Member Type: Athlete

Wendy was born in California and learned to ski at Squaw Valley. She made her international skiing debut in 1986 and was named to the U.S. Ski Team in 1987, at 15 years old. She made the World Junior Teams in 1989 and 1990. In 1991, she won the U.S. Nationals Overall title. By age 20, Wendy earned a spot on the 1992 Winter Olympic team (Albertville, France), qualifying for the downhill/slalom combined and giant slalom. After her time on the national team, her passion for freeskiing led her to win two World Extreme Skiing Championships, a Pro Tour title, and a spot in the first X Games Women’s Skier-Cross. Wendy has appeared in numerous ski films with top companies like Warren Miller Entertainment, Matchstick Productions, and Switchback Entertainment, challenging conventions and inspiring women to push themselves, compete, and star in big mountain ski films. She has used her platform as an ambassador for the sport of skiing, representing Crested Butte Mountain for 30 years. After retiring from competitive freeskiing, Wendy started a series of girls’ ski camps. Her dedication to local ski culture, passion for coaching, and commitment to family have made her a beloved figure in her community.

Growing up in Winter Park, Trace helped elevate freestyle skiing on the global stage, earning a reputation as one of its most decorated athletes with 37 World Cup victories, 73 podium finishes, 7 World Championship titles, and 11 U.S. national titles. A two-time Olympian, Trace was a true pioneer. He became the first American to perform and land a quadruple-twisting triple backflip in international competition, a feat that pushed the limits of aerial skiing. Versatility set him apart; he competed in all three freestyle disciplines: aerials, moguls, and ballet. At just 19, he made his World Cup aerials debut and was on the podium two months later, finishing second. His breakthrough came the following year with a rare double victory in La Clusaz, France, winning both aerials and combined. Four years later, he returned to La Clusaz to capture double gold at the World Championships, still the only skier in history to win both aerials and combined at that event. Beyond the podium, Trace’s impact on freestyle skiing endured long after his competition days. He became a respected voice in sports broadcasting, covering the Olympics for NBC as well as global events for Red Bull TV and CBS Sports, sharing his passion and expertise with millions of viewers.

Born in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, Alice learned to ski and race at the nearby Sunlight Ski Area. Alice is a former World Cup alpine ski racer who specialized in the speed events of downhill and super-G. Growing up, she spent time skiing for various ski clubs at Sunlight, Vail, Aspen, Steamboat Springs, and Summit before landing in Salt Lake City at Rowmark Ski Academy. Alice’s World Cup career went on to span twelve impressive years. At 19 years old, she debuted on the World Cup circuit. Alice secured her first World Cup downhill win in 2013 in Saint Anton, Austria. She represented the United States in two Olympics, placing fifth in downhill in 2018. Overcoming several serious injuries, Alice’s perseverance shocked the world as she continued to succeed. After retiring from competitive skiing in 2021, she served as a coach and mentor at Ski & Snowboard Club Vail. She is a positive role model for young skiers.

Lindsey’s extraordinary achievements have solidified her place in history as one of the greatest American skiers of all time. Throughout her 15-year career, Lindsey achieved 82 World Cup victories and became the first-ever women’s Olympic downhill champion. She redefined the boundaries of alpine skiing, setting numerous records including 18 victories on the same course (Lake Louise), 20 crystal globes, and 43 downhill victories. In 2023, Lindsey became the first woman to ski the legendary Streif in Kitzbühel, Austria. And on top of that, Lindsey is the first ever to ski the course at night. A true sports icon, Lindsey’s impact has transcended the world of skiing through her creation of the Lindsey Vonn Foundation. Lindsey used her platform to provide programming for education, sports, and enrichment programs to help young girls grow as athletes, leaders, and individuals. Lindsey continues to give back and build our industry by serving on the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games Governing Board as their Chief of Athlete Experience. Due to her efforts, on July 24, 2024, our neighbors in Salt Lake City were awarded the 2034 Winter Olympics. Her biggest contribution to this bid was to help create an Olympic Village for the athletes’ families. In Lindsey's opinion, taking care of families should be just as important as the athletes.

Native American Ross became the fastest skier in the Western Hemisphere. Born in New Mexico, he grew up in Durango, Colorado, and started racing gates at an early age. He was on skis by three at Purgatory Resort, where his father was on the ski patrol. By six, he was ski racing but was drawn to speed skiing. He later became one of the top US Speed Skiing Team athletes, winning bronze at the 2005 World Championships, and is an eight-time national champion. Ross has held the record for the fastest American ever on skis: 154.06 miles per hour (247.930KPH) achieved in 2006. Ross is also known for leveraging his athletic success to bring skiing to native youth. He began engaging in programs, initially at Purgatory Resort, together with the Southern Ute tribe, as well as the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes of Oklahoma and the Mescalero Apache tribes of New Mexico. His goal was to bring diversity and to represent all indigenous and Native American Indians, motivating them to achieve their dreams, no matter the color of their skin. The programs utilized snow sports as an incentive to encourage youth in the classroom. With support from General Norman Schwarzkopf, his grassroots program inspired resorts across North America to invite over 10,000 native youth back to ski and ride on their ancestral mountains. Ross was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2023 and the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame in October of the same year.

Erich started skiing in Germany at the age of three. He was a member of German National Team in ski jumping and Nordic combined and over 5 years won 9 divisional and national championships. He was instrumental in developing a new arm movement still used in jumping today. He moved to Colorado in 1957 and became Co-Director of the Willy Schaeffler Arapaho Basin Ski School. Windisch Way in Vail was named in his honor.

Sarah suffered a tragic ski accident in 1987 that left her paralyzed from the waist down. A highly motivated woman, Sarah was soon making her first turns on a monoski. She was named to the U.S. Disabled Ski Team in 1992. During her career, she represented the United States at the Paralympics in 1992, 1994, 1998, and 2002, winning 13 paralympic medals. She now works as an instructor for the Vail Adaptive Ski Program.

Louise began competing in 1932 and in 1937 won the downhill, slalom, and combined at the US Amateur Ski Association Championships at Berthoud. For the next three years she continued to win almost every ski race she entered. Louise was poised to be Colorado’s first Olympic Champion, but due to World War II, the Winter Olympics were cancelled during her career. After retiring, she founded the Colorado Skiing Association, the first women’s ski association.

Skeeter was the oldest of the famous Werner family including Olympians Buddy and Loris. In 1949, she came to national attention by winning the West of the Mississippi Championships in Sun Valley. Her international career started in 1953 when she became a member of the US FIS Team. After retirement, she started the Werner Storm Hut Ski Shop with her brother Buddy and started the Steamboat Ski School serving as director until 1969.

Born and raised in Steamboat Springs, Loris was the youngest member of the famed Werner family. While attending Western State College, Loris competed in all four disciplines – ski jumping, cross-country, downhill, and slalom. He won the NCAA Skimeister Championship twice. He represented the US at two Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1968. For more than four decades, he served Steamboat Springs, first as the ski school director, then mountain manager, and finally vice-president of operations.