Norway native Dybwad skis to early success with Saints

After placing 10th in the 2018 Norwegian Biathlon Championships, Oslo, Norway native Victoria Dybwad knew Nordic skiing was in her future. Researching programs around the world she landed in Duluth with head coach Maria Stuber’s College of St. Scholastica (CSS) Saints.

"The snow comes early here and it just sounded more like Norway a little bit, it reminded me of home," Dybwad said on choosing CSS. "Also Maria was very pursuing and I feel like it’s very important that a coach values the team spirit."

The freshman is already off to a strong start notching back-to-back top 25 finishes in the first two collegiate races of her career. Most recently she closed out last weekend’s Duluth SuperTour placing 23rd overall.

Finishing fifth among Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) skiers in the field, she’s proved even new training methods can’t throw her off course.

"We often go to places to ski on snow very early because we have that in our mountains," Dybwad noted about Norway. "But here it was more laying a good base layer and not so specific on skiing, and that we’ll all around be a good athlete."

Dybwad and the Saints hit the trails again this weekend in the Birkie SuperTour. It runs from Friday-Sunday at the Birkie Trail Head in Cable, Wisconsin.