Hello!

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My name is Emma Albrecht, and to kick off my first blog post for the Pro team, I wanted to
introduce myself, share some of my hot takes, and discuss some of my training focuses for this
summer.

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Born and raised in Stillwater, Minnesota, I grew up with four brothers and a Vizsla named Niko.
The only sport I thought was cool growing up was gymnastics, and I made that my entire
personality. I broke my spine twice—once at age 9 and again at 15—and had to quit gymnastics.
I had always dreamt of being a collegiate athlete and have a passion for being active, especially
after a pretty stagnant recovery year filled with spine braces and no real movement. So, once I
was 16, I started skiing and biking, and two years later, I enrolled at Michigan Technological
University and competed on their ski team. I had a pretty rough mental health year in Houghton
and needed a good change. I transferred to Montana State University during my sophomore
year and completed my B.S. in Microbiology this spring. As a Bobcat, I qualified for my first
World Cup this past winter. With my NCAA career now over, I am very excited to continue skiing
as part of the BSF Pro team this year!

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So that being the short story of my life... I thought I would quickly write down some of my hot
takes for you to get to know me even a little bit better:

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● Motts are better than Welches.
● Guacamole isn’t that good.
● I’d rather find a tick on me than see a bear.
● Mozzarella is the best type of cheese.
● It is socially acceptable to just drink a glass of milk.
● Polar is better than Garmin.

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Now that we're acquainted and you know me a bit more, I wanted to talk about three key
focuses I have been keeping in mind this summer:

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1. Goal Setting: It used to be hard for me to share my goals or even set specific
checkpoints, fearing that others might judge me. Now, I understand that setting
ambitious goals and sharing them is crucial. Visualizing and confidently articulating your
goals shows true self-belief. Checking in with yourself throughout the process is just as
important, ensuring you stay on track.

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2. Napping: Now that it's summer and I'm not bogged down by homework, I prioritize
maximizing my sleep. For me, this means napping whenever I can. Even if I have just 20 minutes to spare, I'll probably be napping. For better naps, I recommend blackout
curtains, a fan, and a cooling pillow for the summer.

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3. Preventing Overtraining/Fluff Hours: It's easy for endurance athletes to get caught up in
endless training hours. Making sure your hours are effective and not just time spent
aimlessly will make a huge difference. Having a purpose for each session is so important
because, at the end of the day, those small details do matter.

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Another piece of advice I've learned is that skiing should be enjoyable, not just for the
competition but for the love of the sport itself. Putting racing aside, it's important to enjoy all
aspects of skiing—being outdoors, exploring new trails, and meeting amazing people. We are
privileged to be able to enjoy all seasons and find a community that shares our passion.

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Thank you for tuning in to my first blog post. I hope to share more insights and experiences with
you all as I continue my adventure with the BSF Pro Team.

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Best wishes,

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Emma

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