Gear West Supports
Sponsored Athlete - Alayna Sonnesyn
I was born and raised in Plymouth, Minnesota. My parents taught my siblings and me how to ski around the time we were learning to walk. I graduated from Wayzata High School where I was an active member of my high school Cross Country Running, Nordic Skiing, and Track & Field Team In 2014, I dug up my Midwestern roots and moved out East to attend the University of Vermont, one of the best decisions I think I have ever made. I began racing professionally for the Stratton Mountain School T2 Elite Ski Team in Southern Vermont in 2018. Gear West has been my main (headgear) sponsor since the beginning of my professional racing career & I am excited to continue our partnership into the future!
Notable Results:
American Birkebeiner Winner - 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
Mora Vasaloppet Winner 2022
Tour de Ski 2022
Zak Ketterson
Zak is a Professional Nordic Skier from Bloomington, Minnesota. He is currently living and training in Minnesota as a member of Team Birkie, an all new team based out of Minneapolis.
Zak began skiing in 7th grade (2010) for the Bloomington Jefferson High School Nordic Ski Team. Two years later, as a 9th grader, he placed 3rd overall in the Minnesota State Meet. He then won two State Meet titles in 2014 and 2016. During this time, Zak was also a member of Loppet Nordic Racing, a Minnesota-based club, focused on helping junior skiers find international success.
After high school, he joined the Northern Michigan University Ski Team where he was a 3x NCAA All-American over his four seasons on the team. Zak was a US Ski Team Member in 2019-20 and represented the US at both World Junior and U23 World Championships. He graduated in 2021 with a degree in Economics.
Zak is incredibly excited to be a professional skier. on the U.S. Ski Team B Team.
As a Minnesota native, Zak is honored to be a part of Team Birkie where he can share his love for Nordic skiing.
The American Birkebeiner is the largest cross-country skiing race in North America, and one of the longest. It debuted in 1973 and was a founding member of the Worldloppet federation of cross-country ski marathons. The two premier events are the 50 km skate and the 55 km classic races from Cable to Hayward, Wisconsin.
The Loppet Foundation
Creating a shared passion for year-round outdoor adventure in the Minneapolis area, focusing on underserved youth and families.
Maplelag Resort
Maplelag Resort is a family owned and operated destination cross-country ski resort and conference center.
Central Cross Country Skiing (CXC), the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, and the Loppet Foundation are teaming up to create a high-performance racing team – so that the next Jessie Diggins can stay home to train, inspire future generations, and win Olympic medals.
As the premiere Minnesota clinic for health & wellness, we diagnose, treat, and design personalized plans to help you get healthy and stay healthy.
David Koppel
DK Endurance Triathlon Coaching
Achieve your triathlon goals with coaching from David Koppel!
Since 1964, Skijammers has offered a community-based program, dedicated to delivering a unique experience in a safe and fun learning environment. Our structured, curriculum-based instruction programs deliver ski and snowboard instruction that is unmatched in the industry, for kids ages 6 through 16.
