Take Two: Sarah Schleper Ready to Race After Missing Worlds in 1999, Local Is a Go for 2015
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Sports Vail Daily | Friday, January 23, 2015 | A27 Take two: Sarah Schleper ready to race After missing Worlds in 1999, local is a go for 2015 By Chris Freud [email protected] VAIL — It’s been a long time coming for Vail’s Sarah Schleper. The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships are in Beaver Creek and Vail on home snow and she will finally be competing in the giant slalom. “I am so excited for that,” Schleper, 35, said. “The lead-up, the anticipation is getting the bet- ter of me. Any day now.” The 1999 Championships in Vail were meant to be her show- case, but she fractured her right tibial plateau in a giant slalom in Val D’Isere, France, on December 12, 1998. She was a spectator at Vail ’99, ironically writing daily columns for the Vail Daily. A 15-YEAR CAREER Despite missing the 1999 Worlds, Schleper had a distin- guished 15-year career with the U.S. Ski Team as a tech racer, highlighted by a World Cup Fi- nals win in slalom in Leizerheide, Switzerland, on March 12, 2005. She competed in four Olympics DAILY FILE PHOTO (1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010) Sarah Schleper hits Golden Peak as a member of the U.S. Ski Team during training before the 2010-11 World Cup season. Schleper, now a mem- with her best finish (10th) coming ber of Team Mexico, will compete during the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships next month in Beaver Creek. in the Turino, Italy, slalom in 2006. Schleper was also on five Schleper raced in giant slaloms Schleper said. “It’s a cool way Worlds teams and was seventh in in Soelden, Austria, and Aspen to stay involved in the skiing the slalom in 2005. earlier this season. community.” Like any racer, she had come- “Dad and Mom were not used Speaking of community, when back after comeback after inju- to rooting for Mexico,” Schleper Worlds comes to town, each ries. In a funny moment, she had joked of parents, Buzz and Lynn. school in Eagle County Schools to think a little bit about which adopts a nation, learning said knee kept her out of the 1999 NEW GOALS country’s history and culture. Worlds. (It was indeed her right Schleper has no illusions about Eagle Elementary School is now knee, though she ended up doing the Championships. Even in her the unofficial Sarah Schleper Fan her left later in her career.) dreams, she knows she’s not going Club. She’s visited the school and Schleper also came back as a to come from the back of the pack looks forward to the youngsters mom after marrying Federico and stun the world by winning cheering her on next month. Gaxiola de la Lama and having GS gold next month. That’s not their first child, Lasse Gaxio- the point of her participating in SECOND CHANCE la, who turns 7 next week. The Worlds. “It was a huge bummer,” Schlep- Schelper-Gaxiola family now As a ski instructor now, Schlep- er said of missing 1999. “I was includes Resi Gaxiola, 1, named er wants to spread the world of just starting to get in the swing of JOHN LACONTE | [email protected] after Sarah’s close friend on the skiing, a world that has given her things. My split times in the race Sarah Schleper talks Thursday with “On the Hill” on Vail Mountain. U.S. Ski Team Resi Stiegler. so much joy. Along with Hohenlo- when I got hurt were right there After missing the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships on home snow Schleper initially retired in he-Langenburg, who will again be with the leaders. It was fun to be in 1999, Schleper will get another chance next month. December 2011 in Austria, taking racing at Worlds, Schleper wants at the Championships, but it was a casual farewell run down the to help build the Mexican team hard to watch the U.S. Ski Team by Vonn’s recent victories. Olympics in Pyeongchang, South slopes in blue jeans. Lasse, then 4, for the next generation. struggle and not be there to try to However, she says she’s still a Korea. Then there’s Lasse, who is got to ride part of the course with “I’m more out to inspire the turn it around.” competitive person and wants often seen on his mom’s Facebook her down to the finish. girls,” Schleper said. “It’s OK to While she will be racing for to do her best come the GS on feed tooling around Vail on skis, Nonetheless, the idea of coming go after a goal because you love Mexico, Schleper still has close Feb. 12. She can only imag- and young Resi seems to be get- back for next month’s Champion- it. That’s the big message I hope ties to the Americans, who could ine coming down into Red Tail ting into the act. ships was already in the works. I’m spreading around. I’ve talked well have a big showing next Stadium with family and friends “I’ve taken her on walks with Huberto Von Hohenlohe-Langen- to moms who’ve told me, ‘You’re month. She wants to see if Bode waiting. her in between my legs around on burg, a racer with Mexican and inspiring my daughter.’” Miller will be healthy enough “I want to ski a good run and skis at Lionshead.” Sarah said. “At Austrian citizenship, talked to In an interesting twist of the to compete. (He finished sixth put on a good show,” she said. “I the beginning of the season, she Schleper about racing for Mexico times, Schleper, like her fellow in Kiztbuehel, Austria, during want to make the town proud. started putting on her boots and in 2015. Since Schleper married World Cup racers, is adjusting to training on Thursday.) She has Let’s all have a good time and walking around the house. It’s in Gaxiola, a Mexican citizen, the the newer GS skis, which have a known Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela show the world how much fun her blood.” possibility was there. wider turning radius than those Shiffrin since they were young- Vail is, whether you’re Mexican or The arduous process of becom- she used throughout her career. sters on skis and will be watching American.” Sports Editor Chris Freud can ing a Mexican citizen began in “If I’m doing it and figuring it all with interest. Having gone The Worlds GS may not be the be reached at 970-748-2934, 2009 and became official in May out an easier way, it’s easier for through the gamut of injuries her- last we see of Schleper. Sarah [email protected] and of last year. me to pass it on to younger kids,” self, Schleper said she is “inspired” plans to compete in the 2018 @cfreud..