Tilde Bångman competed in the Junior World Championships. For the past 2.5 years, she has been combining sports with studies in the USA. Here, the Swedish skier shares her daily life, experiences, and the level of skiing.

Swedish Skiers in the USA

Currently, several Swedish skiers are studying at Colleges in the USA, including Tilde Bångman. She is in her third year on the other side of the Atlantic and very much enjoys her life.

“Life, in general, is magical. I love my life here; it feels really good. It’s a very hectic daily life since you study full-time and train full-time. So there is always something happening. There are also many social activities. But I think that’s why I enjoy it so much because I need that,” says Tilde Bångman in an interview with Langd.se.

Tilde spent her first two years in Montana but switched to the University of Colorado for this season. She is not the only cross-country skier at the University of Colorado; Hanna Abrahamsson also studies there.

“We become like a little family; we travel a lot together, train, and eat together. Some of us even live together. You really gain a new perspective on skiing,” Tilde explains.

“Almost Attacked by a Moose”

The college season started after New Year with competitions in Alaska. Tilde couldn’t participate in all competitions due to a shoulder injury.

“I’ve started climbing a bit, and I find it very fun as alternative training. So, I was climbing at the gym and accidentally dislocated my shoulder. Then it was a bit so-so up in Alaska. I could only participate in one of the races and wasn’t fully back with my shoulder. But the race I did went very well. I finished sixth, and I am very pleased with that”, she says.

During the race in Alaska, she had a real nature experience: “I almost got attacked by a moose when I was going downhill and suddenly saw this moose running towards me. One of the officials jumped out in front to try to stop the moose. It was a real ‘Alaska moment.’”

Life at College in the USA – Competing for Two Months

Now, an intense period awaits the college skiers in the USA. There are three different college groups: the East Coast, Midwest, and RMISA. Within the groups, the schools compete against each other, with each college hosting a qualifying competition for the major college championships, the NCAA, held in March. Each skier collects points, and the top three women and men from each school qualify for the NCAA, where all the schools from the three college groups compete against each other. This means almost two months on the road.

To win the NCAA, the alpine skiers also need to perform well since the points are combined, and the winners of the college championships are then determined.

How would you say the level differs between college and Sweden?

“I would say it’s a common misconception in Sweden and Norway that the level at college isn’t high. That’s nonsense. There are incredibly good skiers. Two years ago, during my “Freshman year,” it was Sophia Laukli who was high up in the competitions. Even Novie McCabe, who has competed in the World Cup, has participated in college,” she says and continues: “This season, Erica came over, and she is performing very well, always at the top. The level at college is very high. People train a lot. But then it’s hard to compare. We also compete a lot at high altitudes. It affects people differently; some are good at high altitudes, others at lowlands”.

Hectic Life in the USA

What does a typical day look like for you?

“I usually get up around 6:00 in the morning. Then, I get dressed and go to campus. We have a dining hall for student-athletes on campus, so I eat breakfast there. Then I meet up with the team at 7:30 for training, and we train until around 10:30. After that, I shower at school, have lunch around 11:00, then attend classes, which can last until 4:00-5:00, sometimes even 6:00. After school, I train, eat, and study again. And then it starts all over,” she explains.

You have a year and a half left at college; do you have any plans for what you want to do afterward?

“I haven’t really decided what I want to do afterward. Part of me wants to continue skiing. It might also be that I choose to do a master’s degree somewhere here. So we’ll see what happens afterward. Right now, I have a year and a half left, and I’m just trying to enjoy it. But I’m also a bit interested in Ski Classics.”

Her older sister, Hedda Bångman, has started Ski Classics strongly this season, and Tilde draws inspiration from her sister.

“She also combines studies and skiing, and it’s fun to see that she can handle it. It inspires me to possibly move back home and continue studying while skiing. Some people want to do one thing at a time, and others need ten things at a time,” she concludes.

Here, you can find more information and results from the RIMSA college group.

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.