Sydney Palmer-Leger, Falun, Sweden, Cross Country ski World Cup race report

March 28, 2024
Sydney Palmer-Leger is one of the young cross country ski racers on the US National B team. She made a quick trip to Falun, Sweden for the season finale, where she skied to her best-ever World Cup result -- a 23rd place. Right before Falun, Sydney capped off a stellar collegiate career with a victory at the NCAA National Championships in Steamboat, Springs Colorado.

Sydney is a three-time NCAA National Champion, was a member of the 2020 Junior World Championship Silver Medal Relay Team and is a 40k classic U.S. National Champion. In 2023, she represented the USA at the 2023 World Championships in Planica, Slovenia, placing 20th in the skiathlon. Sydney is part of an exciting-to-follow, strong class of skiers climbing up the ranks and representing her nation at the top level.

Before she decided to focus exclusively on ski racing (which we talk about in the episode), Sydney also raced mountain bikes. In fact, she is a five-time US Mountain Bike National Champion.

In the episode Sydney discusses some tactics in the 20-kilometer Freestyle race in Falun, starting in the back, the US National Team camp in Bend Oregon, and traveling as a vegan. On the academic side, Sydney is set to graduate from the University of Utah in May of 2024. She also shares what’s next for her post college and about her goals for the 2024-25 season.

Outside of skiing, she enjoys acrylic painting, baking, rock climbing, and finding the best vegan recipes, as she has been a vegetarian her entire life and a vegan for 12 years. 

Sydney on IG
Lea Davison, Co-Founder Little Bellas
Little Bellas. mentoring on mountain bikes
Emma Ribom, Swedish Cross Country Ski Racer
Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center, Bend Oregon
2023-24 Super Tour finals in Duluth, MN