October 11, 2011 – Washington State’s brightest Nordic skiing prospect in years, Sadie Bjornsen, broke into the limelight at the 2011 World Nordic Skiing Championships in Oslo, Norway, last March.  Her breakout performance in front of 70,000 screaming, ski-crazy Norwegians earned her a selection as one of four women named to the US Ski team to compete on the World Cup circuit this winter.  But that honor comes with a price.  Only the top two women and men get any financial support from the US Ski Team.  Sadie’s responsibility for the required training camps, international racing fees, and related travel expenses with the Team is nearly $40,000 for the 2011/2012 season.

For the past five years Sadie has qualified for the World Junior Championships and the World Under 23 Championships, and has consistently had impressive, top-tier performances against the best junior skiers in the world.  Last year she was named to both the U.S. Ski Team and the World Championship Team.  As she excels in skiing, Sadie also has the maturity to keep things in perspective, maintaining a 4.0 GPA as she enters her Junior year in Accounting at Alaska Pacific University.

“We want Sadie to focus on her academic pursuits and on taking the podium at the 2012 Olympics,” says Mac Dunstan, of the Methow Valley Nordic Ski Educational Foundation (MVNSEF).  “She is a remarkable young woman who is born to compete and she is coming on strong.  She has earned our respect and support.”

The Methow Valley has produced a number of remarkable Nordic skiers, among them, Sadie’s younger brother, Erik Bjornsen, also named to the U.S. Ski Team and currently skiing for Alaska Pacific University.

The Methow Valley Nordic Ski Educational Foundation (MVNSEF), a 501(c)(3) organization, has created the Elite Opportunity Fund to provide financial support to eligible graduates of the Methow Valley Junior Nordic Team program who have been selected by a “national governing body” in one of the Nordic disciplines (USST, USBA) to compete in sanctioned international events or training camps.  The MVNSEF recognizes the considerable financial difficulties faced by promising post-junior team skiers in their efforts to compete and succeed at the international level, and the very limited support provided by the USSA.

Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law.  Send donations payable to MVNSEF Elite Opportunity Fund, POB 1063, Winthrop WA 99862.

You can check out the latest news from Sadie and Erik on their blogs at: www.sadiebjornsen.blogspot.com and www.erikbjornsen.blogspot.com