank you to all of my coaches, wax techs, teammates and especially my parents for their endless love and support!”

—Sammy Smith, SVSEF XC Comp Team

Photo L-R: Johnny Hagenbuch (SVSEF XC Gold Team), Sammy Smith (SVSEF XC Comp Team), Paul Smith (SVSEF XC Post Grad Coach)