Noah Hoffman ©Heinz Ruckemann
Tell us how you got started in skiing, and ultimately racing?
Noah Hoffman: I started skiing via running. My parents were both recreational/citizen runners. When I was in third or fourth grade my parents were doing a 5k in Denver and I got to do the kid’s race. I really enjoyed it so in 5th grade I joined the cross-country running team in Aspen. There was no middle school team, so we ran with the high school athletes. Many of my teammates from running were also Nordic skiers, including my two best friends, so I started skiing too.
What’s it like training with Rick [Kapala] and the gang at Sun Valley?
NH: Training with Rick and Travis Jones as part of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation was essential for me to make the transition from high school to full time skiing. It was an awesome opportunity and experience – I learned a ton and made big improvements. Having teammates like Colin Rogers and Mikey Sinnott who were already skiing at a high level gave me great role models. Also working with Morgan Arritola and Alexa Turzian, who were on the US Ski Team, was such a cool experience and motivator to succeed. SVSEF trains hard and has fun. They are committed, but like to be creative and try new things. They are a huge part of Nordic development in this country.
Do you recall your first race?
NH: I can’t think of my first ski race, but I remember a lot of details of that first running race in Denver. My dad had just finished his 5k and had to come with me to run mine. I definitely got a little frustrated when I had to wait for him to catch up.
What got you hooked on xc skiing?
NH: Going into high school there were several sports I wanted to pursue and eventually I had to start making some decisions. If I could have, I’d have played tennis, soccer, run cross country, and skied. I ended up playing tennis and skiing. The next year I ran instead of tennis, but I still skied. I think the draw towards skiing came from the travel opportunities and the role models. Simi Hamilton and Brandon Cooper were national/international caliber skiers from Aspen. They were two years older than me, and were doing trips like Scando Cup, World Juniors, and club/divisional trips to Europe. I knew I wanted to do those things too, and I also knew that if they could do it then I could as well.
You had a fine season last year, please share some reflections with us?
NH: Last season was really up and down for me. I didn’t ski well when I really wanted to in the middle of the season at US Nationals and Junior World. I was pretty tired when I got back from Europe so I took a month off of racing. I went down to Arizona to visit my grandparents for a long weekend and then went back to Sun Valley to rest for a month. I came back to racing for the Canadian XC Nationals and long distance Nationals. I skied better at those races than I had the rest of the year so it was nice to end on a positive note.
This season being an Olympic year…what are your thoughts and goals?
NH: This season should be really fun with a ton of awesome opportunities. The focus of my year will be the U23 Nordic World Championships in Germany in late January. My goal is to podium at those races. If I make the Olympic team I’ll go from there to Canmore for the XC world cup before heading to Whistler for the 2010 Games. I’ll get some really good experience at those races without a lot of pressure. I’m really looking forward to the season as a whole.
What is it like to be on the USST?
NH: Working with the USST is a great opportunity and an honor for me. The stand-out part for me is the professionalism and dedication of all of the coaches and staff. Living in Park City this year, I have so many resources to work with. Three of the five USST coaches live in Salt Lake. I also work with a strength coach, physiologist, and psychologist. All the support helps me make every workout a quality session and gives me the resources to work on all parts of ski racing.
The other huge opportunity that the USST offers is training with the best skiers in the country. Whether at camps or in Park City, getting to train with [Kris] Freeman, [Andy] Newell, and [Torin] Koos is a huge benefit. I can learn so much from them, and they have so much to offer.
What person or persons have had the greatest impact on your skiing?
NH: Without a doubt my coaches are the most influential people in my life and in my skiing. John Callahan has been my coach since my sophomore year of high school. He’s a great coach who knows me so well that he understands all the different issues and road blocks I deal with. He was a great athlete himself and trained the same way I train now. Working with him has been a pleasure.
I also have been talking to and picking the brain of Zach Caldwell, Kris Freeman’s coach. Zach is an invaluable resource. He’s worked with Kris through similar circumstances that John and I are now facing. Hopefully we will be able to learn from their trials and experience. Zach also adds an outside perspective and a clear idea of cause and effect when it comes to training. It has been an honor and a great opportunity to work with Zach.
What is your greatest strength?
NH: My greatest strength is my fitness and my work ethic.
