Men’s 15 k classic individual start podium at Black Jack NorAm on Dec. 15 (from l to r): Runner-up Sylvan Ellefson (SSCV/Team HomeGrown), winner Kevin Sandau (AWCA/CNST), Graham Nishikawa (CNST) in third, Erik Bjornsen (APU/USST) in fourth, and Andy Shields (NDC Thunder Bay) in fifth.

Alex Kochon

Alex Kochon (alexkochon@gmail.com) is a former FasterSkier editor and roving reporter who never really lost touch with the nordic scene. A freelance writer, editor, and outdoor-loving mom of two, she lives in northeastern New York and enjoys adventuring in the Adirondacks. She shares her passion for sports and recreation as the co-founder of "Ride On! Mountain Bike Trail Guide" and a sales and content contributor at Curated.com. When she's not skiing or chasing her kids around, Alex assists authors as a production and marketing coordinator for iPub Global Connection.