Alpine speedster on course as NorAM season approaches

Matt Bartolo
olympics.com.au

Image above and slider image courtesy YOG

Life is a little different for Louis Muhlen than your typical 18-year-old.

Instead of living at home with his parents as he finishes school and contemplates what’s next, Muhlen is busy jet-setting around the globe as he speeds towards his dream.

The alpine skier who spends most of his time competing in North America has recently returned to the southern hemisphere where he began to tune up for the big few months ahead.

Such are Muhlen’s prospects, he was invited to train with the US Team for the coming months and he is undoubtedly already enjoying the experience.

“New Zealand was the first camp with the US Team as well as the camp in Chile,” said the 2016 Winter Youth Olympian.

“It has been really good so far the staff are amazing and very helpful and the group of guys are great to work with and have as close friends.

“Chile was great, a super productive camp. We had some snow midway through which help to make sure we were able to ski double sessions almost every day of the camp.”

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Melbourne native though with the young gun going shoulder first through a gate, hitting the snow and taking the impact on his thumb.

“I had surgery on it to re-attach a tendon and clean up a few other things. After a few weeks now it is starting to feel pretty-strong and stable.

“I would say it has really slowed me down at all, I was a little cautious of it getting back on snow in Chile with it for the first time but after a day it was fine.”

With the thumb feeling better and plenty of time on the snow under his belt, Muhlen has his sights set on a successful NorAm Cup season which kicks off in just over a month’s time.

“The biggest goal would be to be competitive in it (NorAm Cup), and be in the mix to be able to podium, but it is hard to tell having not skied with the competition yet.”

Having already had a taste of the Olympic experience at last year’s Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Muhlen is realistic at reaching his goal of making PyeongChang 2018.

“At this point in time I feel a little blind to it all having not raced yet and seen how I am tracking so I am not totally sure where I stand.

“Having said that I’m skiing fast in training and making good changes in my skiing so I am happy with where I am at.

“I will really know how I am tracking (towards PyeongChang) once I start racing again.”

Muhlen will get his chance to see if the work he has put in at the start of the season pays dividends when he starts contesting the NorAM Cup season midway through November.