SAM MACUGA
Park City, UT
Middag med Jenta (aka Team Dinner)
September 10th marked the start of something special for the women’s side of USA Ski Jumping: Team Dinner. At first glance, the name might sound self-explanatory, but it’s quickly become a cornerstone of our team dynamic. It started as a casual idea—just a few of us wanting to try new recipes and spend time together outside training in Lillehammer. But the real spark came with Jamay’s 16th birthday.
Jamay, a junior athlete from the U.S. who is training in Lillehammer, had recently made the brave leap of moving here to attend NTG, a school for athletes. She’s not part of USA Ski Jumping, but she’s quickly become a familiar face in our community. Moving halfway across the world without even visiting first was no small feat, and we all wanted to make her feel at home. What better way than a birthday potluck? That night, crammed into a small apartment, we brought together a group of people who had never hung out like this before. There wasn’t anything particularly grand about the evening, but something clicked. It showed us how much we needed moments like these—a chance to sit down outside of training and simply be together.
Since then, Team Dinner—nicknamed Middag med jenta (“Dinner with the Girls”)—has become a weekly tradition. It’s not just the women’s national team, our “club” has grown to include anyone in the area who wants to join. Some weeks, the whole group chat shows up, while other nights, it’s just two of us catching up over something we’ve made together. These dinners break up the routine, especially in a sport where we spend so much time away from home, eating meals with the same roommates (not that I don’t enjoy Paige’s company!).
Each week brings its own little surprises. Jamay keeps us laughing with stories about learning Norwegian with her new classmates. Sandra pops in when she can, balancing school in the U.S. with her training across the pond. Alexa, a Nordic combined athlete, has become a regular. Before Team Dinner, Alexa and I barely knew each other. Now, we’re friends who hang out outside of these gatherings—and, funny enough, one of the smallest Team Dinners (just two of us!) was Lex and I making burgers.
The most exciting part of Team Dinner? It’s always evolving. One weekend, we switched things up and hosted brunch, making French toast in Paige’s and my apartment. The group chat has even sparked volleyball games and casual hangouts, bringing together the women training in Lillehammer. And while dinner usually wraps up after an hour or two, it often spills into a round of cards or a group show. We’ve all recently gotten hooked on Ted Lasso, and the irony of watching a sports comedy as athletes ourselves isn’t lost on us.
This week, we’re hosting our biggest gathering yet—a Thanksgiving celebration! With nearly the whole group attending, including some of our Norwegian teammates, the potluck is doubling as a cultural exchange. We’ll likely need a BYOF rule (Bring Your Own Fork) since there are more people than we have utensils for.
By the time you’re reading this, Thanksgiving will have passed, but the gratitude we feel lingers far beyond one day. These dinners have given us more than good meals—they’ve built a community, helping us bond as athletes and as friends. Your support is part of what makes moments like this possible, and for that, we’re endlessly thankful.
We hope you’ll continue to follow along on this journey—both through the Story Project and the rest of the season to come!
