World Team · #4

Alayna Sonnesyn

Plymouth, MNU.S. Ski Team

Vitals & career path

Hometown: Plymouth, MN
Joined Snø Racing: 2024
High school: Wayzata High School
College: University of Vermont
College ski team: UVM Nordic, 2017 NCAA runner-up and 3rd place

Team selections

FIS World Championships:: 2023, 2025
NCAA Championships:: 2017 · Runner-up and 3rd place
JR WORLD/U23 Championships:: 2017, 2019
U.S. National Titles:: 2022 · Team sprint2023 · Individual skate sprint2024 · Team sprint2026 · Club relay, SuperTour Finals, Craftsbury
American Birkebeiner Titles:: 2019 · Women's 50K skate2021 · Women's 50K skate2022 · Women's 50K skate2023 · Women's 50K skate2026 · Women's 50K skate

Fun fact

She grew up at the Birkie: her parents raced it almost every year for nearly 30 years, and she watched the elite finishers as a kid and thought of them as superhumans.

About Alayna

Alayna learned to ski at age 3 and came up through MYSL and the Wayzata ski team before racing for the University of Vermont and Stratton Mountain School. A five-time Birkie champion, she is driven by the community of people who support, cheer for and train alongside her.

Fun facts

Favorite pre-race breakfast: Oatmeal with all the good toppings
Favorite workout: L4 ladders or pyramids
Recovery tip: Sleep first, then fuel well before, during and after training