20-for-20 with Cody Johnson

In another 20-something-question, fill-in-the-blanks series, we checked in with the world-class U.S. and Canadian biathletes that will be competing at 2017 International Biathlon Union (IBU) Youth & Junior World Championships Feb. 22-28 in Osrblie (also known as Brezno-Osrblie), Slovakia.

Here’s 19-year-old Cody Johnson, of the Outdoor Sports Institute, who will be representing the U.S. at his second Junior Worlds. On Thursday, Johnson was the top American in 50th in the junior men’s 15 k individual.

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“My full name is Cody Johnson. I was born in Connecticut, raised in Fort Kent, Maine, and one thing you should know about my hometown is I have a world cup facility 10 mins from where I live that I train at every day.

I started cross-country skiing when I was 9 and started biathlon when I was 10, thanks to Gary Colliander. I currently train in Fort Kent with OSI (Outdoor Sports Institute).

If I’m not skiing, you might find me hunting. If I had to pick a favorite book, it would be ‘Flow‘.

One of the things I’m most excited about for Youth/Junior World Championships in Brezno-Osrblie is racing.

This will be my second Youth/Junior World Championships, and this year, I’m competing as a junior. One race I’m especially targeting there is the individual.

The best advice anyone ever gave me about skiing or racing was ‘have fun’. Thanks Susan Dunklee.

One of the best race memories I have is U.S Team Trials in Alaska when I won the pursuit.

If I could meet one World Cup skier, it would be Simon Eder.

If I don’t end up being a professional skier, I’ll probably be a hunting guide.

I’m missing zero days of school to be here. I am graduated and doing a gap year program with OSI.

You can follow me on Instagram @exodus_johnson.”