Team Birkie Board of Trustees

Team Birkie, the Midwest's premier cross country ski racing team, is off to a strong 2026, thanks to an expanded board of trustees and its new designation as an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

The Knicker Nordic Ski Club of Wausau, WI, transitioned its 501(c)(3) status to Team Birkie, a move that strengthens Team Birkie's ability to raise funds, solicit major sponsors and enhance the club's ability to train and develop elite level Nordic racers. The team fields World, Continental and Regional squads that compete across Europe and North America. The collegiate summer program draws two dozen skiers each year to train alongside Team Birkie athletes and be trained by Team Birkie coaches. 

After acquiring independent charitable status,Team Birkie expanded its Board of Trustees. The trustees include members with experience in coaching, race organizing, Olympic-level competition, strategic planning, philanthropy and business partnerships. 

Four Team Birkie athletes represent the athlete cohort on the board. As voting members, they bring first-hand experience to Team Birkie governance and operations. With athlete representatives comprising 30% of voting board members, Team Birkie's structure aligns with modern Olympic-style governance for organizations focused on high-performance athlete support.

Alayna Sonnesyn, a member of the World Squad recently said " I’m proud to be an athlete rep for the World Team and am excited to bring a high level racing perspective to the board. 

The Board welcomes inquiries from individuals interested in supporting Team Birkie and serving as Trustees. Interested parties may email info@teambirkie.com for more information.

Dave Hugus

Dave Hugus was a founding member of the Knicker Nordic Ski Club in Wausau, WI. To support the club's mission of promoting youth Nordic skiing, Dave organized the Midwest and Great Lakes Junior National Qualifier (JNQ) race, a December event where Dave honed his snowmaking skills and passed them on to others. 

He helped launch a program to provide free skis to area elementary schools - an endeavor that grew into Nordic Rocks, a program administered by CXC that reaches schools across the Midwest and the United States.

A professional photographer off the trails, Dave has volunteered countless hours as a broadcast video engineer and camera operator for ski events, including the American Birkiebeiner, SuperTours, US National Championships and US Junior National Championships. 

Dave continues active support of cross country skiing as a volunteer with snowmaking operations at the CXC Outdoor Recreation Center in Middleton, WI. 

Dennis Kruse

Dennis first skied the North American Birkie in 1978 and hasn't slowed since. He has devoted much of his life to supporting Nordic ski racing. Certified as a Worldloppet Master in 1985, Dennis spent nearly 10 years with World Wide Nordic guiding skiers to Worldloppet races. He currently serves on the Worldloppet Executive Board. He has officiated at the FIS World Cups and the 2002 Winter Olympics. 

When he wasn't teaching law at Illinois State University, Dennis was at his cabin in Cable, WI, organizing events like the Black Bear Biathlon, Seeley Roller Classic, Telelmark Super Tours, and Seeley Hills Classic ski race. He is a past president of CXC Cross Country and served on the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation board for 24 years. Dennis can be heard on many livestream events including the Birkie, SuperTours and US National Championships. 

Luke Bodensteiner

A Wisconsin native, Luke raced for the University of Utah from 1989-1993, winning individual NCAA titles in 1990 and 1993. He competed in the 1992 and 1994 Olympic Games. Retiring from ski racing in 1996, the US Ski Team hired Luke to lead its cross country program, and in 2003 he was appointed director of all Nordic teams, leading them to a record-setting 6 medals at a single World Championship. 

After his run as Nordic director, Luke was appointed to run the US Ski Team’s sport science and medicine programs, and in 2007 was named executive VP of athletics and then chief of sport, leading three Olympic teams that won a total of 53 Olympic medals. This set the world record for the most medals won by a national ski and snowboard team in a single Games (21).

Luke was a Trustee of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Olympic Games, where he helped form the Soldier Hollow Legacy Foundation which operates cross country ski and biathlon venues. In 2009, Luke served as chairman on the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation board for 7 years until resigning in 2019 to become chief of sport development and general manager of Soldier Hollow. He is the author of Endless Winter and creator of the US SuperTour series of national races, the highest level of US domestic racing.

Marit Ross-Sonnesyn 

Marit joined Team Birkie as a trustee representing the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, one of three collaborating organizations that founded Team Birkie. 

Marit was on her first pair of skis not long after learning to walk. Nordic skiing and racing has been a major part of her life ever since. She competed in cross-country, track and Nordic skiing at Wayzata High School and then at Gustavus Adolphus College. She credits endurance training and competition for teaching her goal setting, perseverance and balance  - skills that continue to guide her personal, professional and community activities.

Marit currently works as a physician's assistant in a Twin Cities hospital while continuing to pursue athletic goals. Helping others grow and develop as Nordic skiers has become an important goal in her life. She views her participation with both the Birkie and Team Birkie boards as opportunities to support and elevate the next generation of cross-country skiers in the Midwest.

