Meet the Stars of the Slopes: Noel Keeffe
03/11/2022 12:00PM ● By Dan Greeson
Photo by Ryan Gallant
Noel Keeffe, 22
Cross-Country Skiing
Trained withSteamboat Springs Winter Sports Club
How do you find a balance between training and your studies in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Utah?
Creating and following a schedule helps immensely. The University of Utah Ski Team has team training almost every day of the week and keeping to a constant schedule allows for me to plan my weeks and use as much of my time as possible.
What’s the best advice your coach has given you?
Don't worry about things you can’t control and follow your own process.
Who are your biggest role models and why?
Norwegian triathlete and Olympic gold medalist Kristian Blummenfelt has been a really big inspiration for me. He trains more than anyone else, but does it in exceptionally smart ways that lean heavily on science and data.
What does your perfect winter day in Steamboat look like?
The perfect Steamboat day is 20 degrees with blue skies. It snowed eight inches overnight. You wake up early, put in a lap on MountWerner before the lifts open, then hit a few laps on Storm Peak when the lifts open. Go home, take a nap then go for an afternoon nordic ski on Emerald Mountain.
What’s the hardest part about your sport?
Finding the limit in every race where if you go any faster you risk not making it to the finish line.
Best travel tip?
Don’t stress about anything – it will all work out.
Favorite activities off the slopes?
I really enjoy podcasts and backcountry ski touring.
Cross-Country Skiing
Trained withSteamboat Springs Winter Sports Club
How do you find a balance between training and your studies in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Utah?
Creating and following a schedule helps immensely. The University of Utah Ski Team has team training almost every day of the week and keeping to a constant schedule allows for me to plan my weeks and use as much of my time as possible.
What’s the best advice your coach has given you?
Don't worry about things you can’t control and follow your own process.
Who are your biggest role models and why?
Norwegian triathlete and Olympic gold medalist Kristian Blummenfelt has been a really big inspiration for me. He trains more than anyone else, but does it in exceptionally smart ways that lean heavily on science and data.
What does your perfect winter day in Steamboat look like?
The perfect Steamboat day is 20 degrees with blue skies. It snowed eight inches overnight. You wake up early, put in a lap on MountWerner before the lifts open, then hit a few laps on Storm Peak when the lifts open. Go home, take a nap then go for an afternoon nordic ski on Emerald Mountain.
What’s the hardest part about your sport?
Finding the limit in every race where if you go any faster you risk not making it to the finish line.
Best travel tip?
Don’t stress about anything – it will all work out.
Favorite activities off the slopes?
I really enjoy podcasts and backcountry ski touring.