Andy Newell: XC Skiing’s U.S. Superstar

With 2015 marking his 14^th year racing on the international stage, Vermont’s Nordic ski champion Andy Newell never disappoints. His passion for skiing combined with his aptitude for sprinting impossibly fast have made the 32-year-old an international contender for many years.

Last February at the World Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden, he placed seventh in the Team Sprint. And although the 2015/2016 season has just begun, Newell is already posting solid results. He finished second at the opening FIS (International Ski Federation) competitions in Sweden. And in November, at the first World Cup Sprint of this season in Ruka, Finland, Newell pulled off a massively impressive fourth-place finish despite being one of the oldest competitors on the start line.

Newell is adopting a new outlook on racing and training this year, in light of a tough last season that left him struggling with sickness. To avoid that in the upcoming year, he trained slightly fewer hours and opted instead to focus on his health and his natural joy of racing. He says, “When I’m lost in the moment in a sprint and caught up in the tactics and excitement of racing against the other nations, that’s when I’m at my best.”

The Shaftsbury resident is also quick to acknowledge the many advantages that arise from being from the Green Mountain State. He says, “I changed my approach so that I could spend more time here and it has only helped me improve as an athlete. Something about the mountains, climate, and community around here is perfect for cross-country skiing and training.”