Griffin Gracey began skiing in middle school and has steadily grown both his passion for the sport and his performance each year. Originally from Chugiak, Alaska, he trained with Alaska Nordic Racing and served as a team captain at Chugiak High School, competing in the Alaska Besh Cup series. Despite having a different coach each year in high school, Griffin developed resilience, adaptability, and a strong internal drive to improve.
He came to the CMU Cross Country Ski Team motivated to reach his full potential, bringing a strong work ethic, a self-starting mindset, and mature leadership. Griffin is a hard worker who takes initiative and leads by example. He continues to build on his foundation, combining determination with a love for the sport and a team-first mindset.
At the 2026 USCSA National Championships in Lake Placid, Griffin had a true breakthrough performance on the national stage. Racing in deep, competitive fields, he showed both composure and confidence throughout the week. His highlight came in the freestyle sprint, where he won the B final to finish 7th overall, an impressive result at his first Nationals and a sign of his rising potential. Across the week, Griffin consistently moved up through rounds and proved he can compete with the top collegiate skiers in the country. It was a big step forward and a glimpse of what’s to come.
What Griffin values just as much as performance is the team environment. He appreciates how everyone is willing to help each other and how supportive the group is. For him, the team is more than training and racing. It’s also camping trips, climbing, group study nights, movie nights, and even pancake nights where everyone gets together and just hangs out. That balance between working hard and genuinely enjoying time together is what makes the experience special and is a big part of why he continues to grow both as an athlete and as a teammate.
