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From the FasterSkier archive — posts syndicated from athletes’ and coaches’ own blogs between 2004 and 2012, kept online as published. Current coverage is at fasterskier.com.

Tag: Plymouth

  • 20-for-20 with Amanda Kautzer

    20-for-20 with Amanda Kautzer

    Amanda Kautzer (Michigan Tech/Loppet Nordic Racing) competing at 2017 U.S. nationals last month at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. (Photo: Jackie Schneider)

    In another 20-something-question, fill-in-the-blanks series, we checked in with the world-class U.S. and Canadian biathletes that will be competing at 2017 International Biathlon Union (IBU) Youth & Junior World Championships Feb. 22-28 in Osrblie (also known as Brezno-Osrblie), Slovakia.

    Here’s 18-year-old Amanda Kautzer, of Michigan Tech and Loppet Nordic Racing, who is representing the U.S. at her third Youth Worlds. On Wednesday, Kautzer placed 53rd in the youth women’s 10 k individual and on Friday, she was 59th in the 6 k sprint.

    ***

    “My full name is Amanda Rose Kautzer, but you can call me Amanda, Mandy, whatever works. I was born in Singapore and raised in Plymouth, Minn.

    American Amanda Kautzer racing at an IBU Junior Cup earlier this month in Pokljuka, Slovenia. (Photo: Vladimir Cervenka)

    I started cross-country skiing when I was 12 and started biathlon when I was 14, thanks to my coach Piotr Bednarski. I currently train in Houghton, Mich., and Plymouth with the Michigan Tech Nordic Ski team and Loppet Nordic Racing, respectively.

    If I’m not skiing, you might find me skiing (the other kind). If I had to pick a favorite book, it would be ‘The Name of the Wind‘.

    One of the things I’m most excited about for Youth/Junior World Championships in Brezno-Osrblie is fast skis from great wax techs. This will be my third Youth/Junior World Championships, and this year, I’m competing as a youth.

    One race I’m especially targeting there is ummmm all of them of course.

    The best advice anyone ever gave me about skiing or racing was: ski fast (thanks Dad, super insightful, later changed to: ski faster than everyone else).

    One of the best race memories I have is getting silver in a skate sprint despite breaking a pole in the heats.

    If I could meet one World Cup skier, it would be Laura Dahlmeier.

    If I don’t end up being a professional skier, I’ll probably be a ski coach and do triathlons.

    I’m missing 36 days of school to be here, and my professors are probably thinking, ‘Are you in my class? I haven’t seen you there, not even once.’

    You can follow me on Instagram @amanda_rose_kautzer.”

  • Under 23 Questions with Alayna Sonnesyn

    Alayna Sonnesyn (University of Vermont) racing to 33rd in the women's 10 k freestyle at 2017 U23 World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. (Photo: FlyingPointRoad.com)
    Alayna Sonnesyn (University of Vermont) racing to 33rd in the women’s 10 k freestyle at 2017 U23 World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. (Photo: FlyingPointRoad.com)

    In an effort to showcase the North Americans competing at this week’s International Ski Federation (FIS) 2017 USANA Nordic Junior World Championships and U23 Cross Country World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah, we asked those qualifying athletes several questions about themselves — actually, we had them fill in the blanks. Here we have 20-year-old Alayna Sonnesyn, of the University of Vermont, who’s representing the U.S. at her first U23 Worlds. On Thursday, she finished 33rd in the women’s 10 k freestyle. She’s listed as a starter for Saturday’s 20 k skiathlon.

    ***

    “My full name is Alayna Sonnesyn, but you can call me Alayna. I was born in Plymouth, Minn., raised in Plymouth, and one thing you should know about my hometown is it’s in the land of the lakes (donchya know?).

    UVM's Alayna Sonnesyn during a trail run in Seward, Alaska, last summer. (Courtesy photo)
    UVM’s Alayna Sonnesyn during a trail run in Seward, Alaska, last summer. (Courtesy photo)

    I started cross-country skiing when I was three, thanks to my parents. I currently train in Burlington, Vt., with the University of Vermont.

    If I’m not skiing, you might find me studying chemistry. If I had to pick a favorite book, it would be ‘The Outlander‘.

    One of the things I’m most excited about for U23/Junior Worlds at Soldier Hollow is it’s in AMERICA! One race I’m especially targeting there is the skiathlon.

    The best advice anyone ever gave me about skiing or racing was have fun. One of the best race memories I have is skiing at my cabin with my family.

    If I could meet one World Cup skier, it would be Heidi Weng.

    If I don’t end up being a professional skier, I’ll probably be a pharmacist.

    I’m missing six days of school to be here, and my professors are probably thinking, ‘Good luck.’