Toby Markowitz

A native of Washington, D.C., Toby was exposed to skiing at Montana State University while studying electrical engineering. In 1967, he moved to Minnesota, eventually joining Medtronic, where he was named inventor on multiple patents covering cardiac pacing, sleep apnea and cardiac mapping. Soon after moving to the Midwest, he joined the National Ski Patrol as a downhill skier and was introduced to cross country skiing. 

Toby is a founder of the Viking Nordic (Twin Cities) and Birkie ski patrols. He retired from patrolling in the early 90's. Toby continues to volunteer at the Birkie. He has coached skiing to youth, middle school, high school, masters and skiers with autism. He has skied citizen races in Minnesota and Wisconsin. In the mid-2010s,Toby developed a cross-country ski flex tester for Finn Sisu in Lauderdale, MN.

In 2000, Toby founded WAMXC, like minded Women And Men who Cross Country ski and drink coffee. Toby retired from Medtronic in 2011 and lives in Roseville MN.

Steve Gaskill, Ph.D.

Steve grew up climbing, skiing and kayaking in Colorado. He climbed nine of the 15 highest mountains in North America and kayaked the first descent of the Rio Maranon River in Peru - but is best known for a lifelong dedication to Nordic skiing.

Steve was head US and Olympic Nordic Combined Ski Coach from 1979-1985. He directed the US Olympic Committee coaching education program for three years and was then named head US Cross Country Ski coach.  He has been awarded both international (1982) and national (1992) Nordic Ski Coach of the year for his work with elite and developing athletes. 

After leaving the US Ski Team, he developed and ran a successful cross-country ski coaching program based in the Twin Cities. From this came the Team Birkie youth development program, producing eight Olympians and many juniors representing the U.S. internationally. His work laid the foundation for the club that Team Birkie is today and he was instrumental in founding the Minnesota Youth Ski League. 

Steve taught exercise physiology at the University of Montana for 19 years before retiring in 2018. His research ranged from fitness and work capacity in wildland firefighters to the impact of physical activity on health and cognition. He has published scientific papers, technical reports and given presentations around the world.  Steve has completed four books, the last two coauthored with UMT professor emeritus Brian Sharkey, one selling over 200,000 copies through 7 editions.

Yuriy Gusev

Yuriy Gusev is a passionate and tireless leader in Midwest Nordic skiing and a driving force behind Team Birkie’s mission to develop world-class athletes while giving back to sport and community. He is actively involved in athlete development and building sustainable models that connect high-performance sport with grassroots participation.

Yuriy is a long-time member of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) Board of Directors, serves on the Board of the National Nordic Foundation (NNF), and is a member of the US Ski & Snowboard Cross Country Sport Committee. He plays a key leadership role with Central Cross Country Skiing (CXC), where he works on regional governance, programming, and fundraising to expand access to Nordic skiing for youth, adaptive athletes, and lifelong participants. Yuriy's energy, dedication and extensive connections with the Nordic ski community are a major factor in Team Birkie's success.

Bryan Fish

Bryan has devoted his professional career to the development of cross country skiers. He currently serves as the Cross Country Development Director for U.S. Ski & Snowboard, a position he took after serving as the organization's U.S. Ski Team Development Coach. Before joining U.S. Ski & Snowboard in 2010, he was the CXC Elite Coach from 2006-2010 and the cross country ski coach at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay from 2000-2006. 

Bryan recently moved from Park City, UT back to his hometown of Rhinelander, WI.  His hobbies include mountain biking, trail running, kayaking, and skiing. A runner-up at the 1993 WI High School State Championships, Bryan shares Team Birkie's passion for supporting the dreams of young cross country skiers.

Thomas Pearce, MBA

Thomas is a dedicated Nordic skiing leader, community builder, and longtime advocate for athlete development at every level of the sport. He is Vice Chair of the National Nordic Foundation (NNF) and leads a Minnesota Youth Ski League (MYSL) club at Hyland Lake Park Reserve, where he works closely with families, volunteers, and coaches to grow participation and foster a lifelong love of skiing.

Thomas brings more than two decades of leadership experience to his work in the Nordic community. Professionally, he is Senior Director of AI-Driven UX & Product Innovation at J.D. Power, where he leads high-performing, cross-functional teams focused on innovation, mentorship, and measurable outcomes. His background in building scalable programs, developing leaders, and turning vision into execution directly informs his approach to nonprofit governance, volunteer engagement, and long-term organizational growth.

Thomas is passionate about strengthening development pathways, supporting coaches and volunteers, and ensuring skier development remains a central priority across the U.S. Nordic ecosystem. His leadership style emphasizes collaboration, clarity, and creating environments where people, and athletes thrive. He lives in Minnesota with his wife and three children and spends free time Nordic skiing, roller skiing, running, and enjoying the outdoors with his family.

Dave Steward

Dave has more than 30 years experience in waste management services. For the past 10 years, he has been President and owner of Best Choice Environmental, a regional commercial, industrial, hazardous, and medical waste transportation and disposal company based out of Somerset, WI.

