Under 23 Questions: Katherine Stewart-Jones

Katherine Stewart-Jones (95) racing to second in the women’s 10 k classic at NorAm Olympic trials earlier this month at Mont Sainte-Anne, Quebec. (Photo: Pierre Shanks)

In an effort to showcase the North Americans competing at this week’s International Ski Federation (FIS) 2018 Nordic Junior/U23 World Championships in Goms, Switzerland, we asked those qualifying athletes several questions about themselves — actually, we had them fill in the blanks. Here we have 22-year-old Katherine Stewart-Jones, of the National Training Development Centre Thunder Bay, who’s representing Canada at her second U23 Worlds.

On Wednesday, Stewart-Jones notched her second top 30 of the week, leading her team in 29th in the women’s 10 k classic in Goms. Two days ago, she placed 23rd in the freestyle sprint.

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Katherine Stewart-Jones (NTDC Thunder Bay) training in Praz de Lys, France, before 2018 U23 World Championships in Switzerland. (Courtesy photo)

“My full name is Katherine Stewart-Jones, but you can call me KSJ.

I was born and raised in Chelsea, Quebec, and I learned to ski in the Gatineau Park.

I spent the time between Mont Sainte-Anne trials and Junior/U23 Worlds hanging out in Chelsea with my family with my family and at a training camp in Praz de Lys, France.

The hardest workout I did in the last training year to prepare for this was hard double pole erg intensity in the altitude chamber with my teammates at Canadian Sport Institude of Ontario.

This is my third time in Switzerland and eighth time racing internationally, and so far it’s been snowy.

One difference I’ve noticed between Switzerland and Canada is that the people here are more relaxed.

Skiing and racing in the Alps is breathtaking. Usually racing at altitude is OK for me because I’ve raced and trained quite a bit at altitude. There are no mountains around where I live.

One of the things I’m most excited about for Junior/U23 Worlds in Goms is the twisty race courses.

One race I’m especially targeting there is the 10 km classic.

I really hope I can chat/make friends with someone from Switzerland and ask them if they eat Tacos.

My favorite thing at the breakfast where we are staying is the coffee.

Fondue is delicious. The cheese here is not as cheep as France. And the chocolate is what you would expect.

If I had a totally free day here and didn’t have to worry about race fitness or training, I’d spend it ski touring and restaurant hopping.

The best way to follow me on social media is on Instagram @kath_sj.”