I opened up a new message on Slack to my manager and CTO at work this morning and realized that the last message I had sent to that particular group of individuals was from the ER in January after getting hit by a car. The subject of today’s message was that I had been selected for both the XCM and Enduro World Championship teams.

To realize that this season was in all likelihood going to be a season of rebuilding (fitness, skills, confidence, strength) after massive shoulder surgery over the winter and then the added complications of being hit by the car, and yet I am still getting this opportunity to represent the U.S. in both of my chosen disciplines is truly incredible.

There were so many times this year when the stretch goal of making the Worlds team seemed completely out of reach. Times when I felt like just giving up.

But over and over again, I kept coming back to the mantra: “Stay Curious.”

Even as I work through the logistics of flying to Switzerland with two bikes, working remotely in the week between races, and everything else associated with taking advantage of this incredible opportunity, I have to return to this. I don’t know what the courses will entail. I don’t know how my body will perform at altitude. I don’t know what racing enduro internationally looks like. But I know that I’ve put in the work, and all that is left is to show up and do my best.

Thank you so much to my coaches and sponsors who have made this journey possible. If you would like to help relieve the financial burden of this trip, all contributions are gratefully accepted.

• Mike Schultz, Highland Training
• Harlan Price, Take Aim Cycling
• Erin Ayala, Skadi Sports Psychology
• Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge
• Rocky Mountain Bicycles
• Maxxis Tires
• CarboRocket
• Black Ox Sealant
• Roanoke Outside Foundation
• Red Rooster Coffee
• Handup Gloves
• Steve the Photographer
• Verusen AI
• ZEAL Pro
• Nittany Mountain Works
• ESI Grips
• Smith Optics
• HT Components
• Starlight Apparel