Lindsey Weier, left, and Lindsay Williams. The Lindsey & Lindsay Way
NMU skiing duo set their sights on the 2006 Winter Olympics
Interview by Aaron Peterson
They are both from the Twin Cities. Both are 21. They ski for the same college and even have the same initials. They are also both likely to be traveling to Torino, Italy, next month for the 2006 Winter Olympics. 
| Left, Lindsey Weier puts in a sprint at the 2005 CXC NorAm SuperTour at Telemark where she won the mass-start freestyle 10K race.
Photos courtesy of Weiers and Williams. |
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They are Northern Michigan University cross-country skiers
Lindsey Weier and Lindsay Williams. The pair are nationally ranked, All-Americans, national championship winners and more. When asked to list the honors they've accrued, they say they don't dwell on their successes. Past races won are just that: in the past. The races yet to come are the only ones that matter.In November, both Weier and Williams were named to the U.S. Women's World Cup team and the only two living and
training in the Midwest. Their performances during five World Cup races in December and at the U.S. Nationals in January will help decide whether they see Italian snow through goggles or on a television screen. It would be the second trip to the Olympics for sixth-ranked Weier after she made the team for the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. At 17 years of age she was one of the youngest skiers, but never had the chance to compete in an
event. Although a great experience, Utah left Weier hungry for more. She's eager to prove herself in Italy. Williams is currently ranked third in the country and is coming off a strong showing at the 2005 U.S. Nationals where she took first in the classic sprint competition. Both women have put in a lot of training over the summer and are looking forward to the chance to ski for
their country. Here's what they had to say about their careers thus far and the chance to compete in the world's greatest games. 
| Lindsay Williams celebrates winning the 1.3K classic sprint final at U.S. Nationals in Soldier Hollow, Utah, on January 10, 2005.
Photos courtesy of Weiers and Williams. |
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Q: You two have a lot in common: your initials, hometown, college, even age. Are you similar on the course, too, or do you have different styles?
Williams: I'm more of a sprinter. That's the event I won at U.S. Nationals last year. There's a lot of timing and strategy involved with drafting and positioning on the shorter races and I really get into that. Weier: I'd rather do distance than a sprint any day. I'd say 10K is my favorite distance. Q: Where are you from and how did you get your start skiing?
Weier: I grew up in Mahtomedi, Minnesota, near St. Paul.
My parents were big into Alpine skiing and got into cross-country, too. I started skiing when I was about 3 and started racing when I was 7. In high school my dad started coaching the team, and from there I started competing in the JOs (Junior Olympics). My dad still coaches and works at the ski shop FinnSisu in St. Paul. Williams: I'm from Hastings, Minnesota. I skied with my mom and dad when I was really young teeny. It was mostly
falling. In seventh grade I wanted to join the school team but I didn't really know anything about skiing. I had some big touring skis. I put kick wax on the whole ski and then tried to skate ski with them. It was not a pretty picture! My skis were too wide to even fit in the tracks. The next near I got some new combi skis and thought they were the greatest, but I still didn't race. It was all
just for fun. Then in ninth grade my friends talked me into racing. I liked it, even though I was wearing this huge wind suit and finished dead last! After that I wanted to race and be fast, so I joined the Minneapolis Ski Club, trained on roller skis and the next winter I started winning some races and eventually started going to the JOs.
Q: You're both from the Twin Cities area, did you know each other growing up?
Williams: We've trained together since 10th grade. Actually we were together on a trip to the World Juniors when Lindsey got the call that she was going to Salt Lake in 2002.
Q: How did you make it to Salt Lake as only a senior in high school and what was it like?
Weier: I made it based on my performance at U.S. Nationals. Then it was like, oh cool. I made it. But this year is more serious. What was cool was being there and I could go on the course and everything, but I
didn't get to compete and I really wanted to. I didn't go to get the jacket. I wanted to race.
Q: Does having gone before increase the pressure to make it to Italy this time?
Weier: I'd like to say no, but yes. I'm trying hard not to think about the outcome. It's hard being young in this sport. You have to stay focused and be patient.
Q: How did you both decide to come to ski at NMU?
Williams: I just knew it was a pretty good ski school and then Sten (Fjeldheim, the NMU coach) called with a scholarship.
Weier: Well, my brother Matt had skied at NMU for Sten, and I just thought he was an amazing coach. Right away I knew I wanted to come here.
Q: What does it take to compete at the level you're at? How do you train?
Weier: We only have one day off a week, usually Monday. Usually we train twice a day and it's a mixture of
strength training, intervals and distance. In the summer it's about 14 to 19 hours per week. In the fall it's 15 and then in the winter it's about eight. In the winter we're racing almost every weekend and that takes a lot out of you.
Q: Do you have a special diet?
Weier: Not really, it's your typical athlete's diet. Grains, veggies, fruit and chocolate.
Q: Chocolate?
Weier: I love chocolate. You can't starve yourself. You've got to eat chocolate!
Q: What do you do to prepare on race day? Do you get nervous?
Weier: I listen to Kid Rock on my CD player before the race. I ski the course. You've got to know the course. I get butterflies at the starting line though.
Williams: I'm a pretty laid-back person. I don't let pressure get to me. I listen to hip-hop and get myself feeling scrappy and confident with a good attitude. I know I've done everything in my power to prepare for the race.
Q: Now, Torino is coming up in February. You've both got some important events in the next couple months that will help determine if you're going or not. How do you feel about this season and your chances of going to the next Olympics?
Williams: I think I have a pretty good chance and feel good about this winter. I think it's going to be a good one.
Weier: My training this summer and fall has been the best that I've had in a while. I feel really good.
Q: With all the work you put in and the mental and physical pressure of competition, is skiing still fun?
Weier: How can you not have fun? I'm with my eight best friends and my coach and doing what I love. There are definitely days you don't want to get up and go. But for the most part, every day is fun. Even training.
The 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, run February 10-26. For more information on the games visit www.torino2006.org. For more on NMU skiing, visit www.nmu.edu/athletics.
Aaron Peterson is a freelance writer and photographer in Marquette, Michigan. For more information on his work, visit www.aaronpeterson.net.
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