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STOWE, Vt. — It was a chilly one up at Trapp Family Lodge on Monday for the first set of races of this week’s U.S. Junior Nationals, but the sun was out and skiers moved even faster in the single-digit temperatures. As U18 men’s 20 k classic champion Peter Holmes said, it’s all about the layers. And lots of ’em.
![The U16 women's 5 k classic podium on Monday at 2014 Junior Nationals in Stowe, Vt., with winner Hailey Swirbul (c) of Aspen Valley SSC/Far West, runner-up Leah Lange (l) of Park City NSC/Intermountain, and Hannah Halvorsen (Sugar Bowl Academy/Far West) in third. (Photo: Mark Nadell/MacBeth Graphics)](http://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2014/03/jn2014-classic_FU16-podium.jpg")
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.
