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Today we hear from the club’s Cycling Program Director, Sasha Nations. Sasha has been a lot of things - elite snowboarder, elite mountain bike racer, coach to many in more ways than you can imagine, and just plain Yoda extraordinaire. You will be entertained, inspired, educated and surprised as we dig into the human experience of one of the most prolific coaches you'll ever meet.

Listen to the following and so much more:

• Sasha's cycling and snowboarding roots
• The quest to find something that is "mine"
• We tackle the topic of boys & girls combined versus "girls only"
• When accidents happen: The path out often leads to greater growth
• "I focus on what I CAN do."
• The transition from one passion to another: Respecting the call to a new path
• Vulnerability always wins: recognizing a weakness helps create tools to overcome it
• SSWSC Cycling Programs 101: We have something for everyone!

As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain! (Shout out to Coach Sam House below - shown here with Sasha - we need to get you on the show soon too!)

SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/24

Meet hometown hero Jasper Good - Steamboat kid turned Olympian through a unique path! Jasper is humble, thoughtful and openly shares his insights on a wildly successful nordic combined career that took him from a Howelsen Hill rugrat to the Olympics via the Army's WCAP Program. What he learned along the way paved the foundation for success in whatever endeavor he chooses to do in life. Today we talk about the following and more:

• His Steamboat roots including his family's involvement in winter sports
• Falling in love with nordic combined at age 9!
• The importance of learning your own unique signs of burnout & finding a team to help you stop, recalibrate and find a new track
• The Army's World Class Athlete Program (WCAP)
• When it's time to let go of the thing that defined you
• The utmost importance of building and utilizing your team and network

For more on Jasper Good, check out his instagram @jaspergoody

As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

Look out! This guy just might trick you into training! (more on that below)

Meet David Norris - someone who is not only an inspiring coach, but also an incredibly inspiring athlete. Most athletes move into coaching when they are done with their careers. David Norris is not only the assistant cross country coach at the club for the U16 to U20 athletes, but he is still kicking butt himself - not only on snow but on dry ground too! David is the 2019 US XC National Champion, named to multiple national teams, as recent as 2023, previous winner and multiple podium achiever of the famed long distance American Birkie in MN, 4-time winner and current record holder of the epic Mt Marathon in Alaska and consummate adventurer.

SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/24

David is a the complete package: Elite athlete in the prime of his career, consummate adventurer always seeking out new challenges, thoughtful and supportive coach and role model to the next generation of stars and insightful entrepreneur giving back to the community he hails from. Today we talk about the following and so much more:

• His Alaskan roots: how David's love for an active lifestyle was formed
• The Arctic Winter Games: He was the youngest member of the team
• How lasting friendships form through sport
• His coach "tricked him into training" through games as training tools. David uses that philosophy today!
• The difference between craving "The Suffer" and being addicted to "The Suffer"
• Fun stories about Mount Marathon and other athletic adventures
• The beauty of surprising yourself

At some point in the interview, David simply says this about his career as an athlete, "I just like it." So simple and so perfect. Follow what you like!

For more on David Norris, check out his instagram @grandmasternorris

And watch this video of his 2016 record setting Mt Marathon glissade!

As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!