Kendall Kramer

Quick Facts

• Specialty: Women's cross-country skiing distance events
• Kramer's father, Mike was a runner at Washington State University in the late 1980s; her mother Susan Schwartz administers the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks' Junior Nordics program
• Participated in both the skiing and running programs at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Eight-time NCAA All-American—five in cross-country skiing and three in cross-country running
• Won an NCAA skiing national championship and finished as NCAA Division II national runner-up in cross-country running in her final collegiate season
• Graduated with degrees in biology and psychology

Biographical Information

Kendall Kramer's path to elite-level skiing began somewhat unexpectedly. When her best friend joined the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks' advanced FXC program for strength training purposes, Kramer decided to try it out. Kramer's high school career was nothing short of remarkable. She won 14 state championships combined in skiing and running, claimed three consecutive Alaska Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the Year awards, and captured multiple Alaska Skimeister titles and U.S. junior national championships.

On the international stage, Kramer made her mark early in her career. At the 2019 Junior World Championships in Lahti, Finland, she finished fourth in both the 15-kilometer classic and the 4x3.3-kilometer relay, performances that earned her a spot on the U.S. Ski Team's Development Team. She captured a bronze medal in the 5-kilometer classic at the Youth Olympic Winter Games Lausanne 2020, and was a key member of the silver-medal-winning junior world championship 4x3.3-kilometer relay team alongside Sydney Palmer-Leger, Novie McCabe and Sophia Laukli. She made her world cup debut in Quebec in 2019 and achieved her career-best result of 18th place in Cogne, Italy.

Throughout her collegiate career at UAF, Kramer excelled in both sports under the guidance of coach Eliska Albrigtsen, who oversees both the skiing and cross-country running programs. In cross-country skiing, she became a two-time Nordic Cup champion and earned four NCAA All-American honors before capping her career with an NCAA national championship in the 20-kilometer freestyle in March 2025. The victory marked her first NCAA skiing title and made her only the second UAF skier in three years to win an NCAA championship. In cross-country running, she earned three Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships, a West Region championship, and finished as the NCAA Division II national runner-up in November 2024—the highest placement in Nanook history. 

Domestically, Kramer has proven herself as a national-level competitor, capturing the 2025 U.S. National Championship title in the 20-kilometer classic at Kincaid Park in Anchorage. She also earned silver medals in the 10-kilometer skate in 2025 and the 20-kilometer skate in 2024, giving her three U.S. National Championship podiums. 

Kramer's decision to stay in Fairbanks has had ripple effects throughout the community. As she noted, her success—including winning the NCAA championship—led to UAF adding four more female skiers to the program. Her influence extends beyond recruitment, as she has helped make it "cool for locals to stay and go to Alaska colleges," according to her coach. She graduated in spring 2025 with degrees in biology and psychology.

Career Highlights

• Under 23 World Championship, Planica, 2024 (4 x 5km Relay - Mixed, 20km Freestyle - Women, 10km Classic Style - Women)
• World Cup, 2024 (Distance - Women, Overall - Women)