From Alaska's Frozen Training Grounds to Kona's Lava Fields: One Athlete's Incredible Victory
In the sweltering heat of Hawaii's lava fields, where many athletes struggle just to endure, an Air Force captain from Alaska didn't just participate—she triumphed. The 2025 Ironman World Championships in Kona pushed every competitor to their limits, but for someone who trains in sub-zero temperatures most of the year, the challenge was even more daunting.
Meet Captain Samantha Skold, who overcame geographic disadvantages, military commitments, and personal challenges to achieve triathlon's ultimate accolade: victory in her age group and recognition as the fastest overall non-professional woman at the world's most prestigious endurance race.
Training in Extremes: From Alaska's Chill to Kona's Heat
Imagine preparing for the most significant race of your life when your training environment is the polar opposite of race conditions. For Skold, this isn't just a metaphor—it's her reality.
Stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Skold faces unique challenges that would deter most athletes. Alaska's limited open-water swimming opportunities mean creative solutions for aquatic training. Winter months often replace running with skiing, and outdoor cycling becomes nearly impossible for months at a time.
But perhaps the biggest hurdle? The temperature differential between Alaska and Kona can exceed 100 degrees.
"Kona is known for brutal heat when you're running through the lava fields," Skold explained. "The water temperature was a little bit hotter than it has been in years past as well. I think it was about 81 degrees when you're swimming, so everyone's core temperature was significantly elevated."
To prepare for these extreme conditions, Skold developed an unconventional heat adaptation protocol starting two months before the race:
- Sauna sessions after every swim: "You just sit in the sauna until you can't take it anymore."
- Layered indoor cycling: Training on a stationary bike wearing "full layers, multiple jackets on, a hat on and no fan."
- Hot weather simulation: Deliberately creating uncomfortable training conditions to mirror race day.
The preparation paid off spectacularly. Despite the 90-degree air temperature and challenging conditions, Skold finished in 9 hours, 34 minutes, 59 seconds—a remarkable improvement of over 41 minutes from her 2024 time of 10:16:41.
Balancing Military Duties with World Championship Dreams
Military service and elite athletics might seem incompatible, but Skold has found a way to excel at both. As a full-time physician assistant at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, she manages the demanding schedule of military duties while pursuing triathlon excellence.
"My leadership within the Air Force and at JBER has been really, really supportive," she emphasized, highlighting how crucial institutional support has been to her success.
This support system extends beyond mere permission to compete. Military discipline—with its emphasis on structured training, mental toughness, and systematic goal achievement—translates naturally to endurance sports. The same qualities that make an effective Air Force officer also create championship athletes.
With two years remaining on her current contract, Skold faces an interesting balancing act as she transitions to professional racing. Her military commitment provides stability and support, but it also limits her flexibility for the extensive travel schedule required for professional triathlon competition.
Transforming Weakness into Strength: The Swimming Evolution
Every elite athlete has a weakness that threatens to derail their dreams. For Skold, swimming was that vulnerability—until she turned it into a competitive advantage.
At the Gold Nugget Triathlon in Anchorage in May, swimming was "undeniably the weakest component" of her three disciplines. But rather than accept this limitation, she attacked it systematically.
Working with Grant Gamblin at the Aquatic Foundation of Alaska's Yeti swim group and training with the masters group at The Alaska Club, Skold completely transformed her relationship with the water. The results speak for themselves: her time in choppy Hawaii waters was five minutes faster than two years prior.
"Swimming is one of those sports where you try harder and you swim slower," she observed, "so it's really just trying to slow down and feel the water."
This insight reveals the mental maturity that separates good athletes from champions. Instead of forcing improvement through brute effort, Skold learned to work with the water rather than against it—a lesson applicable far beyond the swimming pool. For swimmers looking to improve their technique, investing in quality anti-fog UV protection swim goggles can make training sessions more comfortable and effective.
Race Day Strategy: Thriving in Extreme Conditions
Championship performances don't happen by accident. Skold's victory was built on meticulous preparation and smart race-day strategy.
Arriving a week early in Kona, she immersed herself in the race environment:
- Multiple practice rides on the full bike course.
- Training runs during the hottest parts of the day to simulate race conditions.
- Course familiarization to eliminate surprises on race day.
The conditions were indeed brutal. With 81-degree water temperatures and air temperatures pushing 90 degrees, the race became what Skold described as "a battle of attrition." Yet her preparation allowed her to not just survive these conditions but thrive in them.
Her strategic approach paid dividends throughout the race. While other athletes wilted in the heat, Skold's body was prepared for the thermal stress. Her months of sauna sessions and layered training rides had created the physiological adaptations necessary to perform when others couldn't. Proper electrolyte supplementation also played a crucial role in maintaining performance in extreme heat.
The Professional Leap: What's Next
Victory brings opportunity, and Skold's age group triumph has opened the door to professional competition. Having received her pro card earlier in 2024, she now faces the exciting prospect of racing against the world's best.
"After taking the overall age group, when I think I've kind of topped what I can do here on the age group realm, it gave me a lot more confidence to take that professional card," she reflected.
The numbers support her confidence. At 33rd overall—just over an hour behind professional winner Solveig Løvseth's time of 8:28:27—Skold demonstrated she belongs in elite competition.
Her 2026 plans include five to six professional races worldwide, though the logistics of balancing military service with international competition will require careful coordination. The global nature of professional triathlon means extensive travel to races in locations like Europe, Asia, and across the United States.
Lessons for Every Athlete
Skold's journey offers valuable insights for athletes at every level:
1. Geographic limitations can be overcome with creativity. Rather than moving to more favorable training locations, she developed innovative solutions to simulate race conditions.
2. Support systems are crucial. From military leadership to local training partners, success rarely happens in isolation.
3. Systematic improvement in weak areas yields dramatic results. Her five-minute swimming improvement demonstrates the power of focused, expert-guided training.
4. Mental preparation matters as much as physical training. Her quiet confidence and strategic race preparation were as important as her fitness.
The Alaska Advantage
Despite the obvious challenges, Skold sees unique benefits to Alaska-based training:
"It definitely would be more advantageous to not live in Alaska, but I just love that state too much."
Alaska's harsh conditions build mental toughness that translates to race-day resilience. When you've trained through sub-zero temperatures and limited daylight, the challenges of any race seem manageable by comparison.
The tight-knit Alaska endurance community also provides unmatched support. In a state where outdoor enthusiasts must rely on each other for safety and motivation, the bonds formed often prove stronger than those in larger, more anonymous training environments.
A New Chapter Begins
As Skold prepares for her professional debut in 2026, she carries with her the lessons learned from transforming geographic disadvantages into competitive advantages. Her story proves that with enough creativity, determination, and support, athletes can excel regardless of their circumstances.
For military personnel considering athletic pursuits, Skold's journey demonstrates that service and sport can complement rather than compete with each other. For Alaska athletes, she's shown that geographic isolation need not mean athletic limitation.
Most importantly, for anyone facing seemingly insurmountable challenges in pursuit of their goals, Samantha Skold's victory in Kona provides a powerful reminder: sometimes the biggest obstacles create the strongest champions.
Whether you're training in extreme conditions or just starting your triathlon journey, remember that consistent training, smart preparation, and the right equipment—from quality tri suits to reliable GPS training watches—can help you achieve your goals, no matter where you start.
