Athlete of the Week: Journey Man

Two thousand seventy miles miles across the nation Nick Krause is at the U.S. ski training base in Park City, Utah, gliding down steep and hard-packed snow hills in an attempt to be one of the 32 ski racers, out of thousands, to compete for the U.S. Olympic Ski Team. 

The 18-year-old rising star from Northborough remembers the beginning of a commitment to skiing that has served him well throughout his life — not to mention those who made it all possible.  

“Since I can remember, skiing has always been my favorite sport and that is the reason I’ve been able to stay committed to it my whole life,” Krause said. “My parents devoted their weekends by taking my sister and I on trips up to New Hampshire and Vermont. Nothing gives you more of an adrenaline rush than flying down an icy mountain at 80 miles per hour.”

Indeed, there’s something really validating about making fast turns around gates and coming out of it, alive. However, speed is not the only barometer used in the sport. Competitive skiers are also judged by the degree of difficulty of their routes and any tricks they perform on the way down the hill. 

That’s why the U.S. Ski Team's Development Team has put Krause, among others, through a rigorous training regimen that focuses on strength, mobility and endurance.

“For strength, we have to build a good base in our legs,” Krause said. "I’m constantly performing various types of jumps and exercises to improve my overall quickness. After lifting, we work on our mobility by stretching and doing yoga for injury prevention. I’ve realized how important it is to take care of your body.”  

This brutal, yet decorous routine has helped Krause improve his U.S. ranking from number 12 to 1 just this past year. More than ever, he’s determined to stay healthy and looks forward to participating in other camps once his training at Park City wraps-up in the summer.

“This is only the beginning of the road in Utah,” Krause said. "In September, I will be skiing in Chile with the Development Team and then Colorado in November. After these pre-season training camps, I will be in full winter mode with the U.S. D Team traveling all over North America, on the Nor-Am circuit. I also hope to be on the Junior World team that travels to Europe in February.” 

When asked whether all the required traveling has taken its toll on family life, Krause hastily replied, “I never thought about it growing up, but I’ve learned to enjoy it.”

He does admit, however, that being separated several thousands of miles away from his loved ones has had a contemplative effect on his daily routine. “Long workouts and tough training camps far away from home can be a bit strenuous,“ he said.

Whether or not Krause knows best, skiing has become the ultimate challenge in his life. Nobody said it was easy. In fact, Krause learned an important lesson during the early stages of his career. 

His sophomore year at Stratton Mountain High School in Vermont was a time he wondered whether his dream, his hope that one day he could enrich the culture of U.S. ski racing, became too much for him to bear.   

“In high school, one of my classmates died training downhill,” Krause said. “When everyone at school heard the news, they quickly understood that it could have been any one of us. It made me take a step back and think to myself, 'Is ski racing really worth it? Risking your life for it?' I soon realized, though, this is why I love the sport so much. Sending myself down a mountain, knowing that I am putting my body at risk is the most intense rush you could possibly experience.” 

For this reason, ski racing has always represented a point of stability and continuity in Krause’s life, helping him chase his passion and find a lifestyle in which he can be inspired.  

“I feel that as long as I can continue skiing with the passion and the drive that I have now,” Krause said. “I will only get better and make a lifelong career out of this sport.”

Krause feels that his dream is worth the sacrifice of being away from home, to be given the chance to compete against some of the top athletes in the world. In August, he plans on coming back to Northborough. He insists that he will spend as much time as possible with his family.

"I plan on doing some relaxing," Krause said. "I will only have two weeks, so I am looking to make the most of it."

Soon enough, though, Krause will start packing for his trip to Chile. It will be time for him to report back to training camp. He knows that there’s still too much left for him to explore. Too much left to conquer.

And if his journey is any indication, he’d tell you that it’s never ending.