Vail ski racer Sarah Schleper qualifies for her sixth Olympic Games

VAIL — Sarah Schleper hasn’t misplaced her want for pace.

When requested of the key to her abnormally lengthy profession, Schleper responded, “First, it’s love for the game and a love for exhausting work; making tough conditions enjoyable. Then, to be a ski racer, you need to wish to go quick.”

Earlier than the 2022 Winter Olympics — her sixth — are over, Schleper will flip 43. She made 4 U.S. groups earlier than qualifying for Mexico in 2018 and 2022. Married to Federico Gaxiola, the Vail native would have competed within the 2014 Video games, too, however accomplished her four-year citizenship course of a month late.

“I like ski racing, and I like being within the mountains and the journey and the buddies — it’s not a narrative you might dream up, simply to proceed on this method,” she mentioned of her journey. “Though I’m not as quick as I was, it’s enjoyable to be part of.”

After being named to the U.S. workforce as a 16-year-old, the ageless marvel would ultimately go the baton to a different younger star: Mikaela Shiffrin, who stood on the rostrum in Schleper’s closing race as an American.

“I beloved having her on the workforce as a result of I discovered lots from her,” Schleper mentioned of her former teammate.

“She was so critical about snowboarding and plenty of the occasions we have been extra about having enjoyable and he or she was like, ‘I wish to be the most effective.’ It confirmed in her work ethic and the issues she was doing, and for me that was a watch opener. Perhaps had she been there once I was younger, I may have fed off of it extra.”

As Shiffrin’s standing was rising, so was Schleper’s household. The veteran didn’t really feel the required help from the American coaches.

“I had a household and I used to be struggling simply to make it to coaching and stuff, and he (her coach) wasn’t that supportive of what was occurring,” Schleper mentioned.

“And I didn’t like getting beat. It was exhausting as a result of I had been the quickest on our workforce for therefore lengthy.”

Fortuitously, she discovered a greater match.

“That’s plenty of the rationale I’m on the Mexican workforce. I’m capable of shuffle and juggle ski racing, teaching, a household, and make it work and make it enjoyable,” she mentioned.

“And I’m seven seconds behind Mikaela, which hurts, since you’re like, ‘I can win a medal nonetheless.’ You have got this unusual perception as an Olympic racer that you just’re going to make the miracle occur, and that typically crosses my thoughts.”

Schleper’s shift in priorities has been gradual. The one-track thoughts of her 16-year-old self is gone. Although she nonetheless loves snowboarding, the mountains, the journey and the race bibs, her coronary heart is extra involved together with her children, 14-year-old Lasse and 8-year-old Resi, each of whom are promising ski racers, too.

“When you concentrate on what you need in your life — I wish to be a great mom, I wish to be the glue to the household and make all of it work,” Schleper mentioned, noting she hopes to lift her children as Mexican Alpine ski workforce members.

“I don’t wish to simply concentrate on my racing. The extra they turn into the racers, the much less I wish to concentrate on my racing and the extra I wish to assist them turn into their finest racers.”

Resi was standing on the backside of the Cortina World Cup final weekend when she radioed to her mother within the beginning gate, “Mother, don’t crash.”

“These little issues creep in and also you do need to try to override it by some means,” mentioned Schleper, who admits she was by no means prepared to danger all of it like a Lindsey Vonn.

Her husband is her physiotherapist, coach, and wax technician — except, after all, he’s serving to the children study their German or Italian, an additional requirement for spending the vast majority of the winter in Europe. Nonetheless, she tunes her personal skis.

“It’s very beginner,” she mentioned of her association. However, she wouldn’t commerce it for something.

“Simply to have the ability to go to those races and compete with them at that stage I believe is one thing particular.”

Typically, her dad, Buzz, calls to remind her that she could be over the hill.

“My dad — he’s all the time like, ‘When are you going to cease?’” she mentioned, talking of the proprietor of the Vail snowboard store carrying his title.

“He doesn’t prefer it once I’m so sluggish. … that’s all the time exhausting. However we do it as a result of we adore it. It’s a method to be out in nature and out on this planet. It’s only a life-style.”

Though she remains to be working to be extra fluent in Spanish, she is proud to be Mexico’s flag bearer in China.

“I’m honored to convey their nation — as a result of they don’t have plenty of snow — to the Winter Olympics,” she mentioned. “I like the tradition. I may by no means have dreamed of being a twin citizen of two international locations. If I may select any nation, it will be Mexico.”

She hopes to proceed racing by means of 2026 so she will share an Olympic expertise with 14-year-old Lasse.

“Sure, I nonetheless carry that dream,” she mentioned of competing at a Video games together with her son.

“I believe the story could be enjoyable and it will be a cool method to finish and for him to start out.”

rsederquist@vaildaily.com