Sydney Petersen grew up in Crested Butte, a tight-knit mountain community that quietly shaped her path long before she realized it. Now a professional trail runner for Brooks, Sydney was raised by ski-bum parents and immersed in mountain culture, but her athletic roots began in team sports. She spent her early years playing basketball and volleyball before discovering running later in high school and college—a delayed entry she credits with helping her arrive at the sport energized rather than burned out. In this episode, we talk through her journey from collegiate cross country and track at Colorado State University to the unexpected pivot that led her into trail running, sparked by early runs alongside her mom and cemented by a breakout performance at Broken Arrow Skyrace, where she arrived with no expectations and left with a completely changed trajectory.

The conversation also covers what followed: signing with Brooks, making the World Championships team, racing in Europe, and stepping into the global stage of the Golden Trail World Series. Sydney reflects on the importance of community, balance, and staying grounded, including how her ongoing work in rural healthcare continues to shape her perspective beyond racing. This episode offers an honest look at late entry into elite sport, sustainable athletic development, and what it means to build a professional trail running career rooted in curiosity, support, and long-term fulfillment.

Sarah Diekmeyer and Maddy Nutt join the Wander podcast to reflect on seasons spent chasing long days, big terrain, and gravel races that blur the line between competition and adventure.

This week, we sit down in-person for the first time and dive into the chaotic & creative rise of Couch View — the cycling media project turning pro racing into 30-second culture-forward mini films.

Ansel shares how Couch View began as a simple experiment filming a race off his TV, evolved through early Strade Bianche edits, and grew into a global community of fans, riders, and cycling obsessives. We get into the craft behind the chaos: how he watches full races to catch the moments no traditional highlight reel notices — the costumes, the cobbles, the culture — and why music is the anchor of every edit.

We also dig into the transition from a structured full-time job into a fully self-directed creative life, the unexpected learning curve of launching merch, the impact of shining a spotlight on smaller races, and the surreal moments when pro riders start sharing your work.

And joining the conversation is Sofia Schugar — a professional cyclist who brings her own perspective on the sport, the community around racing, and the rise of creators reshaping how we experience cycling.

Expect Tour de France stories, couch ratings, inflatable furniture, European race plans, and a reminder that sometimes the best path forward is following your dreams — responsibly.