Dave, and his wife of 40 years, Brenda, are lifelong Wisconsin residents who currently live in Hudson, WI. They recently became involved in cross country skiing, picking up the sport after their son began Birkie training. Dave has completed two Prince Haakons and two Korteloppets. Involvement in these races led him and Brenda to make financial contributions toward athletes and ski facilities. Brenda is a trustee of the Foundation for the Endowment of the American Birkebeiner and Dave is a Trustee of Team Birkie. Dave leverages his business knowledge to assure Team Birkie growth and financial stability.

Piotr Bednarski

Piotr Bednarski is a prominent figure in the world of Midwest Nordic skiing, known for his exceptional talent and unwavering dedication to the sport. As the Director of Sport at the Loppet Foundation, Piotr plays a pivotal role in developing and nurturing young talent in the sport.

His expertise and experience are further bolstered by his previous role as the Director of Athlete Development for the US Biathlon Team from 2006 to 2014. During his tenure, Piotr worked tirelessly to shape the future of American biathletes, implementing strategic training programs and fostering a culture of excellence. With his wealth of knowledge and unwavering passion for the sport, Piotr Bednarski continues to leave an indelible mark on the Nordic skiing community and the development of athletes.

Nichole Bathe

Nichole Bathe is originally from Madison, Wisconsin. She has a BA in Social Work from UA Alaska - Fairbanks and MS in Health Economics from the University of Oslo, Norway, Nichole has a wealth of experience ranging from being a U18, Junior, U23 World Championships US Ski Team member, member of the British National Team from the 2017 to 2021 seasons to participating in World Cup and 2019 World Championships. Additionally, Nichole coached at Heming IL in Oslo, Norway, from 2019 to 2021. 

Nichole has honed her ski skills and has a deep understanding of high-level competition. With her diverse background and firsthand knowledge of elite skiing, Nichole Bathe is exceptionally well positioned to guide athletes toward their goals, foster their growth, unleash their true potential and participate as a Team Birkie trustee. 

Eli Gore - Athlete Representative

Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Eli is a member of Team Birkie's Continental Team and a former captain of the University of New Hampshire Ski Team. He skied in the Wisconsin Nordic Ski League, is a state champion, and two-time NCAA Championships qualifier for UNH. He is a four-time NCAA All-Academic Skier and a two-time inductee into the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society.

Eli is an award-winning filmmaker whose body of work received Film of the Year and Best Documentary honors at various film festivals, most notably for his documentary 90 Days Til Snow. He is a video content editor for the U.S. Biathlon Team, creating and managing digital content that showcases athlete stories, behind-the-scenes training, and coverage of World Cup and Olympic competition, while helping grow engagement and visibility for the sport. 

Eli brings a rounded perspective to his role as Athlete Representative, with a focus on improving communication between athletes and leadership, increasing transparency in decision making, and ensuring athlete perspectives are reflected in Team Birkie's direction.

Kevin Bolger - Athlete Representative

Born and raised in Minocqua Wisconsin, Kevin started skiing in the third grade. Since then, the sport has taken him around the world, including to four World championships and one Olympics Games. He credits his experience with Midwestern Junior and Professional skiing programs with shaping him into the skier he is today. 

Kevin is excited to return to professional racing as a part of Team Birkie, and to serve as an athlete representative on the Team Birkie Board of Trustees. He looks forward to helping this already booming Midwest program and help turn it into a pillar of development for US Skiing.

Emma Stertz - Athlete Representative

Emma is in her second year on Team Birkie competing in both skiing and biathlon. She grew up in Grand Rapids, MN and represented the USA in four Biathlon Junior World Championships. Emma skied 5 years for The College of St Scholastica, two years as captain and was a skiing representative on CSS’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee for three years. Emma graduated in the spring of 2024 with degrees in Secondary Social Studies Education and History.

In addition to skiing, Emma works as a substitute teacher in local schools and serves on an advisory committee for the gender equity advocacy group, WomenX. As an athlete representative on the Board of Trustees, Emma seeks to ensure athlete interests are considered and aims to bolster elite skiing in the Midwest through community engagement. 

Alayna Sonnesyn - Athlete Representative

Alayna grew up in Plymouth, Minnesota, and has been on skis for as long as she can remember. Her passion for competitive skiing took shape while racing for Wayzata High School, ultimately leading her to the University of Vermont. At UVM, Alayna competed in multiple NCAA Championships and earned a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry.

Following college, she pursued skiing at the professional level, spending four years training and racing with Stratton Mountain School. She later returned to her Minnesota roots and joined Team Birkie, where she established herself as one of the top American long-distance skiers. Alayna is a four-time American Birkebeiner champion, has represented the USA at more than 100 World Cup starts, and has several top-30 finishes at the highest level of international competition.

Outside of skiing, Alayna works as a marketing consultant and is a proud advocate for the Midwest ski community.