Oliver Lane

 

Reporter's Notebook 

In early March, I boarded a flight to Hanover, N.H., camera gear in tow, weighing 75 pounds worth of glass and batteries. The assignment: cover the University of Utah Ski Team at the 2025 NCAA Championships.

Being both producer and reporter, I went in thinking the headline moment would be freshman Erica Lavén winning the women’s 7.5K classic. And yes, that performance was unforgettable. 

The real story was what happened off the podium: a slalom day setback that nearly broke morale, a team dinner that reset the group’s mindset, and the way the women pushed each other back into contention. I watched graduate student Claire Timmermann, who had been coming off years of injury, deliver a clutch GS run that lifted the entire team. Those behind-the-scenes moments surprised me most. This wasn’t just physical dominance; it was emotional resilience.

Throughout the week, I gathered shots of pre-race jitters, battles with course conditions, fierce competition during cross country, and post-race exhaustion. I witnessed firsthand how much pressure these women carry, not just to perform but to represent. They train year-round, maintain elite international resumes, and still manage school, recovery, and media demands — all without the visibility or resources many male-dominated sports receive.

Many athletes, including Lavén and alpine senior Kaja Norbye, come from Sweden and Norway. Competing for Utah has given them a sense of team belonging, which is often lacking in individual competitions when skiing for their home country. That shared identity was core to the team’s success. "You can't just show up and win. You have to grind for it," Norbye told me. She meant more than just training; she meant building trust with teammates who become family.

Creative storytelling is essential for showing that women’s sports are every bit as intense and dynamic as men's. Capturing each race in a way that puts the audience alongside the athletes, seeing what they see and hearing what they hear, is what I strive for. Narration from both announcers and athletes adds depth, giving context to what viewers see in the footage. Timmermann’s reflections on the emotional weight of her final season and the pride she felt racing alongside her younger sister brought that emotion to the forefront.

What truly shaped the documentary was the set of interviews I filmed a week after the championship. I didn’t want those conversations to happen immediately after the win. The athletes were drained, and few had fully processed what the title meant to them. Giving them space to reset brought out more meaningful, honest answers. Their words carried weight.

Covering this story made me a more attentive reporter. I learned to listen more closely between answers, to notice body language at the finish line, and to respect silence when it spoke louder than sound bites.