Andy Newell doesn’t just ski fast, he lives that way too. A self-proclaimed “adrenaline junkie”, the Vermont native’s love of extreme sports and pushing the limits has helped him develop into one of the fastest sprinters in U.S. history as well as one of the catalysts of the U.S. Nordic Team’s competitive rebirth.

Newell’s 2013 season saw a number of solid results, including six top-10 finishes on the World Cup circuit. Newell also competed in his sixth World Championships, helping the 4x5k relay team to a 10th-place finish.

Prior to 2013, Newell grabbed three World Cup podiums, including the first U.S. cross country podium in two decades with a third place finish in the freestyle sprint in Changchun, CHN in 2006. In 2006 Newell also placed 16th in the freestyle sprint at the Olympics in Torino, ITA—the best U.S. Olympic men’s result ever in that event. Add to that a U.S. Championship title in 2008 and three top-10 sprints at Junior Worlds, and Newell has stacked quite the resume.

With plans for Sochi already in the works, Newell looks to shake up the standings and get himself on the sprint podium.

ANDY SAYS
I’m a native Vermonter who is proud to be part of the historic cross country skiing culture of the state. XC skiing is a sport that involves a lot of old-school rugged training and I love that aspect of the sport. I'm motivated by high-speed racing and therefore excel in sprints but enjoy competing in all types of ski races. It was a frustrating year of crashes last season but still managed a few World Cup top 10's and I’m proud of my three career podiums so far.

FIRST TRACKS
Newell was skiing by three, racing by five and hasn't stopped since. After moving through Stratton Mountain School and its well-respected cross country program, he produced top-10 results at Junior Worlds. He was top-10 in the sprint at Junior Worlds for three straight years, 2001-03. He won his first Continental Cup race, a sprint, at Silver Star, BC, in November 2001 and moved on to clinch a team spot at his first Olympics.

OFF THE SNOW
When Newell’s not training or competing, he’s hanging with buddies, skateboarding, surfing and working as a carpenter on his cabin in Vermont. “As a true adrenaline junky, I’m always looking to push the limits in outdoor activity and go fast, whether it's on a surfboard, roller skis, or on my 1970 Triumph motorcycle.” Newell is also passionate about pushing cross country skiing forward in the U.S. and works with kids and the New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) to introduce the sport to a new audience.