Extra Blue

On this episode of Extra Blue , I’m joined by Kristy Maki, Carrie Tollefson, and Kate Eggers to talk all things Stride de She, a women’s running camp designed to empower women of every age and ability level through movement, community, and confidence. We discuss why running is about so much more than pace or performance, how to build confidence as a runner, the importance of finding your community...

JC Schoonmaker has become one of the top sprint skiers in the world, but his path has been about more than just fast qualifiers and World Cup results. In this episode, JC joins the podcast to talk about his breakthrough 2023 World Cup podium in Östersund, his eighth-place finish in the 2026 Olympic classic sprint, and what it takes to keep progressing when expectations rise. JC also opens up about...

For most athletes, hard work leads to progress. Train more, recover well, race better. But what happens when that equation suddenly stops working? Over the last several years, U.S. Ski Team athlete and two-time Olympian Novie McCabe has been navigating a series of health challenges that have left her searching for answers. Despite being one of the most talented distance skiers in the country, ther...

What actually makes a successful ski program? In this episode, I sit down with SMS T2 Program Director and coach Colin Rodgers to talk about athlete development, coaching philosophy, and the long-term process of building strong ski communities. Colin has coached at some of the top programs in the country, including SVSEF, GMVS, and now SMS T2, working with athletes ranging from juniors to World Cu...

On this episode, we switch the roles and I am interviewed about my experience this past winter, through my pursuit to qualify for the Winter Olympic Games.  I share a lot in this conversation. My goal is to share the journey, acknowledge the self-ambition and belief I allowed myself to feel, to encourage others to set their big, scary goal, and to chase it with a full heart.  In this season reflec...

On this episode, I welcome Julia Kern, reflecting on her performances at the Olympic Games this past season. Julia placed 6th in the Classic Individual sprint and 5th in the Skate team Sprint with Jessie Diggins. We discuss the build-up to the Olympics, the nerves, excitement, and preparation. We break down the day of the individual sprint race: strategy and tactics, ski performance, and self-talk...

Jake Adicoff is fresh off winning 4 Gold Medals at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Milano Cortina (+1 Gold from Beijing 2022)! Jake is a U.S. Paralympic cross-country skier and one of the most dominant athletes in the sport today. Jake is visually impaired and competes alongside his guides, Reid Goble and Peter Wolter, two elite skiers who help him navigate the course at race speed, communicat...

Ben is coming off an incredible Winter Olympic Games in Italy where he won two silver medals in the individual sprint and the team sprint, with teammate, Gus Schumacher. Both results were historic. The individual sprint medal was the first Olympic medal for a U.S. man in cross-country skiing in fifty years, since fellow Vermonter Bill Koch won silver at the 1976 Winter Olympics. For decades, Koch’...

Gear West presents this elite-athlete panel coming to you LIVE from the Birkie Expo hosted by me, Alayna Sonnesyn. Featuring David Norris, Jessica Yeaton, Reid Goble and Anna-Maria Dietze. We dive into fueling strategies, racing tactics, training preparation, and the love and joy of skiing the American Birkebeiner. How do we race to win the Birkie? What keeps us coming back for more? Listen to fin...

On this episode of Extra Blue I welcome Development Coach for the US Ski Team, Greta Anderson. Over the past several years, Greta has been quietly shaping the future of US cross-country skiing. She works with the national team staff to support junior athletes, oversee camps, guide World Juniors and U23 athletes, and help strengthen the pipeline from grassroots skiing all the way to the World Cup....

Jack Young’s path to the top of U.S. cross-country skiing hasn’t been linear — and that’s exactly what makes this conversation so powerful. From growing up as a multi-sport athlete to fully committing to skiing, Jack reflects on the decisions, sacrifices, and mindset shifts that shaped his rise from college racing at Colby to the World Cup circuit.  This episode was actually recorded over a year a...

On this episode I welcome Luci Anderson! Luci is a U.S. biathlete from Golden Valley, Minnesota, and a lifelong skier who grew up racing in the Midwest before going on to ski for the University of New Hampshire. After graduating in 2024, Luci found herself at a crossroads, unsure if she was ready to walk away from competitive skiing, but also curious about what else might be possible. That curiosi...

