Three-time US SuperTour Champion and Wisconsin native Kevin Bolger will be stopping by the shop next Saturday, Nov. 2 on his “Mini” tour of Wisconsin before he heads over to Europe for the World Cup season.
Kevin is from Minocqua and started cross country skiing in the 3rd grade, “My older brother was my biggest influencer. Once he started skiing, I wanted to be just like him. I got involved and it took off from there for me.”
He is a two-time Wisconsin State Champion, made NCAA’s all four years, was a two time All American, US National Champion, RIMSA Skier of the Year, Athlete of the Year at the University of Utah, and Team Captain for the UTES his senior year, and not to forget, a Team NCAA Championship!
Post Collegiate, Kevin went on to ski for the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation under Gold Team Coach, Chris Mallory. In 2018 Kevin was the super tour leader and earned a spot on the World Cup Team. His first race he finished 11th overall! Kevin went on to be named to the US SKI Team for the 2018-2019 season and has now been renamed to the Team for the 2019-2020 World Cup Season (November – April).
With a lot of hard work, he continues to achieve his dreams. “The US men’s team right now is on a level in which I don’t think it has ever been at before—we are not only teammates but we are family. Our obligations are to each other. We show up everyday ready to work, but I’d be lying if I said we didn’t have a lot of fun while we are relaxing and training everyday.” His future plans are all about skiing including not only competing in the next Winter Olympics, but qualifying for the sprint, making the final and fighting for a medal.
He is hoping the recent success of the women in the last Olympics as well as the high caliber of the men’s team will motivate a generation of younger skiers. For the rest of us, “Get involved in any way you can! From local teams to national-level support. XC Skiing isn’t the most lucrative sport, and supporting kids at the beginning stages to the guys like me skiing on the World cup; we all need support.”
When Kevin isn’t training, he heads back to Minocqua to decompress and reflect on his season. But we’re lucky to have him in Hayward next Saturday, “I want to be able to give back to the state that has given me so much and try and also let the ski world know Wisconsin has a guy on the US Ski Team representing them. I have done tons of racing in Hayward, and I know the XC community runs deep there, so I hope I can bring some stoke and share my story with the community.”
Tentatively, Kevin will lead a light workout around 10 am, give a presentation around 11 am followed by a meet and greet. Please refer to the upcoming event to be posted on our Facebook page.
Since he is not fully-funded, is an unpaid athlete and has little opportunity to work, he, along with other professional athletes, needs to fundraise and find sponsors to supplement their expenses.
There are several ways you can help Kevin on his way to the 2022 Winter Olympics, you can send a tax-deductible donation of $100 or more to SVSEF, PO Box 203, Sun Valley, ID 83353 (Memo: National Team Support/Kevin Bolger). Other donations may be sent to Kevin Bolger, PO Box 87, Minocqua, WI 54548.
