BIOGRAPHY:
2012 may mark Bjornsen's debut on the National Team, but don't call her a rookie. The latest in a slew of skiers to emerge from the Alaska Pacific University nordic pipeline, Bjornsen performed beyond her years in 2010, making her first start on the World Cup circuit, competing in her first World Championships and skiing to her first U.S. title in the 10k classic. A year previous the then-college freshman earned All-American honors after taking third in the NCAA Championships classic race. Bjornsen joins a young cast of newcomers that could shake things up in 2012.

SADIE SAYS:
Last year I had my breakthrough season where I was able to see high level competition and what it looks like. Having never watched the top skiers in the world ski in person, it was nice to see what it looks like as well as recognize that it is very possible to reach that point in the future. Skiing and training on a team with Kikkan Randall, who is skiing right with the top skiers in the world encouraged me that there is no magic involved in being the best skier in the world. It simply takes a whole lot of training, a big heart and a huge amount of drive and enthusiasm. I am excited to start chipping away more at this goal and to take another step up in international racing, while training alongside a strong group of U.S. women as well as a strong APU team.

FIRST TRACKS:
Bjornsen grew up in an athletic family with three close siblings, so her competitive personality was nothing but expected. “Being outdoors and competing in many sports all seasons of the year allowed me to develop an athletic lifestyle filled with lots of different types of races and competitions” says Bjornsen. Starting as an alpine skier, at about 6 years old, she eventually switched to cross country skiing when she got frustrated with “getting cold riding up the chair lift”. From then on the Washington native started dreaming about being an Olympic skier and looked up to her neighbor, good friend and former Olympic skier Laura McCabe.

OFF THE SNOW:
When she's not training she enjoys spending time in the mountains on skis, foot, on a bike or in climbing gear. She also attends school at Alaska Pacific University where she is pursuing a degree in Accounting. She loves listening to techno, drinking ice water and dancing!