After an amazing ten years on the U.S. Ski Team, I have decided to announce my retirement from ski racing. Although I was able to successfully fight back from many setbacks—including my most recent knee injury—in the end there have simply been too many injuries for me to justify continuing with the sport. Ultimately, the frustration of constantly competing less than 100% has exceeded the joy. Aside from the expected aches and pains from ten years as a professional athlete, however, I am completely healthy and happy. It has always been my intention to walk away from ski racing on my own terms.

Photo credit: Jonathan Selkowitz

Honestly, it is easy for me to walk away right now. I accomplished more in my career than I ever really thought I could. I scored forty-five top-30 World Cup results, at my best I was ranked tenth in the World in Super G, I had three top-10 World Cup results, I got ninth place at World Championships, I was a National Champion, and I was an Olympian. All of these things I accomplished during one of the most momentous and strongest eras of American alpine skiing history. It seems fitting that my World Cup career culminated with my 100th World Cup start, on the 2010 Olympic course in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and with my family and friends in the crowd watching.

While I am very proud of my tenure on the Team, I recognize the time has come for me to move on. I have always been a multi-dimensional individual and I look forward to exercising my many other strengths as well as exploring my many other interests. Next year, in June 2009, I will graduate from Dartmouth College with a degree in Philosophy. I definitely look forward to the satisfaction of finishing my college education after what will be eight years of being a part-time student in the off-season. After college, I plan on traveling to India to obtain my yoga instructor certification. I have always had a passion for yoga and I look forward to enriching other people’s lives through instruction. It is possible I will consider graduate school after I’ve had the opportunity to soak up some quality time with the wonderful family and friends I have put on hold for so many years.

Obviously I am facing a major transition, but as I move forward I find confidence knowing that I gave ski racing every single thing I had. I gave 100% every moment of every run, and there wasn’t a single day I didn’t leave my heart out on the hill. Of course I also know that skiing will always be a part of me. My passion for skiing has not diminished in the slightest bit and I couldn’t be more excited to finally have the freedom to truly freeski.

While I look forward to joining my family every weekend at my home ski area Crystal Mountain, I will always remember my time on the U.S. Ski Team with fondness. My ten years on the U.S. Ski Team helped mold me into the person I am today and I am very grateful for the amazing experiences the Team afforded me. I had the privilege of working with wonderful coaches, became friends with some incredible individuals, and skied alongside some tremendous athletes. I will always highly value the many relationships and memories I collected over the years… I got to travel the world, doing what I love, with cool people—it really doesn’t get much better than that.

As this new chapter of my life unfolds, I couldn’t be more excited about what the future has in store for me! A big thanks to everyone who supported me throughout my career, I couldn’t have done it on my own.