As you may or my not be aware, training for biathlon is a year-round endeavor. Most biathletes take a short month-long break from structured training in April to recover physically and mentally from a long winter season of racing.  As May approaches, physical preparation for the upcoming racing season moves back into full-swing.  

As we kick off a new SKI-son we want to introduce you to one of our amazing Sauce Ambassadors! Meet Zoe Noble, a biathlete who trains with the National Guard Biathlon Team, and represented USA on the IBU Cup circuit this past winter.  We were able to sit down with Zoe and ask a few questions:

Sauce: Where is your hometown and where do you base out of now?

Zoe: I’m going to make my hometown complicated; I was raised in Cora, Wyoming, I live in Anchorage, Alaska, and I train out of Jericho, Vermont. 

Sauce: How long have you been competing in Cross Country Skiing and Biathlon?

Zoe: I have been skiing since I was a toddler and racing Nordic since I was 8 years old. I tried biathlon for the first time when I was 20 years old and fully committed to it at 23! Better late than never. 

Sauce: What are your goals for the upcoming season?

Zoe: My outcome goal is to have an average of 80% or better in competition! Shooting was something I struggled with a lot this past season; being disconnected from the part of biathlon that makes it biathlon. So, I look forward to becoming reacquainted with my rifle and hitting targets. 

(Sauce Note: Above, Zoe mentions an 'outcome goal'.   This term is commonly used as part of an effective goal setting strategy.  Critical to improving sports performance, effective goal setting can also be applied to many other areas of life to enhance outcomes.  Interested in learning more? Check out this great article about the Principles of Effective Goal Setting, by Eva V. Monsma, Ph.D.)

Sauce: What is your proudest moment in your biathlon career?

Zoe: My proudest moment in biathlon was this summer at the midwestern regional rollerski biathlon race when I realized I became a role model for younger athletes. I’m now at the age and level where I get to have that same influence my role models had on me when I was a junior skier. 

Sauce: Just out of curiosity, what is your favorite Sauce product? (of course we wanted to know ;)!

Zoe: My all time favorite sauce product is without a doubt the Ventilator Headband. I am always cold so I need a thick and warm headband so this is always my go-to. I even race with one under my team USA headband!  I distinctly remember when I got to pick out and buy my own headband when I was 12 years old. Before this I was using whatever random hat I could find/steal from an older sister. I picked the green and purple bubble headband (pictured) because it matched my neon green jacket. 

Feel free to follow along with Zoe’s racing and training this upcoming year by following her at @Zoeeeeee.may We will all be cheering for you Zoe!