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We're so happy to announce another athlete collaboration bottle with Vermonter, professional skier, and Olympian Ben Ogden! This is the 3rd iteration of a custom bottle we've done with Ben and this might just be our favorite yet!

When Ben isn't busy podiuming at the World Cup and bringing his fun and upbeat attitude to the circuit, he can be found wrenching on some interesting at-home projects. These include - but are not limited to - his Land Rover restoration project, perfecting his espresso shots, and ensuring him and his roommates have an over-the-top stereo system for the optimal musical listening experience. (As his roommate I can confirm our speakers take up the entire living room but man they sounds good!) This bottle design gives some insight into who he is!

We asked Ben to share a few words about his past racing experience and what he's looking forward to in the upcoming season. Plus, some life advice about your current coffee setup ;) Enjoy.

We appreciate that Ben is willing to give it his all to get the prefect shot! Thank you Carter Hall for the pics.

What was the most inspiring advice from a coach you’ve ever received?

In college there was a fantastic assistant coach who had worked with the UVM ski team for decades named Fred Fayette. Once, after a Junior World Championship trip that I was a little disappointed with, he said that I raced as hard as I could and was a good ambassador for the team and for Vermont, so I had nothing to be disappointed about. This was pretty simple but I always remembered it and I remind myself of this truth often. 

How do you calm your mind before and during races?

I like to think about how simple racing is to help relax. I think that cross country skiing can easily be overcomplicated and It is tempting to get lost in the little details. Details like the right wax, the right clothing, what you eat before and during, and what you do for a warmup. These are all examples of what can stress you out. I like to try and counteract all this stress by focusing on how simple the race is or will be once it starts. Once you get going, you can’t change anything about the prep, and all you can do is focus on pushing yourself to the finish line as fast as you can. This feels good for me because I know how to push myself. I have done it my whole life and nothing is more natural to me. 

Going into this season, you are more of a seasoned athlete on the team than you were a few years ago! Tell us about how this feels and how it feels now compared to when you were a newer athlete on the team? 

I think that being a little more experienced comes with a lot of benefits. Primarily I know what to expect a little more and have had the opportunity to optimize things to make everything easier. Even something as simple as how many bags to bring and how heavy to make them is something that I have dialed in now. Dealing with packing and repacking a bag that is right on the 50 pound limit is amateur hour. It's much smarter to bring an extra bag or a bigger backpack if it means your main duffel can have a little weight buffer.

The World Cup Finals are in Lake Placid, NY this year! How does it feel to have the World Cup Finals in your backyard?

I am super excited for this! I have realized that ever since I started racing in the World Cup, when I talk about my experiences, I often feel like I am describing something completely foreign. I think this is because Americans don’t always know what sports like cross country skiing look like at the highest level. I am really excited that many people who care so much but have never seen a World Cup in person will finally have the opportunity to see what I have been describing for themselves. Also, if there is one thing we learned from the Minneapolis World Cup, it’s that the American fans don't let their lack of experience with World Cup racing dampen their spirit. I know we can expect some ruckus cheering in Lake Placid. I'm pretty psyched for that too.

Who is the best neighbor you’ve ever had? 

Growing up, our immediate neighbors were my cousins Mae and Asa Chalmers. This was the ultimate setup because we had the convenience of having close friends live directly across the road while also being in a pretty rural area. We were surrounded by seemingly unlimited woods which came with plenty of space to build forts and whatnot. That being said, my current neighbors are the good people at Bivo HQ and that is pretty great. Less fort building going on but lots of good times and ample opportunity for me to come distract everyone in the office after training which is really fun for me… (We were hoping you would say us, but we'll let Mae and Asa have this one!)

You make delicious espressos! When did your obsession start? What’s one trick you’d like to share?

I have fallen down the coffee rabbit hole, no doubt about that… I have always loved coffee, and in the last 3 years or so have indeed gotten into espresso. My roommate and close friend Sam Noel and I bought our first machine in 2022 and, since then, we have really gotten into the art of making the perfect espresso. I think if I were to give people one tip to make great coffee it's that you must start with great beans. People will accuse me of being a snob and maybe that's true, but I challenge anyone to try a coffee of any sort from an over-roasted, poor-quality bean versus a more selectively-harvested, carefully-roasted, fresh bean and tell me it's not a difference worth seeking out.

Thank you Carter Hall for these great pics of Ben with his bottle!

We love watching Ben up on the big screen competing with the very best in the world! Even in such high-stakes scenarios he isn't afraid to let loose a little and have fun. It's always good to be reminded to not take life too seriously. Sometimes to do your best, you have to keep things simple, and remember all the work you put into getting there. The rest will follow!