FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks ski team has announced its first signing for the 2025-26 season in Õnnela Rodendau. Rodendau, a skier out of Aravete, Estonia, joins the Nanooks after attending Audentes Sports Gymnasium in Tallinn, Estonia, and competing for RR Skiclub.

"It's been a whole year since Mariel Pulles and Christopher Kalev graduated from the team, so we are thrilled to be adding an Estonian skier back to the roster!" said assistant coach Ben Buck. "Õnnela is a very talented and hardworking athlete who has already represented her nation at World Juniors and U23s. She will be a great addition to our roster."

At the FIS U23 World Ski Championships last winter in Schilpario, Italy, Rodendau skied in the classic sprints, 20k classic and 10k freestyle, taking 33rd place in the freestyle. In the Estonian National Championship, she placed third in the 10k classic and fifth in the 1.5k freestyle sprints. The third-place result was her second podium at the National Championships, having taken third in the 10k freestyle in 2023. She also competed in the 2023 Junior World Championships in Whistler, B.C., with her highest finish coming in the 20k classic mass start, where she placed 19th. She followed that up with a 20th-place result in the 10k freestyle later in the championships.

Rodendau earned the gold medal for outstanding academic achievement during her time in high school. She is the daughter of Claire and Janno Rodendau and has three siblings.

Additional signings will be announced throughout the summer.

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