The temperature was around negative 15 degrees Fahrenheit in Anchorage, Alaska, site of this year's National Cross Country Ski Championships, and Dartmouth's Nordic team was having difficulty breathing, let alone competing. But as the event drew to a close, Dartmouth skier Sophie Caldwell '12 was thankful she had endured the bitter cold as she discovered she would be participating in this year's World Junior Championships in Praz de Lys Sammand, France.
Caldwell will represent the United States on the women juniors' cross country team along with four other Nordic skiers from across the country. The international competition will run from Jan. 28 to Feb. 6.
"I was really excited when I found out," Caldwell said. "I know all of the other girls on the roster because in the skiing world, everyone kind of knows everyone, so this will be really fun."
No stranger to the international spotlight, Caldwell made an appearance in last year's World Junior Championships in Malles, Italy, where the U.S. team finished ninth, and has also participated in the Scandinavian Cup in Sweden.
"Italy was so much fun, and it was really cool -- at the race venue we stayed in this little Italian town down below, and we would drive through these mountain passes and suddenly be above the clouds," Caldwell said. "That experience is definitely making me look more forward to competing in France."
Although a little nervous, Caldwell's familiarity with the World Junior Championships will help her understand the routine and adjust to the new environment, she said.
Of the championship's four events, including a team relay, Caldwell hopes to race in three. In addition to the relay, the championship will consist of a one-kilometer classic sprint, a five-kilometer skate and a 10-kilometer pursuit.
"The sprint is my favorite event, so I'm definitely looking most forward to that," she said. She placed sixth in the one-kilometer sprint qualifications in Italy last year -- making her the highest-ranking American in that race with a time of 3:18:00 -- and continued on to finish 26th in the finals.
Amid the excitement, Caldwell is also aware of the amount of schoolwork she will be missing. The tournament is expected to last 10 days, and, as a result, Caldwell is anticipating being absent from two weeks of school.
"I already have to miss every class on Fridays because of the ski schedule, and I just missed four days of school because I was in Anchorage," Caldwell said. "Most of the teachers are pretty understanding if you go and talk to them first."
In addition to the missed classes, Caldwell will not be present for her first three races for Dartmouth, but is confident her team will perform well.
"I am just as excited for those races as I am for others, so it will be a bummer that I'm missing it," Caldwell said. "But, my first race for Dartmouth will be the Winter Carnival, so I am happy that I will be here for that."
In selecting athletes to participate in the games, the United States Ski Association considered the athletes' recent performances at the U.S. Cross Country Championships in Anchorage, among other criteria. Due to the frigid weather conditions at that event, a lot of the judgment was based off of just one event, the 10-kilometer race, Caldwell said.
Caldwell finished 14th, with a time of 15:53:3, and was the youngest racer in the top 20. Caldwell agreed that it was unfortunate that the extremely cold temperatures cancelled all other races, and said that it was probably extremely difficult for the USSA to make the final decisions.
The roster, announced by the USSA, includes 33 athletes who will all be competing in either the World Junior Championships, Under-23 Championships or the Scandinavian Cup. In addition to Caldwell, Rosie Brennan '11 made the roster of the U-23 Championships, and both Brennan and Dakota Blackhorse-von Jess '09 will be competing in this weekend's World Cup competition in Whistler, Vancouver. It is quite rare for college athletes to participate in the World Cup, according to Caldwell.
With a bright career ahead of her, Caldwell remains grounded and thankful for the opportunity to do what she loves most.
"Dartmouth has definitely one of the strongest [cross country] teams in the country, and it is so much fun to play other schools to see how we stack up," she said. "Although I could miss some races due to other competitions, I have loved skiing for Dartmouth so far and hope to do it for as much as I can."
But when asked of any bigger plans for the future, a certain event does come to mind for Caldwell.
"Competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics is a long shot, but someday, it is something that I hope to fulfill," Caldwell said.
