Olympian Cross-Country Skier, Novie McCabe, from Winthrop, Washington Follows in Her Mother’s Footsteps

Novie McCabe:
2020 Junior World Championship Team Relay Silver Medalist

Novie McCabe named to 2022 U.S. Olympics Ski Team

US Ski Team Olympian Novie McCabe

Laura McCabe was a topmost ranked Olympian back in 1998. She competed in two Winter Olympics in 1994 and 1998, respectively. Her daughter, Novie, walked on her mother’s footpath, and she showed that skiing is in her roots.

Reportedly, Laura had skied on the Fisher/Solomon Factory team for 11 years. McCabe was a track race apprentice, winning several marathon/ running events in the US, including the American Birkebeiner. Although she hasn’t received any medals, she is a well-known country skier at that time.

Further, Laura later became a ski coach with the Methow Valley Nordic Team in northern Washington.

Sean McCabe, Laura’s husband and father to Novie and her younger sister, Dashe, passed away in November 2009, when Novie was 7 years old and Dashe 3, succumbing to cancer of the thyroid at the age of 46. Also, an avid runner and skier, he was a well-loved artist and teacher. After his passing, Laura raised the two girls as a single mom, with the spirit of Sean always serving as an inspiration.

“Raising my two girls as a single mom, this community was hugely impactful and supportive,” Laura McCabe said. “I wouldn’t have wanted to go about this task in any other place or community, for this, I am forever grateful.”

Mimicking mom’s breathing pattern while riding on her back while Laura was skiing the trails around Mazama in the Methow Valley, riding her bike with mom and sister into Pearrygin Lake State Park, hiking down the hill to the lake for a swim, and then back up, or hiking the trails there and surrounding Cascade Mountains — all were part of Novie’s early start in the fitness and fastness culture.

It also became apparent early that Novie was dreaming of big things. In third grade, teacher Cathy Oliver gave her pupils a writing assignment that asked them to identify what they wanted to do when they grew up. Novie’s answer was short: She claimed she wanted to ski in the Olympics. Pretty much everything she did from that point forward has been directed that way.

“I remember hearing stories of her Olympic experience when I was younger and trying on her clothes and stuff,” Novie said. She started racing competitively at 14 years old. She traveled the world racing against some of the best in the sport. The Olympics were always in the back of her mind.

Olympian follows in her mother’s footsteps

Six years later, the 20-year-old was at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, following in her mother’s footsteps. “It was kinda stressful, it was exciting and I was stoked to go,” Novie explained. “She’s [mom] been a big part of the whole journey, so it’s been really cool.”

Novie and Laura tried to talk as often as possible with the 14-hour time difference. Laura gave her some motherly advice. “Just be confident and know that it’s a gift to be here, it is a gift to be here and you get this day,” Laura said.

Novie is now spending her downtime resting and reflecting on her time at the Olympics. She achieved what she hoped for in third grade. “She wants this path and so this is the beginning of a higher level of this path for her,” Laura said.

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