Ava Stratman: Love Letter to Nordic Skiing
- Ava Stratman
- Mar 15
- 6 min read
AMBASSADÖRK Ava shares her love of the glide, by writing a letter to Nordic Skiing. The highs and lows with equal measure, it's a fun read that should resonate with all of us who love our little corner of the skiing world.
With that, let's get to it.
ambassadörks
Ava: Love Letter to Nordic Skiing
Dear Nordic Skiing,
You get me like no other sport does. You’ve seen me when I’m feeling on top of the world, but also when I’m down in the dumps. Even through all the pain, joy, sweat, tears, laughter, blood, and more, you mean the absolute most to me.
I don’t think I fully appreciate how beautiful the place I live in is until snow is stacked several feet high and blankets the entire landscape. When the trees glitter and the sky is so blue that it doesn’t even look real, that's when I feel like I’m the luckiest person on Earth. Because who wouldn’t want to live here?
Sun shining, cold breeze blowing, skis on my feet and poles in my hands, nothing could be better. I don’t know how many times I’ve been out on the trails and still find myself absolutely struck by the world around me. It truly is a special feeling.
This 2025/2026 season of skiing has been a significant one for me. Last year, I tore my ACL playing soccer in our homecoming game in the fall. I underwent surgery in November, but that meant that the entire winter I was in knee-rehab mode, and I couldn’t ski. I couldn’t participate in my first year of high school racing, my second year of being a U16 skier, Eastern Cups, biathlon races, or even just regular practices.
But this year I’m back, stronger than ever, with a bionic knee that’s stronger than ever too! I’ve tried to do everything that I can this year, maybe just short of too much. Through this season, I’ve really rediscovered my love for Nordic skiing. It always was special to me, but sometimes things can be difficult to really appreciate until you don’t have them for a while.
After losing a winter with you, Nordic Skiing, I don’t take a single snowy day for granted. You certainly make winter easier to love. I’m not sure I could take the bitter cold, sometimes with windchills making the temperature 15 below 0, for sooooo many months every single year without being able to ski in it. (Although admittedly, I’m not loving having to race in these temps. It is just so cold!) People complain constantly about the winter, and come Groundhog Day, it seems like everyone is wishing for spring. But I don’t mind the “extra” six weeks of winter. In fact, bring it on! For me, that means more skiing and more fun!
But the real magic isn’t just in the snow. Who gave permission for the people who love Nordic skiing to be so absolutely COOL?? I have never met a group of people with whom I connect better than Nordic skiers. Everyone is so funny and witty! People are goofy, but always so kind and seem to have the best things to say. I love it when I hear the spectators on the side of the course cheering for absolutely every skier, no matter the team. Everyone I've met has been so friendly and easy to get to know and talk to! I have made friends from all over the country through Nordic skiing, and they are all such incredible people. If any of you are reading this, you guys are epic!! I love our friendship so much!
And let's talk about Nordic skiing culture and style. Everyone’s is a little different, but that is a major part of what makes it so amazing! I love seeing all the flat-brim hats, beanies, cool graphic t-shirts, headbands, neckwarmers, fun socks, and more! Costume races are always a blast with lots of glitter, tutus, fur coats, pineapple onesies, and anything else the fabulous costume bin can spit out. Nordic skiers seem to find the best patterns, colors, and clothing everywhere and put them together in the most epic way possible.
One of the biggest reasons why I love Nordic skiing, however, is that it makes me feel at my happiest. Life can be really stressful, and it can be hard. There can be a pressure in my chest sometimes that builds throughout the day when I feel especially anxious. But even when I’m having the worst day, going for a ski always makes me feel better. The weight lifts almost instantly, and my whirling and spinning brain calms for a bit.
When I ski, none of my worries can chase me. I fly too fast for them, gliding, chilly wind on my cheeks, and sun in my eyes.
Skiing calms me down, and I think everyone needs something that can do that for them, as well.
It doesn’t have to be Nordic skiing, but I highly recommend it!
Nordic Skiing, you are a big part of my identity. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been skiing. But if you can believe it, I used to have to be bribed with candy to ski even the shortest distances, like lollipop races! Nordic skiing does tend to have a bit of a steep learning curve, but once it clicks, it feels so incredibly amazing. I started Bill Koch programs from a very young age, and some of my best memories from those years were when I was skiing. I especially loved getting my coaches out when we played dodgeball on skis! Little did I know that we were learning agility. I also remember that one long ski we did once each year. Now it’s not so long, but when I was little, it seemed like quite the impressive feat for tiny Ava to accomplish. We skied out to a small cabin at a camp called Hosmer Point and then back to the center. At the cabin, the coaches always gave us hot cocoa and cookies!
Not much has changed now either. Ski season is one of my favorite times of the year, even though off-season ski training is fun too. And now I’ve got biathlon to add to my repertoire of winter activities! Two years ago, I added a rifle to my regular ski racing and found out that I loved it just as much! I love the thrill of racing, but then trying to settle yourself and your breathing to shoot the targets. It’s difficult, but rewarding, and it can teach you a lot about focus and process. I try to jump at any biathlon opportunities that I can, because they can be few and far between, but always fun!
This winter, I went to Lake Placid for Biathlon Junior Nationals and International Team Trials. It was so much fun and a great experience! Sometimes, though, Nordic Skiing, I feel like racing can be described as type 2 fun. Type 2 fun is something that is challenging, painful, and even described as miserable in the moment, but afterward can feel like the best thing in the world when you reflect on it.
I’ve had races where I start out so nervous, don’t have a great warm-up, and don’t feel great during the race. It can be cold, tiring, and sometimes I can feel like I’m using so much energy yet not even going very fast. But this happens with any sport. You can have good days and bad days, but as long as it continues to be something enjoyable, that is the most important thing. Even on races that were exhausting and I didn’t perform the way I would’ve liked, I can usually find something that went well or was nice, whether that was the way I handled transitions, pushed up a hill, a great cupcake I ate after, or cheering for the later races in the day!
This year has been my comeback year, and I’ve loved every second of it, the good and
the bad, the moments of spit-sicles at the finish, the smiles in the powder, and so much more.
And it’s not over! Nordic Skiing, you truly are something special. I am so glad I get to participate in a sport that I love, that makes me so happy, with some of the most amazing people on Earth, in an incredibly beautiful winter wonderland. How awesome is that?
Nordic Skiing, thank you for being my joy, challenge, friend, calm, my home, and everything above and beyond!
Love,
Ava
Authors Note: I’ve lived in Vermont my whole life, growing up hiking, skiing, and exploring the Green Mountains. I spend a lot of time in Craftsbury, training and being goofy with friends! I’m a sophomore in high school and am back in action with Nordic skiing, biathlon, and soccer after a year recovering from a torn ACL. My family spends summers in the Methow Valley, WA, enjoying rivers, mountains, and tacos!
the closer
What We're Thinking About.
That Ava loves Nordic skiing,. And we can share her sentiments around the joy of the glide and even more - the beauty of a community.
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