EPISODE 45: ALAYNA SONNESYN college to PRO

We talk about that trip, some great details about cross country skiing technique with tips for climbing. Alayna also talks about taking the plunge into a career as an athlete and what that transition has been  like so far. She has signed on with Stratton Mountain School Elite Team, which is and has been for a long time a team with many Olympic skiers. Currently on the team with her is Jessie Diggins who won an Olympic gold this past February at the Pyeongchang Games, the women’s Team sprint with Kikkan Randall – the first ever US cross-country gold medal. I had to give those 2 rock star women a shout out!

Alayna is fundraising through Go Fund Me and during a live event at Gear West Ski & Bike in Minnesota on November 8th.

She is raising money for this first season as a pro after graduating from University of Vermont this past spring. Alayna has big goals for World Cup races, U23 World Championships, and further into the future for the 2022 Olympics.

Special, just for Hear Her Sports listeners, a donation of $20 gets you an autographed photo of Alayna mailed to you!
Join me in giving her a bit of support. It’ll be super fun following her through this season and along to the Olympics.

Use the code HearAlayna in the comment section of her Go Fund Me page, Ski Sonney Ski.
Include your address so she knows where to send the autographed photo.

Alayna’s website including her blog
Stratton Mountain Ski School Elite Team
Jessie Diggins Jessie’s site is worth visiting just to see her little intro graphic.
Gear West Ski and Bike in Long Lake, MN
Alayna’s Go Fund Me Fundraiser, Ski Sonney Ski
Snow Farm, New Zealand
U23 World Championships January 2019. Lahti, Finland
Cross Country Ski World Cup Schedule
World Cup Finals, Quebec City, March 22-24, 2019
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, by Anthony Marra
Yellowstone Ski Festival November 19-24, 2018
Super Tour
Birkenbeiner February 23, 2019