Summer Update from Kevin Bolger

Hi, my name is Kevin Bolger – member of Team Birkie World Team. 

It’s been a great summer so far—the training is going well, and I’ve been  finding time to have some fun on the side. I think there’s always a  misconception that, as professional athletes, all we do and have time for  is train – eat – sleep. That might be true for some, but for me, I don’t  find that sustainable. Of course, we’re very goal-oriented and focused  on what we do, but I believe in balance—an ebb and flow, a yin and yang —when it comes to training and making time for other activities. When  that balance is struck, you’re able to optimize your training and become  better at the very things you’re trying to accomplish. 

Don’t get me wrong—being able to train, eat, and sleep is great, and the  lifestyle we athletes live is, of course, amazing… on the good days. We  have a plan, a schedule—it’s not the normal 9-to-5. So yes, it can seem  like we’re living the dream, especially on those beautiful days when the  sun is shining and we get to be outside for 2–5 hour-long sessions,  enjoying life. And that’s what most athletes post on social media—so of  course, it makes our lives look pretty great. And I’m not saying we don’t live the life—we do! But this is where the misconception comes in. 

Rarely do people show the hard days on social media—when it’s 35  degrees and raining and we’re getting ready for a 2–3 hour rollerski in the wind and cold, or in the dead of winter when it’s 0°F or colder and  we’re layering up for another session. Those are the days when a 9-to-5  job indoors wouldn’t seem so bad. 

And then there’s the family vacations or holidays we miss because of  training or races, or the dreaded we don’t want to get sick. Of course,  everyone makes sacrifices in life, but as skiers, we often have to be very  selfish and do what’s best for us—and that can come at a high cost. 

This is why I believe balance is so important. 

If we, as skiers, are willing to sacrifice for training and racing in order to be better, why can't we also be willing to sacrifice a bit of training or  racing in order to be better at life? I believe that if you’re not happy and  having fun, you’re not moving forward. 

This is especially true in skiing, where we’re training 800–1,000 hours a  year. Those hours can feel empty if we’re not enjoying our lives along  the way. One of life’s simple joys is being around people who make you  happy. If you just keep grinding without giving yourself space to unwind  and enjoy life, eventually, you’ll hit a wall. 

Dinner with Maja and Johan Haggstrom

For me, I love finding ways to be with my family and friends, to unplug  from the daily grind of ski training. That doesn’t mean taking a week off  to hang at the lake and drink beer. It means making a smart plan— finding opportunities within your training to take a break, when it makes  sense, and using that time as active recovery. Then, when you head  into your next training block, your body is not only recharged physically  but also mentally, from the positive energy you get by being with people  you care about—or simply doing something you love. Because if you  don’t take that time, and you just keep grinding, your body will eventually force you to take a break—and then you’re laid up in bed for a  week, sick or burnt out. 

Going to a Neil Young Concert with my Parents 

I’ve been around the block for a few years now, and I’ve found that by  finding this balance, I’ve become a happier—and faster—skier!