Holly Brooks
HOLLY BROOKS is a full-time Nordic Ski coach at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage where she coaches junior and master athletes for competition and to support a healthy lifestyle. She’s also an active competitor in cross country ski racing and mountain running events. Holly’s 2008 accomplishments include: Tour of Anchorage 50K, overall female winner; Alaskan Ski for Women, overall freestyle winner; Mount Marathon, 2nd place overall female; Alaska Mountain Running Grand Prix, overall female winner; and more.
Holly grew up in urban Seattle spending weekends in the Cascades and learning to ski at Snoqualmie Pass. She gained her first coaching experience with family — mom, dad, uncles, grandfather and grandmother — teaching ski lessons. After all day lessons they would ski to their cabin in the dark with backpacks full of supplies, and in the morning would ski out and do it all over again.
Holly skied for the Pacific Northwest Junior Olympic team for five years before skiing competitively at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington while earning a degree in Environmental Studies/Sociology. After graduation she went to Alaska in search of longer winters and steeper mountains. Four years later she’s still there and loving every day of it.
On Inspiration: “Alaska inspires me. Whether it’s exploring the Chugach Front Range that looms over downtown Anchorage in the midnight July sun or the fact that friends can ski to work, Alaska is a great place to be an outdoor enthusiast! I can go to the grocery store in my ski boots and spandex to pick up dinner groceries without thinking twice about my outfit!”
As a coach, Holly’s professional goal is to empower women in winter sports by creating instructive, physically challenging, social and fun workouts. Her personal athletic goals for 2009 include:
- Winning the Tour of Anchorage, again.
- Standing on the winner’s podium for every race at the 2009 National Masters Championships.
- Finish Mount Marathon 1 to 2 minutes faster than her 2008 second place time.
Inspire Yourself: “If you are just starting to ski (or participate in any sport for that matter) try signing up for a race. Participating in a local race series or planning a “destination race” can be great inspiration to get out the door on rainy or cold days. Often the first race is the most intimidating, but there are many wonderful women-only events that offer great atmosphere and a supportive environment. For example, check out the Alaskan Ski for Women.”
love it!
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Hi Holly!
It is so great to see you doing what you truly love! Here’s to adventure!
My best to you,
Jo
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Holly!
You are an inspiration to me, a stay at home mother of two children. Even though I may not be trying out for the Olympic’s, I gain encouragement from you to continue my daily workouts in the midst of my own many resposibilities! All of us women need an outlet; and the “great outdoors” provides us the perfect place to refresh ourselves and equip us to be better wives, mothers, daughters, teachers, and friends. Congratulations on making the team! Expect to make it! Train hard like you’ve already made it! And just “act” surprised when you found out you HAVE made it!
Blessings from WI!
Jenny
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Good luck with your training! I will be looking for your name when the Olympics come around this winter! I have cross country skied (only recreationally) since I was about 5-6 years old and it is a great sport. Don’t forget to have fun too!
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Hi I just found this. well…CONGRATS!!!!!!
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Oh, Ana says hi.
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we’ve had so much fun watching your race results over the past couple of weeks and knowing that you are the ‘real deal’. i just sent my mom a note bragging that i was taking your women’s ski clinic…she was so impressed!
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Holly, we of the 2004 Orkila staff are wishing you the very best in Vancouver. Congratulations! I am so excited for you! Well done.
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hello
just watched you in the cross country sking in olympics great job!!!!!!!!!!!!! was a pleasure to see an american compete in the 10k nordic run thanks for all your hard work USA USA USA USA
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