What do you need to work on?
NH: There are so many areas where I can make huge improvements. The three biggest priorities that my coaches and I have identified for this year are improving my skiing technique, doing a better job of managing my energy expenditure over the short- and longer-term, and gaining more control over my mental outlook. It’s been a lot to work on, and I have so much further to go. It seems like I’m a long way from meeting some of my goals, but I have no doubt that they are the correct areas for me to work on.
How many hours do you train each year?
NH: This year will be slightly less than last year because energy management is such a huge priority for me. I’ll probably be somewhere around 700 or just under this year. I do quite a bit of biking, both road and mountain, which we count as half time. It’ll be around 740-750 real hours.
Do you have a personal hero or two?
NH: Absolutely. My two biggest heroes are Andre Agassi and Joe Sakic. I admire them for their dedication, their professionalism, their longevity and the fact that they took satisfaction from exceling in their sports rather than the acclaim they earned from the public.
What do you see yourself doing after skiing is over?
NH: I’m going to go to college when I’m done skiing. I’m not sure what I’ll focus on and pursue when I’m there. I’m interested in mathmatics, physics, architecture, and other sciences. I also did work in high school in the theater working on lighting and sound design, stage management, and tech crew. I would definitely be interested in getting back into that and possibly continuing it as a career.
What’s the most awesome place you’ve ever visited?
NH: I loved Italy when I was there for the Junior World Championships two years ago. I loved the big mountains, the view, the contrast in climate, and the food. It was such a cool place and I’d love to go back.
I really enjoy going to any new place and getting to explore and check it out. It doesn’t have to be a different country or far away at all. I love finding a new running trail, road, or mountain bike ride within driving distance and going to explore it. I really enjoy travelling.
Are you on a pretty strict diet?
NH: No, the USST’s policy on diet is pretty much if your weight and blood work are normal and stable than they aren’t too concerned with what you eat. I pretty much eat anything but olives. I like most foods and really enjoy eating. I’m not a huge cook myself so I love having food cooked for me.
What if any junk food do you crave?
NH: I like most junk food. I try to eat healthily as much as possible, but I definitely don’t have great self control and don’t always eat the best foods. I really enjoy pastries: blueberry muffins or cheese Danish.
What are you reading now?
NH: I’m reading Wanderlust, A History of Walking by Rebecca Solnit. I’m really enjoying but it’s not a page turner. I just finished The Blind Side by Michael Lewis. It’s about an NFL prospect who was drafted this year – Michael Oher and his story from the inner city to a star for Ole Miss. Before that I read a trilogy by one of my favorite authors, Bryce Courtenay who wrote The Power of One. It’s The Potato Factory trilogy.
What is your most overused word?
NH: I try hard not to use ‘like’ and ‘uhh’ but I’m not very good at talking deliberately and thinking about what I want to say before I say it. I’d like to get better. I’m sure there’s other words I overuse, but you’d have to ask my friends or my parents.
Your Favorite movie of all time is?
NH: I’m not a huge movie fan, but I really enjoyed Finding Forrester and Good Will Hunting.
What’s on your IPOD now?
NH: I like rock and classic rock. Some of my favorite artists are Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Tom Petty, and Michael Franti.
Would your friends say you’re stubborn or easy going and why?
NH: I would guess stubborn because of my inflexibility and inability to stray from the plan.
If you could have dinner with anyone – now living or dead – who would that be?
NH: I would love to have dinner with one of my heroes, Agassi or Sakic. Other people that come to mind are Nikolay Davydenko, Nelson Mandela, Tiger Woods, and Roger Federer.
Describe a perfect day for you, off-snow and why?
NH: It’s too bad you said off snow, because my perfect day would be heli, cat, or on mountain powder skiing on some sweet mountain all day. Another great day though would include great food, going to a Broncos, Rockies, Nuggets, or Avalanche game and having them win, and maybe a concert in the evening.
What’s the one piece of “something” that goes with you on the road, besides all your skiing gear?
NH: A good book and anything that will help me watch or listen to my favorite sporting events: a computer or satellite radio.
Do you have a favorite quote or saying that you try and live by, or that you find strength in?
NH: I don’t think I have anything like that.
Thanks it’s been great getting to know more about you and we wish you a great season.
NH: Thanks so much Peter!