Employee Nicole Joraanstad is going for gold! And, TDS will be backing her throughout the upcoming trials all the way to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. For the second Olympics in a row, TDS is sponsoring Nicole and her U.S. curling team.
“We appreciate that TDS has supported us the last couple years,” said Nicole, associate manager of Talent Selection and Retention. “TDS’ support of my team is critical to our success. With their support, we are able to train and travel to prepare ourselves to win the Olympic Trials.”
Team USA competed in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Collectively, the team has been to 23 World Championships and 37 U.S. National Curling Championships. “Now we are re-dedicating ourselves,” says Nicole, “to do whatever is necessary to compete and earn our spot at the 2014 Olympics.”
The Olympic Trials are coming up Nov. 10-17, in Fargo, N.D. Team USA is among four U.S. Women’s teams competing for one spot to represent the U.S. at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
What’s necessary is training. During the season, Nicole trains about an hour on-ice and another hour off-ice, five to six days a week. The team works with a sports psychologist twice a month and completes weekly mindfulness assignments. The team also competes two weekends a month in events in Canada. According to Nicole, like the tour for golf, there is a tour for curling.
Nicole has been curling almost 20 years, starting at the age of 15 in Seattle, Wash. She teamed up with her sister for a couple years on a Junior curling team. But it was her father who got her started in the sport. He curled competitively in the 1980s and went to the World Championships in 1987.
“I played several sports in school and my dad thought curling would be a good opportunity to try something different,” Nicole says. “He was right. Curling is a unique sport and continues to evolve. There is always something to learn. I love that! It is a great mix of athleticism and strategic thinking. You need both to be successful at this level.”
Nicole and her teammates are full-time employees and full-time athletes. Nicole is also a full-time mom and wife. She says, “It is a hard balance, but I think it has helped me both personally and professionally to deal with different challenges.”
For updates on Team USA and their progress, follow Nicole’s tweet’s @niccurl and Team Pottinger on Facebook.
