Two skiers from Redmond schools have taken different routes to the same place — the Pacific Northwest Ski Association Nordic Junior National Team.

Sarah Kilroy, a sophomore at Redmond Proficiency Academy, comes from a family of skiers and has taken part in the sport since she could walk, while Ridgeview senior Albert Hesse took up the sport a couple years ago. They were both among the 14 athletes chosen to represent the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation March 4-10 at the Junior Nationals in Soldier Hollow, Utah.

Kilroy joined the Bend Endurance Academy ski team in middle school before moving on to the Mt. Bachelor group and RPA’s team.

“When it comes to just skiing, I just love the feeling I get from skiing through the sparkling snow-topped trees either by myself or with my awesome teammates and friends,” she said in an email. “It give you such a free feeling, and it’s a lot of fun. I have also met so many great people through the sport, and I love being able to ski, compete and travel with them during the ski season.”

Hesse had long been successful in track and cross country. He’s had three top 20 finishes in the Oregon Class 5A cross country meet and finished fourth in the 3,000 meter run and fifth in the 1,500 meters at the 2017 state track meet.

But he hadn’t tried skiing until a ski coach came up to him at a cross country running meet.

“It was pretty crazy,” Hesse recalled. “He said, ‘You look pretty strong, do you want to try something out that will help you keep in shape?’ ”

Hesse tried Nordic skiing, learning a rule that you have to fall at least seven times to get anywhere.

“Basically, I fell a lot,” he said.

But he used the example of a few teammates to help him improve.

“I like to pick a person and follow them around like a puppy,” he said. “Once I get my feel, I ask one of my coaches how it’s done structurally.”

Through trial and error, Hesse developed a strong technique.

Now, the Redmond skiers will take part in their first Junior National competitions on the trails used in the 2002 Winter Olympics, though they first have the state cross country meet Friday and Saturday at the Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center.

“It’s definitely going to be pretty terrifying,” Hesse said of skiing on the Olympic course.

Kilroy qualified for the under-16 Junior Nationals by finishing first in both classic and skate disciplines at a qualifier Jan. 27-28. That included completing a 5-kilometer course in 13 minutes, 37 seconds.

She said she most looks forward to getting to compete four times in a week in Utah, as well as meeting people with a shared interest from across the country.

“I think it’s going to be an experience of a lifetime,” she said.

For Hesse, qualifying for the under-20 competition was rewarding after he was one person away from making it last year. He said he learned to be more efficient skiing this year and to pace himself better.

Now, he is excited to get to use his experience on a national stage. “I’m definitely looking most forward to learning, getting the experience and maybe using it down the road,” he said.

Hesse will go right from the Junior Nationals to the start of track season, which he’s had on his mind even during ski season.

“I definitely want to stand out,” he said. “I’ve been putting as much running in as possible over the winter.”

— Reporter: 541-548-2186, gfolsom@redmondspokesman.com