Along with her best friend and sister Dylan, McKenna is a passion-driven professional skier and commercial fishermen who captains their 58’ purse seiner; Fishing Vessel "Atlantis" in the cold waters off a raw, Alaskan coastline.
When they're not hunting for salmon, McKenna spends most winter months based in Sun Valley, Idaho chasing powder. After competing on the Freeskiing World Tour, she remains inspired, and continues to inspire, by seeking out and skiing the best snow in the big mountains around the world. She very obviously feels most at home with the wind in her hair with an adventure on the horizon.
But, what drew us to her is likely her best quality. McKenna is living proof that if you work hard and earn your way, play hard and share the joy, it will be contagious whether intentional or not. McKenna is one of the rare ones... who shucks attention and yet remains someone we're drawn to. Her authentic love for her life, her family, her work and the ingredients that create opportunities for happiness is as KAVU as it gets. We're so lucky to have her as an important part of our KAVU family. To learn more about this incredible human and KAVU athlete, read on......
When I was young, I wanted to be a doctor. I wanted to help heal people and fix broken bones. Little did I know.... the correct answer to this question is “to stay a kid forever!”
I did the standard education route, but with my own style. It took me eight years to earn my bachelor’s degree (in human physiology). I would attend classes during Fall semester, and then take 1 or 2 online classes during the winter so I could ski. I was on the Freeskiing World Tour at that time, so skiing was priority.
During the summer, I was working on my father’s commercial fishing boat to pay for college and my skiing habit. This was all before my professional ski career, so everything came out of my own pocket. I paid for 100% of my own college education with money I earned fishing. I am very proud of this.
I have skied my entire life. I was a serious ski racer through my youth with my sights set on the US Ski Team. By the time I graduated from high school, I knew that I wasn’t good enough to race professionally, but I wasn’t ready to stop skiing. I discovered the Freeskiing World Tour, fell in love with big mountain competitions, and everything snowballed from there. I was on the big mountain competition circuit for 7 years and still credit those as being the best years of my life. My competitive big mountain career eventually morphed into a media focused (ski films and photographs) career, and that is where I am currently.
I never expected to have a full-fledged career in big mountain skiing. It didn’t even cross my mind until it started happening. I was competing on the FWT because it was fun, and I was skiing every day.... because skiing is all that I wanted to do. My goals at the time were to ski as much as possible, find the best snow and meet new people. I started seeing skiing as a career when Mike Hattrup and Alyssa Clark brought me onto the K2 factory team. When I finished my college degree, I had a choice to make; go to grad school or see if this skiing thing could be a career.
I never made it to grad school…
I am passionate about writing, spending time with my family and being outside. Putting the three of these things together would be a dream day for me. For example, a day at the lake in the Sawtooth mountains, where I spend sunrise sitting on the beach and writing in my journal, and the rest of the day climbing a mountain with my family.
I love to golf. I am not a skilled or talented golfer... but I still love the game. I try to squeeze in a few rounds in the fall and the spring in-between my busy work schedule. It’s an addicting sport. My dad was an avid golfer and brought us kids into the sport as young adults.
My sister and I joined the KAVU team 3 years ago and were immediately welcomed into the crazy KAVU family. KAVU sponsors an eclectic group of athletes from all types of sports, but everyone has this in common; the KAVU team is made up of genuine, kind, fun loving people. I am honored to be included in this group of individuals.
During our team summit in Moab, I hiked up to a launch (exit) point (is that what it is called?) with the B.A.S.E jumpers, and got to stand right next to Marshall as he jumped off the cliff. The rush I felt from just standing there watching him jump was incredible. It made me think…”hummm... maybe I need to learn to fly like these guys and gals”.
The people.
Everyone that is associated with KAVU is high quality, interesting and wonderful. From the employees in the retail shop to Barry the owner, everyone has the same lighthearted attitude. When I am around the KAVU family, whether shopping in Ballard, or watching the athletes literally fly off cliffs... I am smiling. Everyone is smiling. How cool is it to know that anytime I am around this group of people, I will be having a good time?
I am recovering from a serious knee injury at the moment. I ruptured my ACL in April, and my recovery has been difficult. I have had 2 surgeries and a lot of down time. I am learning something new every day about slowing down, listening to my body and having trust that I will heal. Injury is shocking and life altering, but there is beauty in the healing process. I am learning to celebrate the small wins and enjoy the simple things... like sitting outside by the river or having a long catch up with a friend over coffee.
Family is the most important resource in my life. And I am grateful that I can say that. My family is my everything; best friends, mountain partners, coworkers, etc. We do a lot together and are there for each other through all the ups and downs in life.
Follow your passions. There is so much to see, learn and experience out there; be open to all of it. Stay curious and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Failure is inevitable, view it as a steppingstone to success. And always, always, believe in yourself regardless of what it is that you are doing.
The Overstory by Richard Powers
Found At Sea by Gra Murdoch
Rebound by Cindy Kuzma & Carrie Jackson Cheadle
I love potatoes. You can do so many things with potatoes, it’s endless! It’s probably the Idaho in me but potatoes are my favorite food, and I prefer when my sister cooks them. Dylan is a phenomenal cook.
Haha, I have been doing A LOT of new things since my injury. I need to keep occupied somehow. I have learned to crochet; I made three little crocheted animals, a dinosaur, a narwal and a penguin. I did an extensive and complicated paint by numbers that was super cool. I had never painted anything before, and I got really into the paint by numbers; I probably put 50+ hours into this painting. Next up, I want to learn to silversmith. As soon as I heal up a little more from surgery #2, I am going to sign up for a silversmithing class.
McKenna Peterson
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Photos courtesy of: Andrew Chad, Rocko Menzyk, McKenna Peterson and The KAVU archives.
Interview by KAVU
© 2026 KAVU
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