Today’s episode is about what it means to grow, evolve, and keep skiing at the center of it all, even as life adds new roles, new priorities, and new finish lines. I’m joined by two incredible women who embody that balance: Erika Flowers and Annie Van Fossan.  Both Erika and Annie are former professional cross-country skiers, both competed on the collegiate EISA circuit and then for the SMS T2 ski...

On this episode, I welcome Johnny Hagenbuch to talk about his build up for this season while training with the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. Johnny grew up in Sun Valley, Idaho and you’ll hear just how much the SVSEF program had an impact on him, particularly, from the former program director, Rick Kapala.  We also discuss Johnny's time as a junior in Sun Valley, and what it was like t...

Strength for cross country skiers of all ages and abilities. On this episode, I welcome US Ski team strength coach, Tschana Schiller. Tschana is the leader for all things related to strength for cross county skiers in the US. She has been with the ski team for over 20 years and has brought so many insights into the philosophy of strength for us cross country skiers. She works with athletes like Je...

Today’s guest is someone who has inspired me since I was a teenager on the Wayzata ski team. I sit down with Maggie (Pierson) Bowman to talk about the realities of being a woman in endurance sports; the pressures, the expectations, and the ongoing challenge of balancing athletic goals, career ambitions, and family planning. Maggie shares how the pressures she felt around body image and performance...

Sammy Smith is a member of the U.S. Ski Team, a D1 soccer player at Stanford University, and one of the most exciting young athletes representing Team USA right now. At 19, she’s a World Cup regular on the ski circuit, with a silver medal from the 2024 World Junior Championships in Planica, numerous top-30 World Cup finishes, and a growing reputation as one of the U.S. team’s top sprinters. But he...

On this episode I welcome Adam Witkowski and Skylar Patten. Both Adam and Skylar are new athletes to Team Birkie and recent graduates from Michigan Tech University.  Both Adam and Skylar have faced numerous injuries over the years. We discuss how they dealt with training through injury, rehab, and staying motivated and driven throughout the healing process.  There’s no easy way to say it, injuries...

I welcome Team USA ski racer, Luke Jager. Luke is from Anchorage, Alaska where he grew up skiing for Alaska Pacific University. From a young age, Luke stood out as a top American junior and solidified this notion in 2019 when he, was a key member of the men's relay team that won World Junior Championships. An outstanding result at the time and what has really set the bar for Team USA at these...

On this episode of Extra Blue, I welcome guest, Mary Kate Cirelli. MK and I discuss her experience with disordered eating starting as a young athlete and her path to recovery. We also talk about what it’s like to carry that with you for the years to come. How it’s nearly impossible to never let it affect you again, but that it also doesn’t need to define you. We chat about MK's challenges on...

From National Champ to World Championships, on this episode of Extra Blue I welcome guest Kate Oldham. Kate had a standout season this past winter, winning her first national title in the 10k skate in Anchorage, qualifying for her first World Cup where she DOMINATED, enough to qualify her for the World Championships in Trondheim, Norway. Although it was a whirlwind of a season, I had a front row s...

How to Wax for a World Cup Podium! On this episode of Extra Blue I welcome World Cup skier, Gus Schumacher, along with his wax technician, Chris Hecker. We catch up with Gus about how his summer training is going and how he’s been trying to find as much snow as he can this summer, whether that be in Bend, OR or on the Glacier in Alaska. We also talk to Chris about how he’s working with the US Ski...

We launch a new era of Extra Blue powered by Gear West! In this episode, we welcome Margie Freed, Minnesota native, fellow UVM Catamount and now a standout member of the Craftsbury Green Racing Project and the US National Biathlon team. We discuss what it was like for Margie to make this transition from cross country to biathlon, how often she still classic skis, and some of her favorite memories...

On this episode I welcome guests, Zak Ketterson and Quinn McCloughan for a little Q&A on all things related to cross country skiing.  I did a full episode with Zak back in 2023 so if you’re interested in learning more about him I recommend giving it a listen! Zak and I welcome Quinn to the podcast as the owner of Bearskin Lodge, a supporter of Team Birkie, and a lifelong ski enthusiast. Quinn...

On this episode of Extra Blue I welcome friend and former college teammate, Lizzie Larkins. Lizzie recently wrapped up three years as the assistant coach at Montana State University. During her time there, she also continued her education and graduated from MSU with a Master’s of Science in Sport and Coaching Sciences. It was during her studies that Lizzie conducted a research project titled: Navi...