’11/’12 Season Complete!

World Champs, Ruhpolding, Germany. Photo credit: Chelsea Little

After almost four solid months of racing, countless hours of plane rides and european autobahn driving, ten different biathlon venues, ski conditions ranging from pre-season ice to frigid Finnish snow to Ruhpolding slush, and endless cravings for Mexican food, I am finally headed home today!

We wrapped up the final week of competitions in Khanty-Mansisysk, Russia on Sunday and now I find myself in Munich, ready to catch a plane for the USA in a few hours. The races last week weren’t my best, but I was able to squeak out enough WC points to push me back up into the top-15. It crazy to think that this whole journey started with the Ostersund Individual, way back in 2011. But when all the races were over, I finished the year in 14th place in the World Cup overall. I’m really happy with the season and I want to thank everyone on the US Biathlon Staff for helping me reach this level. Without the hard work of our coaches, waxing staff, administrative staff, medical staff, and the support of my equipment sponsors at Rossignol, OneWay, Adidas, and Toko, there’s no way I could have come anywhere near this level. I feel very fortunate to have been able to work with all of these people over the past season.

Now, as I sit in a Munich hotel room for one last morning before heading across the pond, I’m looking forward to a little time off from the biathlon world. This season has been the best of my life in so many ways. Thank you to everyone who followed my ups and downs throughout the year. I’m grateful to be a part of the crazy world that is World Cup Biathlon. See you after the break!

-LB