Cow Bells, Waffles, Espressos & Cheering at the Top of our Lungs

February 12th, 2026 | by Carina Hamel

Incase you missed it, our friend and Bivo athlete Ben Ogden won a silver metal on the world stage and we're absolutely buzzing about it! To put into perspective how big of a deal this is, the mens cross country team hasn't won a medal in 50 years! In fact, Ben is only the second American man *ever* to do so. Proud is an understatement. To celebrate him and his teammates we hosted a live watch party at 5:30 am at Bivo HQ. The tight knit Richmond community really showed up and I'm sure our screams could be heard all the way in Italy. We even made it on the news! Bivo co-founder Carina reflects on the unforgettable morning.

Tuesday morning was nothing short of electric. We gathered before sunrise to watch our neighbors (and in some cases our brother, roommate, or best friend) race on the big stage in the Cross Country Individual Sprint.

Ben Ogden and Julia Kern may be Bivo athletes, but to us they are so much more. They are the kind of humans who ski with our kids, show up with tools when we’re knocking down office walls, and never miss a chance to pop into the office to give us a good laugh. They are woven into the fabric of this community, which made watching them on the world’s biggest stage almost surreal.

Incase you missed it, our friend and Bivo athlete Ben Ogden won a silver metal on the world stage and we're absolutely buzzing about it! To put into perspective how big of a deal this is, the mens cross country team hasn't won a medal in 50 years! In fact, Ben is only the second American man *ever* to do so. Proud is an understatement. To celebrate him and his teammates we hosted a live watch party at 5:30 am at Bivo HQ. The tight knit Richmond community really showed up and I'm sure our screams could be heard all the way in Italy. We even made it on the news! Bivo co-founder Carina reflects on the unforgettable morning.

Tuesday morning was nothing short of electric. We gathered before sunrise to watch our neighbors (and in some cases our brother, roommate, or best friend) race on the big stage in the Cross Country Individual Sprint.

Ben Ogden and Julia Kern may be Bivo athletes, but to us they are so much more. They are the kind of humans who ski with our kids, show up with tools when we’re knocking down office walls, and never miss a chance to pop into the office to give us a good laugh. They are woven into the fabric of this community, which made watching them on the world’s biggest stage almost surreal.

Before they headed off for the season in November, we hosted a send-off run, a small attempt to wrap them in the love of the place they call home before they spend four months living out of a bag in Europe. Four months of travel, racing, physical exhaustion, and the quiet sacrifices most of us never see or even think about. They chase excellence not just for themselves, but for every young skier watching with wide eyes, imagining what might be possible.

Pictured above: the Bivo Run Club send off run!

So yesterday, at 5:30am, this town did what it does best - it showed up.

Armed with espresso (in honor of Ben’s deep and unwavering love for a good shot), Norwegian waffles, handmade signs, and just the right amount of glitter, the crowd poured in. The energy was contagious, the cheering relentless. Julia later told us she could feel it, and that it carried her into the finals.

So yesterday, at 5:30am, this town did what it does best - it showed up.

Armed with espresso (in honor of Ben’s deep and unwavering love for a good shot), Norwegian waffles, handmade signs, and just the right amount of glitter, the crowd poured in. The energy was contagious, the cheering relentless. Julia later told us she could feel it, and that it carried her into the finals.

Pictured above: The Sams cooking up some coffee for the crowd. We made tons of posters, waffles, and glitter tattoos to celebrate!

The moment Ben won Silver:

Moments like this always leave me thinking the same thing: I wish we could bottle this feeling and send it everywhere. While we can’t quite do that, we can share a glimpse of what happened inside these walls. Lily said it best: “The walls were shaking.” Even the newscaster couldn’t stop smiling. People who had planned to watch quietly from their couches saw the broadcast and rushed over, not wanting to miss the joy, the noise, the goosebumps.

This is what sport means to us at Bivo.

Moments like this always leave me thinking the same thing: I wish we could bottle this feeling and send it everywhere. While we can’t quite do that, we can share a glimpse of what happened inside these walls. Lily said it best: “The walls were shaking.” Even the newscaster couldn’t stop smiling. People who had planned to watch quietly from their couches saw the broadcast and rushed over, not wanting to miss the joy, the noise, the goosebumps.

This is what sport means to us at Bivo.

The crew celebrated moments later with champagne out front!

It means fresh air and wooded trails. It means friendship and camaraderie. It means having role models who show our kids what dedication looks like, and what it means to pursue something with your whole heart.

Watching both Ben and Julia step onto the start line for the final, huge smiles stretched across their faces, joy unmistakable in their eyes - that was everything. Because at the end of the day, what is sport without fun?

And at a time when we all need some joy and love to bring us together, we couldn’t have asked for a better morning to celebrate, cry and jump with joy.

Our next watch party is February 18th for the Team Sprint, where both Julia and Ben will line up again with real hopes for more medals.

RSVP to our watch party: Here!

One thing is certain: we’ll be here. Loud, proud, caffeinated, and all in.