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Bloomington, MN
Zak Ketterson grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota, in an athletic family with deep roots in endurance sports. His father Jim ran cross country and track at Carleton College, while his mother Brigette competed in Nordic skiing at the same institution, earning All-American honors and contributing to the 1984 national championship relay team that led to her induction into the school's Hall of Fame in 2015. His older brother Jan competed in track, cross country and Nordic skiing at Bloomington Jefferson High School before continuing at Dartmouth College. Despite this family background, Ketterson initially took interest in sports like basketball, football and baseball before discovering Nordic skiing in seventh grade.
Ketterson was introduced to competitive skiing through his older brother's involvement with the Jefferson High School team. He found success in Nordic skiing and committed to the sport. He won the Minnesota state championship in 2014 as a sophomore and claimed a second title in 2016 as a senior. His dominance in the Minnesota high school Nordic skiing scene established him as one of the state's top young talents. Theodore Wirth Regional Park became his training ground, where he often skied in solitude on the extensive trail system.
At Northern Michigan University, Ketterson became a three-time NCAA All-American with a best finish of fourth place in the 20-kilometer freestyle event at the 2021 world championships. He graduated with a degree in economics and joined Team Birkie, a Minnesota-based elite Nordic ski racing club. Through this program, Ketterson has lived and trained in Minneapolis while competing at the international level. He made his world cup debut at the 2022 Tour de Ski and earned his first world cup points in March 2022 when he finished 15th in the 15-kilometer freestyle in Falun, Sweden.
One of Ketterson's career highlights came the following day at the inaugural world cup mixed relay in Falun. Teaming with Rosie Brennan, Scott Patterson and Jessie Diggins, Ketterson skied the second leg as the United States won gold, marking the first time an American relay team stood atop a world cup podium. The victory earned him the inaugural Jessie Diggins Athlete of the Year Award, which recognizes excellence in skiing and character that serves as a role model for developing athletes in the Central region.
Ketterson has maintained his commitment to the Midwest skiing community throughout his professional career. He trains at Theodore Wirth Park and other Minneapolis-area venues, using his platform to advocate for making Nordic skiing more accessible to people from underprivileged backgrounds. His connection to the Loppet Foundation, which focuses on getting everyone outdoors to enjoy winter activities, reflects his belief in the importance of community support for developing skiing at all levels.
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