Jess Yeaton earns honourable mention as part of 2020 Snow Australia Award celebrations

Cross country skier Jess Yeaton has earned an honourable mention from the Snow Australia Award judging panel for her historic achievement in winning the American Birkenbeiner event earlier in the year.

Yeaton, who has been named as a nominee for Athlete of the Year (Olympic Disciplines), had some career best races, achieving multiple podiums and personal bests.

But the highlight for the 28 year old was winning the 2020 American Birkebeiner and breaking the previous women’s record by nearly three minutes in the process. The 50km American Birkebeiner is the largest ski marathon in North America and part of the Worldloppet series of international ski races. Jessica’s victory was only the second time an Australian has won a Worldloppet event in the northern hemisphere.

Yeaton said she set the challenge for herself at the start of the season and was overwhelmed when she was able to follow through.

“Winning the Birkie was incredible.It was something I challenged myself to at the beginning of the season even though I knew it would be a long shot,” Yeaton said.

“I travelled to the race between a couple of stressful weeks at university and had a lot of self-doubt leading into it.”

“So being able to pull off the win was really empowering and served as a great reminder of what I can accomplish even when I think I can’t!”

Snow Australia Cross Country Skiing Program Director Finn Marsland said it was a big year for Yeaton.

“This year Jess relocated to New Mexico (USA) and went back to university but she did an amazing job of targeting events rather than following the entire circuit,” Marsland said.

“It ended up paying off for her, with podiums in both USA based FIS events she contested, a top six European Cup finish, completing the Tour de Ski on her first attempt and of course the impressive breakaway win in the 2020 American Birkebeiner.”

Yeaton is currently in the USA and says she is enjoying finding new ways to keep busy and fit.

“Lockdown restrictions over here have meant that my university classes have gone online, so I’ve been able to find a bit more time to do the things I love,” Yeaton said.

“I’ve been in Montana for the past couple of months, and there has been tonnes of snow, and open space to maintain social distancing while skiing, which has worked really well for me!”

“Not being able to go to the gym has taken some adjusting but I’ve been getting creative and using different household objects as free weights so it’s been interesting to say the least.”

The 2020 Snow Australia online awards celebration will continue next week, with the finalists and winners of Athlete of the Year (Olympic Disciplines) and Athlete of the Year (Paralympic Disciplines) set to be announced.

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