DENVER – Eliska Albrigtsen is in her first season as the Head Nordic Skiing Coach at the University of Denver after being hired on Sept. 8.
 
She joined the Pioneers after six seasons as the head coach of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nordic skiing and cross country running programs. During her time at the helm of the UAF ski team, the Nordic-only program placed in the top 10 overall and in the top six in the Nordic standings in each of the five completed NCAA Championships.
 
A former member of the Czechia national team, Albrigtsen raced collegiately at the University of Colorado with its skiing program from 2010-2013. She earned six All-American honors and finished in the top 10 in 45-of-48 career races with the Buffaloes.
 
At DU, she will work closely with Otto Tschudi Head Alpine Skiing Coach Joonas Rasanen in leading the program, which owns the most national titles in the NCAA with 24.
 
Albrigtsen spoke about coming to Denver and what she looks to accomplish with the Pioneers earlier this fall.
 
What was your path to being at this stage of your career?
 
"I was recruited to ski for the [Colorado] Buffaloes by Richie Rokos and Bruce Cranmer was a great guide through college as my coach on the Nordic side. I never wanted to be a coach really thinking about it before that, because the coaches I had before they were just standing by the side of the trail freezing. I'm like, 'Um I don't think that's fun.' But Bruce was the first coach that actually skied with us and that was so beneficial because he saw what we were doing out there while we are doing intervals where we're doing technique. So, you know that kind of gave me the idea of, 'wow this is something that I would be really into.' On top of it I studied physiology. Biomechanics of Nordic skiing was actually the focus that I had. So, I learned a lot about how the physics of Nordic skiing work and as I was coming through the years of the college education I worked on research in that field. I realized I need to pass this onto people because if everyone knows how to do this in such an efficient way, everyone can enjoy it so much more."
 
How do you think your background in physiology helps you as a coach?
 
"I really focus highly on the biomechanics of it because, you know, you can't fight science, at least I believe you can't. So I teach and coach through science, through the biomechanics and physiology, that's the strongest background I have. And you know, the high level of racing I did in the world and the U.S.. So together, I think that's kind of the credit that I am bringing, and I think that my new athletes are really listening to it and it's easier for them to buy-in because they know what I am doing. A lot of them do have science majors, so that helps."
 
How did your experience of being an athlete on the Czechia national team and being on so many big stages help craft the type of coach that you are?
 
"This is something that I get asked actually quite a lot, and I think the longer I'm coaching the longer I'm realizing that I'm not trying to think about who I am as a coach and how I'm doing it. I'm just being myself. So I'm just trying to acquire knowledge through experience and education that I then pass onto people. So, you know, that's for all the beginning college coaches or even high school or even the little ones out there—just be yourself. Don't try to think about, 'oh my coach was like that, I would love to be like that because that will be really awkward, not genuine. So just coach from what you know. Just try to not think about coaching, just try to bring the information to the athletes that are interested."
 
What was your experience like during your time coaching in Fairbanks, Alaska?
 
"Similarly to here, I like working with diversity and something that's working against me. So, there it was the weather in similar but the opposite way to here. We had so much snow and so early that the early preparation on roller skis was really a struggle. And then also our time off being able to practice. We had very limited time because you have three or four hours a day when it's daylight and it's warm enough to be outside. So those were the challenges that I had to work with. Also recruiting up to Alaska, not everyone is built for Fairbanks. So those were all the challenges that we had to kind of include. But the nature there, the vastness of Alaska, all the opportunities that it brings, that was what we really focused on and that kind of brought us the success. So, this is why I kind of chose to come to Denver because that's another challenge. It's the opposite challenge, but I like challenges, and I don't like stereotypes. So, when something is too easy, too same, same, same, I don't get excited. It doesn't push me."
 
Before coming to Denver, how did you view the Pioneers skiing program?
 
"Super hard workers, definitely, always. That was the picture that we've seen. And also, the tradition and the support of the team, which is something that maybe I wasn't that used to before. When I was looking through the DU website, I saw this link and it just says, "former Olympians." And most of them, I think like 68 are from the ski team, which is crazy. So that was one thing that I really admired and was something that I wanted to work with. I also do a decent job with international students and here it's some sort of unspoken tradition. I am planning on bringing more Americans in, at least from Colorado, as I believe there is enough talent, and I think I have what it takes to develop it."
 
How many languages do you speak?
 
"I do speak two, but understand three, four."
 
What's it like to have a support system of coaches who know what it takes to be successful in Denver and want to work to be successful as a group?
 
"(Alpine ski coaches) Joonas [Rasanen] and M.R. [Hostetter] are actually in a very similar graduating class as I was. So, you know we knew each other, and I am really excited to work with them because of that. But also, something new that I haven't done before, since Fairbanks didn't have the downhill portion of the ski team. It definitely brings more pressure. It's not just my decisions and what I make, but pressure makes diamonds. So that's what I'm excited about and working alongside coaches—skiing is one sport, but downhill and Nordic are so different. They have different outlook on things, they do things differently, and I can learn from them. And that's appealing because when you're just working kind of in your own bubble, there is really no growth."
 

Kayin Afonja contributed to this story.

DONATE: Fans interested in donating to the Pioneers Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift will transform the lives of our student-athletes by giving them the first-class resources needed to excel in the classroom and beyond. Thank you for Building Pioneers for Life!