In her return to Fresh Corduroy, Annika Hunt reflects on a whirlwind stretch of her career—making her first World Cup starts, racing on the sport’s biggest stage, managing nerves and expectations, and navigating injury just as momentum was building.

Annika opens up about what it really feels like to arrive at the highest level: lining up against her role models, dealing with DNFs, racing at home in front of family and fans, and learning how mindset and flow play a central role in performance.

We also talk about recovery, visualization, and confidence, and how stepping back—sometimes forcibly—can clarify what matters most when you’re chasing long-term goals at the top of the sport.