The Rise of US Women’s Cross Country Skiing & Being a Professional Athlete and Advocate for Climate w/ Jessie Diggins | Koopcast Episode 148
Episode overview:
Jessie discusses her rise in cross country skiing to become the most decorated US cross country skier in the history of the sport, what her training is like, why she loves being a professional athlete, and how the US women have shattered the glass ceiling in cross country skiing. We also talk about her eating disorder and how it changed her life path when she sought out help. Lastly, Jessie talks about being a winter athlete in a changing climate and the importance of her work with Protect Our Winters, an organization focused on climate legislation for the Outdoor State.
Episode highlights:
(20:44) Building a strong women’s team: camaraderie, mutual support, sportsmanship
(38:56) Nutrition and injury: micronutrient deficiency often leads to injury, food is good, toxic diet culture, you need more calories than you think
(50:11) Protect Our Winters: informed advocacy, using your voice, avoiding placing blame on individuals, making change
Our conversation:
(0:00) Intro: Stephanie Howe covers for Jason, introducing Jessie, Protect Our Winters
(1:48) Jessie’s recent adventures: living on the road, empowering women to run
(4:47) Jessie’s cross-country ski background: Minnesota culture, the XC ski community
(8:50) Finding community in sport: running and XC skiing
(10:55) Sport versus school: choosing professional skiing
(14:23) Athletics as a career: starting out, sponsors, the professional system, coaching and community
(18:55) Women in XC skiing: history, funding, Jessie’s breakthrough
(20:44) Building a strong women’s team: camaraderie, mutual support, sportsmanship
(25:29) Jessie’s training: season structure, preventing burnout, approach to trail running
(28:46) Training volume: blocks, duration, recovery
(29:53) Ultrarunning and nordic skiing: parallels, training methodology, mindset, polarized training
(31:38) Training structure: off days, doubling, recovery, strength and PT
(34:00) Nutrition: disordered eating, timing nutrition intake, don’t fear macronutrients, suppressed hunger cues
(38:56) Nutrition and injury: micronutrient deficiency often leads to injury, food is good, toxic diet culture, you need more calories than you think
(41:24) Healing your relationship with food: enjoyment, stress, finding help
(45:20) Climate change and winter sports: personal experiences, lack of climate consistency, changing ski routes
(50:11) Protect Our Winters: informed advocacy, using your voice, avoiding placing blame on individuals, making change
(53:38) Policy change: climate change is a nonpartisan issue, your vote counts, working with policymakers
(58:48) Call your representatives: politicians want your vote, you don’t need to know politics, share your personal story
(1:01:02) Jessie’s climate story: there are no reliable ski reasons anymore, global health, winter tourism
(1:01:47) How POW makes change: lowering the barrier to advocacy, how to join, mobilizing the outdoor community to vote
(1:05:52) Wrap-up: giving thanks, where to find Jessie
(1:06:54) Outro: recap, join Protect Our Winters
Additional resources:
Buy Koop’s new book on Amazon or Audible.
Information on coaching-
Koop’s Social Media
Twitter/Instagram- @jasonkoop