Lake Placid native and NYSEF Nordic Combined athlete, Beckett Ledger, 18, moved to Park City this fall to pursue his dreams to be one of the top Nordic Combined athletes in the country. This winter, Ledger won the U.S. Cup Overall Championship which is the highest level of domestic competition in the U.S.

In order to gain this title, Ledger had a rigorous training schedule. He spent two months in Europe “training with the Junior National team and Slovenian team” with fellow NYSEF alum, Nina Lussi. After competing in Russia, he was able to “really see where you need to be for the next season by competing with the best in the world.” As Ledger plans for the 2018-2019 season, he has a demanding summer training schedule which will conclude (hopefully) racing at the Flaming Leaves Festival in Lake Placid. Ledger said, “I really want a top 5 finish at Nationals which will hopefully take place in Lake Placid this fall.”

One of Ledger’s mentors in the sport is Ben Loomis, a Nordic-Combined athlete out of Park City who competed in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. Ledger added, “Ben shows up-and-coming athletes that you can be a good American in the sport…he is also the top in his age in the world.” Ledger’s goals align with some of Ben’s accomplishments which defines a great role model. Ledger’s long term plans are “to make the next Olympics, the 2021 World Championships and to get a top 15 at Junior Worlds.”

When Ledger is not concentrating on Nordic Combined, he is mountain biking, having a burrito at Wyatt’s in Lake Placid or working for his dad where he is training to be a carpenter. It is easy to say, Ledger is ALWAYS training for something!

Good luck in your summer training! Lake Placid will be cheering for you at Flaming Leaves Festival this fall.