October 31, 2015 – Holly Brooks: Why the NNF? Back in 2009 I set an outlandish goal – that was to make the 2010 Olympic team. At the time I was working as a full time coach for the APU Nordic Center and honestly, had no credentials to my name. Fast-forward to January 2010 U.S. Cross Country Championships where I posted some solid performances at my home on the Kincaid trails and I was named to the U.S. team. The front page of the Anchorage Daily News read, “Coach is in the Games.”

Shortly thereafter I found myself racing in my first World Cup literally two weeks before the “Big Show,” the Olympic Games.  To people unfamiliar with the ski scene I equate this experience to playing in the Super Bowl after playing only one regular season NFL game. The experience was exhausting, exciting, and overwhelming but at the same time, I was hooked!

The following year I went to the World Cup as the Continental Cup leader and was consistently scoring points. Then, at the end of period one I was suddenly invited to stay in Europe on the World Cup all winter. The only caveat was that I had to figure out a way to pay for it.  When I was in a bind the NNF helped me and I simply forfeited my plane ticket home.

After a strong season I was named to the USST and at the time, was the oldest “new” member to ski my way onto the squad. I had a blast on the team, turning in a World Cup individual best 5th place and skiing scramble leg for our first-ever women’s relay medal. At the time these results were trail blazing and NNF helped me get there.

Following the Sochi Olympics I decided I needed a new goal and I wanted to crack a new barrier. I set out to be the first North American to pursue Marathon racing fulltime with a goal of finishing in the top three overall. With the help of NNF I was able to achieve that goal.

As a ski nation we have to keep reaching, we have to keep striving. I’m amazed at how setting a “reach” goal and consequently achieving it literally changed the trajectory of my entire life. There were many points along my career when financial obstacles almost stopped me in my path… but thanks to NNF I was able to forge along. They believed in me when I was simply a crazy outlier.

Please help me in supporting athletes both inside and outside of the traditional developmental pipeline. Together we can make a big difference!

Top 5 reasons to support NNF:

1)   Be part of the ski nation rather than a spectator.
2)   Everyone needs a bit of winter entertainment….Netflix is $7.99/month…..
3)   I’m willing to bet you were an athlete that needed and received help back in the day – this is a chance to return the favor.
4)   NNF helps fund promising athletes in need.  They have the desire, but not the funds.  Your $25 dollars (or more!) has the ability to keep them going!
5)   Because it’s the simply the right thing to do!

Support the Drive for 25 here.

The Challenge

We’re aiming to unlock a $30K challenge match when we hit $97K. Help us close out the goal. Forward this email to
1 person who doesn’t know the NNF.

Where does the money from the matches come from? Big hearted donors who believe in skiing. We want to extend a big mid-Drive for 25 shout out to this year’s Challenge Match Contributors:

Peter Curran
Billy Demong
Gretl Galgon
Marty Hall
Dave Knoop
Scott Putman
Steve Strandberg
Tony Weiderkehr

These folks have put together challenges and matches to make the whole drive happen. Thank them by answering the call.

The NNF is able to support America’s developing athletes solely because of the support of our skiing community.

Without that support there is no NNF and the cost of international competition for athletes more than doubles. Organizing and staffing international race opportunities outside of U23/World Juniors falls to individual clubs and individual athletes.

Over the past 3 seasons, we have started to see the potential of our American skiing community uniting together. We have seen our culture change from one that complains about a lack of funding and opportunity to one filled with people who have stepped up to fund and create opportunity. We have seen a once sporadic American presence on the World Cup become a force, with athletes reaching the podium at every level. We know that only a few athletes will ever reach the podium but we also know that through the process of elite competition, we support a hard working group of people, undaunted by challenges, that will continue to chase successes throughout their lives.

Together we are America’s Nordic skiing community supporting America’s developing Nordic skiers.

Thank you for doing your part.

Support the Drive for 25 here.