Date of Birth

08/26/1991

Height

5'4"

Hometown

Afton

Team

US Ski Team

Club Team

SMST2

Roller Ski Scars

15

My Story

I grew up in Afton, Minnesota, and am currently a professional cross country ski racer. I don’t have a lucky item I race with, but I always put sparkles on my cheeks for every race. It’s a reminder to myself that I race because I love the sport, and because I find joy in pushing myself to new limits! Outside of skiing, I love adrenaline-filled adventures like cliff jumping, bungee jumping and skydiving. I always have a list of books I’m excited to read on the road, but when I’m home I enjoy cooking up new recipes, camping, canoeing, swimming and gardening.

After moonlighting as a dancer, soccer player, violinist, swimmer and track runner as a high school athlete, I finally settled on cross country skiing as a full-time passion. I enjoy traveling and the experience of seeing new cultures while racing around the world. But most of all, what I love about skiing is the chance to push my body to the limit, to be training outside on beautiful trails with great people, and having the chance to find something new about myself with every race! Skiing also gives me the most incredible chance to give back to the outdoors community and help inspire the next generation of up and coming athletes, which makes all the hours of hard training absolutely worth it.

I race because I love the sport

Growing Up

I was on skis before I could walk, thanks to my awesome parents who have always loved being outdoors in every season. They’d put me in their backpack and go skiing through a new park every weekend, with me pulling my Dad’s hair and yelling “FASTER”! We joined the Minnesota Youth Ski League as a family and spent every Sunday afternoon all winter long playing games and learning how to ski. I especially enjoyed the hot chocolate and sledding afterwards!

High School

I attended Stillwater High School and skied on their team for 6 years, loving the team environment and camaraderie of the sport. I found so many friends through skiing and learned that I love having a positive team spirit as much as I love racing my heart out for the team! I also learned that I had a competitive side, and started taking racing more seriously. I joined summer training programs, and eventually began training year-round for XC skiing.

Making the Choice to Ski

After graduation in 2010, I deferred an academic scholarship to Northern Michigan University and spent a year racing on the Central Cross-Country Elite team. I found that being a professional athlete was my dream job, and decided to go all-in! I was added to the US Ski and Snowboard Team in 2011, and joined my current club team, the Stratton Mountain School T2 Team, in 2012.

Now

Now my summers are spent training primarily in Stratton, Vermont with my club team, while hammering out intense training blocks at US Ski and Snowboard training camps in-between. My winters are spent racing the World Cup circuit all over the world, so I’m living out of a suitcase and loving it from November-March!