In many ways Sam's development as a professional ski racer epitomizes the multifarious courses through development. Oscillating from a dominant force on the national-level junior circiut to the low times following bouts of overtraining and struggling to hang on to the pack in European OPA cups, Sam recognizes that the road to personal achievement involves more hardships than successes. His perserverence and dedication to training and improvement have made him a vital asset to the MOD Squad through the years.
Sam grew up in the Methow Valley from six weeks of age and competed on the Methow Junior Team all through his middle school and high school years. During his time as a junior racer he posted six podium finishes at Junior National Championships. Graduating from high school in 2002, Sam went on to attend Dartmouth College where he graduated in 2006 with a B.A. in British History. While at Dartmouth Sam skied four years on the Men’s Varsity team and as team captain his senior year took All-East honors and led the team to win the Eastern Skiing Championships. Following college Sam began racing on the National circuit, first in Montana but then returned to the Methow in late 2007 to train under Scott. During the summer months, Sam coaches the Methow Valley Junior team's dryland training sessions. Despite fighting a two month bout with mononucleosis in the late fall of 2010, Sam managed to recover and produce some top-notch results on the national circuit in the 2010/11 season.
2014 Olympic Hopeful
4 top-10 National Championship finishes
2nd, 2013 American Birkebeiner Elite Sprints
7 Super Tour top-5 finishes
1st, 2011 Methow Pursuit Overall Champion
1st, 2011 Blackjack 30km Skate Loppet
1st, 2009 Telemark SuperTour skate sprint qualifier
Founder of Methow Endurance Coaching
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Scott Johnston - Head Coach
Scott has a long and varied history of athletics in general and skiing in particular. An All-American swimmer in his teenage years, Scott only discovered Nordic skiing as a means to stay fit while recovering from a mountaineering accident in his late-20s. He soon found himself drawn to the intense training and focus required of the sport and quickly joined the professional ranks, traveling around the United States and Europe as a member of the Fischer Marathon Team. A top skier in the distance ranks during the 1980's and early 1990's, Scott also competed in several World Cups for the US Ski Team. After running a successful foreign car repair service in Bend, Scott and his wife Midge relocated to the Methow in 2001 where he began coaching the Methow Junior Team and had his first contact with Sam and with former MOD athletes Erik and Sadie Bjornsen. He has spent the last nine years first as Head Coach, then as an assistant coach for the junior program. Most recently Scott was chosen by the US Ski Team as a coach for the 2010 American U23/World Junior Championships held in Germany in February. His professional training as a mechanical engineer and his meticulous, analytical approach to training and sports physiology make Scott an invaluable coach.
