Under 23 Questions with Lauren Jortberg

FasterSkier · February 6, 2017

American Lauren Jortberg (Dartmouth Ski Team) racing to 37th in the women's 10 k skiathlon on Feb. 3 at 2017 Junior World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. (Photo: FlyingPointRoad.com) — American Lauren Jortberg (Dartmouth Ski Team) racing to 37th in the women’s 10 k skiathlon on Feb. 3 at 2017 Junior World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. (Photo: FlyingPointRoad.com)

In an effort to showcase the North Americans competing at this past week’s International Ski Federation (FIS) 2017 USANA Nordic Junior World Championships and U23 Cross Country World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah, we asked those qualifying athletes several questions about themselves — actually, we had them fill in the blanks. Here we have 19-year-old Lauren Jortberg, of Dartmouth College, representing the U.S. at her first Junior Worlds.

On the opening day of competition, Jortberg placed 20th in the women’s classic sprint, and on Friday, she finished 37th in the 10 k skiathlon.

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“My full name is Lauren Jortberg, but you can call me Lo. I was born and raised in Boulder, Colo., and one thing you should know about my hometown is roller skiing is illegal and Crocs were created there.

I started cross-country skiing when I could walk thanks to my parents. I currently train in Hanover, N.H., with the Dartmouth Ski Team.

If I’m not skiing, you might find me running in the mountains. If I had to pick a favorite book, it would be ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire‘.

Lauren Jortberg (Dartmouth Ski Team) en route to 20th in the women's classic sprint on Jan. 30 at 2017 Junior World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. (Photo: FlyingPointRoad.com) — Lauren Jortberg (Dartmouth Ski Team) en route to 20th in the women’s classic sprint on Jan. 30 at 2017 Junior World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. (Photo: FlyingPointRoad.com)

One of the things I’m most excited about for Junior Worlds at Soldier Hollow is racing on home soil! The atmosphere should be really exciting. One race I’m especially targeting there is the classic sprint.

The best advice anyone ever gave me about skiing or racing was from Zeke Zdechlik. He always told me that I’ll ski faster if I relax and have fun out there.

One of the best race memories I have is my first every skiathlon when I was 6 years old. I had to change my boots as well as my skis, and I cried because everyone passed me. I’m hoping my second one goes a little better, thankfully now I have pursuit boots.

If I could meet one World Cup skier, it would be Stina Nilsson.

If I don’t end up being a professional skier, I’ll probably be a vet or a ski bum.

I’m missing 11 days of school to be here, and my teachers are probably thinking, ‘I don’t know if I believe the wifi is that bad.’

You can follow me on Instagram @ljortberg.”