Cross-country skiing: the end of the road at 23 for Méaudra’s Maya Even
The end of the cross-country skiing season often means the end of careers for international and national athletes. And while Renaud Jay, Maëlle Veyre, Tania Kurek and Arnaud Chautemps have decided to put their foot down at the end of the winter, they are not the only ones to have said goodbye.
In the last few days, Maya Even from Isère has also put an end to the long years she has spent on many of the circuits in her discipline. It was a decision the skier from Méaudre (Isère) had to make after a season spent criss-crossing long-distance races.
“For this winter, I decided to focus less on the national circuit and more on the long-distance circuit. I only took part in the selections for the first races in Bessans and that didn’t go too well,” she tells Nordic Magazine. So I didn’t try to go any further and turned to the long distances. I did the Sgambeda in Italy, the Marathon International de Bessans and the Foulée Blanche.
“I knew I’d reached the end and my head couldn’t take it any more”.Maya Even at Nordic Magazine
This last competition, just a stone’s throw from her home, was the turning point for the 23-year-old cross-country skier. “After that race in Autrans, I’d had enough. It was at that point that my decision was made. I felt that I couldn’t give 100% mentally any more. I couldn’t hurt myself any more,” she admits. I took a two-week break and didn’t go to La Transju’. From mid-February onwards, I knew I was going to stop at the end of the season and I’d talked it over with my coach.
“At the end of the winter, I still ran the Marathon du Grand-Bec, the Engadine and the Marathon des Glières. Then I finished with the French club championships and the one in Les Saisies the following week. I knew I’d reached the end and that my head wasn’t in it any more,” she continues. And when that’s the case, no matter how hard you try, it’s not just your physique that makes you progress.
So it was at the French championships in Les Saisies (Savoie) that Maya Even took her leave in the company of a long-standing friend. “I still enjoyed myself this season and I’m happy to have tried other things. I had some great races at Les Saisies and it was a lovely party,” she admits. I was delighted to do the last lap of my career with Tania [Kurek], who is also stopping. We started skiing at the same time, so it was very moving.
“I’m coming to the end of my cross-country skiing career with peace of mind and a lot of great memories, and it’s going to be all the better for the rest of my life”.
As she closes a book that has taken up most of her life so far, the Team Vercors Isère rider has no regrets: “When I look back at everything I’ve done, I say to myself that there haven’t been any incredible results, but I’ve done some great races and, above all, I’ve had some crazy times. I still went to the EYOWF and the World Junior Championships. I met some incredible people who have now become friends,” she admits.
“I’m giving up cross-country skiing with peace of mind”.Maya Even at Nordic Magazine
“I was also lucky enough to have the support of the committee, the federation for a year and above all Team Vercors Isère. Even though I went through some difficult times, I got through them and I wouldn’t have got where I am today without them,” she points out. I’m coming to the end of cross-country skiing with peace of mind and some great memories, and the rest will be all the better for it.
Maya Even will now be turning her attention to university. “I’m now going to finish my STAPS degree in Grenoble. I’m also planning to take the DE exam,” she says. I don’t have any fixed plans for the future, but I don’t like to be bored, so I’ll be doing lots of things, and I’m not worried about that!
Read also
- Maya Even comes third in La Sgambeda in Livigno
- Maya Even’s report on Team Vercors Isère’s premiere at the Blink Festival
