Tuesday Talk with Lena Brocard

French Nordic Combined athlete Lena Brocard joined this weeks Tuesday Talk. The 24-year-old chats about her best World Cup result, which highlight of the season she is most looking forward to and what it means to her to finally be able to compete on home soil in Chaux Neuve.

After a long season, how did you spend the last months? Did you have time to go on holidays?
I really enjoyed my month of April. I took the opportunity to do what I prefer: ski touring with sun, enjoy some time with my family and friends. It's the ideal cocktail to recharge my batteries. Since May I have been back to training. We were in a training camp in Austria, in Innsbruck. It was really cool to jump on the famous hill of the Four hills tournament.

Can you tell us a bit about your summer preparation and if there have been any changes in your training or equipment?
The preparation is going well, I always train with the boys from the A team. For my case we decided to continue the work we started last year at the hill. I also changed my cross-country skiing coach and it's interesting to work with a new person!

You had a very successful season with a new personal best as 4^th in Schonach and 8^th in the Overall World Cup in Trondheim. What is your favorite memory?
The 4th place in Schonach will forever be a great memory, I remember after the race, looking back on how far I have come. There were moments easier than others but I really liked the last season: Ida's yellow bib, my friends and parents at the side of the track, the feeling of being supported by my team. It was fantastic as a whole.

During Summer Grand Prix, the women will compete in their first large hill events. Are you looking forward to the premiere in Oberstdorf?
Yes, I think it will be cool! The Summer Grand Prix is always something exciting and even more so with a big hill.

From one summer highlight to the next: Chaux-Neuve finally returns as host. How much does it mean to you to compete on home soil finally?
My favorite question! For me it's a dream come true. I grew up hearing about the Chaux Neuve World Cup and telling myself that I'll be able to taste it, it's just magical. I think every athlete dreams of one day racing at home. I know the French fans and I’m already looking forward to competing there.

With the WSC in Trondheim, the women’s first Seefeld TRIPLE and the large hill World Cup premiere in Oslo, many highlights await Nordic Combined fans next winter. What are you looking forward to the most?
The choice is difficult (laughs). There will be great things to follow this winter, but I will say the World Championships in Trondheim.

Final question: What is the best thing about being a Nordic Combined athlete?
⁠I love to do lot of things and I think Nordic Combined fits me well with that. Two sports mean a lot of versions to train, mean a lot more fun things to do. And the most important is that Nordic Combined is a big family, and I am really grateful to be part of it.