Tuva Bygrave
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Name: | Tuva Bygrave |
| Hometown: | Oslo / Canberra | |
| Home Australian Mountain: | Perisher | |
| Australian Club / Team: | Canberra Alpine Club | |
| International Club / Team: | University of Alaska Anchorage | |
| Year of Birth: | 2001 | |
| When did you begin XC Skiing: |
I started cross country skiing at a very young age, thanks to my parents' passion for the sport. They were both avid cross country skiers, so it seemed only natural for them to introduce me to it as soon as I could walk. I have a lot of good memories from going out on skis with my family as a kid. At the top of long climbs, my parents would reward me with a small piece of chocolate. This little treat became a special source of motivation for me. It wasn't just about the sweet taste but also the sense of achievement I felt when I reached the top of a challenging hill and received that chocolate reward. As I've grown older, cross country skiing has become more than just a family activity. I began skiing competitively in primary school, and went to college in the US to race for my university. The sport has become an integral part of my life, and a form of exercise that I truly enjoy. It's not just about the physical benefits but also the serenity of gliding through snow-covered landscapes, and the friendships to those who share the same love for the sport. |
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| Why I love competing in XC Skiing: |
1. I love the physical challenge that comes with skiing. Cross country skiing is an incredibly demanding sport that pushes me to my absolute limits. The combination of endurance, strength, and technique required is a constant physical challenge. The feeling of pushing my body and witnessing the progress is incredibly rewarding. Crossing the finish line after a grueling race is an unparalleled feeling of accomplishment. It's a tangible representation of all the hard work that goes into training and competing. 2. The cross country skiing community is very tight-knit and I have formed lifelong friendships with my teammates and competitors. And regardless of whether you know each other or not, there is always a sense of community out on the trails - people asking about trail conditions and how it's going, and connecting over the joy of gliding over the corduroy on a bluebird day. 3. There is always something to improve in cross country skiing, from fine-tuning my technique to improving my fitness. The pursuit of self-improvement and the drive to become a better skier is what keeps me motivated to pursue this sport. |
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| Favourite race style / distance: | 5k skate | |
| Career highlights / best results: | The highlight of my career also happens to be one of my best result. And not just because it was a good result - although that certainly adds to it - but mostly because of how I felt skiing in that particular race. I was coming off a week of racing with pretty tired and "heavy" legs, which left me feeling unable to push myself to my very limits. But on this particular day, my legs felt like they just weren't getting tired no matter what. It was a 15k skate consisting of 3x5k laps, and going out on every new lap my legs felt as fresh as if I had just begun. It was a feeling of pure flow, where my sole focus was on gliding effortlessly over the snow. I am always chasing that feeling of flow, where the world fades away and all that matters is the motion of skiing. | |
| Training advice: | Quality over quantity! I think this principle can be applied to many aspects of life, and in terms of training it's about the importance of being deliberate in your training sessions rather than just aimlessly going through the motions. Cross country skiing is a sport that demands both aerobic and anaerobic fitness, mental strength, and good technique. Quality training enables you to execute every workout with proper technique, reducing the risk of injury and overtraining, and avoiding mental burnout. | |
| Social Media Links: | Instagram: @tuvabygrave |