Erik Schlopy           World Cup Ski Racer~ 3 Time Olympian

Erik Schlopy: pronounced "Shhlowpee"

Birth date: August 21, 1972
Birthplace: Buffalo, New York
Resides: Park City, Utah
Height: 5-10 (1.75m)
Weight: 185 (84kg)
Year on Team: 10
School: Burke Mt. Academy
Hardware Sponsors: Nordica, Swix
Corporate Partners: Stoweflake Spa

Erik celebrated his biggest success during the 2003 World Championships

In St. Moritz - Erik won the bronze medal in giant slalom and finished in the Top 15 in slalom.
" When I came out of the gate in the second run in St. Moritz, I wasn't thinking 'I've got to win by 1.55 seconds to get a bronze medal.' I wanted to go out and be in a way that I could leave the mountain today and be happy with the way I skied. It sort of freed my soul and I went out there and I was relaxed and I had a run that I've been capable of having for a long time. It opened up a door for me today of what's possible in the future. That second run, that's my gold medal…and my gold medal is to be on the podium with Bode and with Hans – he's a good guy, too."

In 2001, Erik Schlopy put-up the best World Cup overall performance by any American since Phil Mahre in 1983 by finishing third in the overall giant slalom standings just behind skiing legends Hermann Maier and Michael von Grünigen.

Comments

Erik is racing on Nordica skis and Nordica boots.

Start-up

Erik began skiing when he was eighteen months old and racing when he was eight years old. Originally he raced for lollipops (every kid got one) but a few months later, when Erik's father Kent was tucking him in, he asked his Dad if he could be the best in the world, to which Kent responded, Yes, you can if you put your mind to it.
From then on, Erik dedicated himself to becoming the best in the world

Early Years

Eastern junior champ at 14, J-1 Slalom/GS champ at 16, on the Ski Team by 18. A '94 Olympian, he retired after the '95 season, paid his own way for training in '99 and raced his way back to the Ski Team.. He attended the Burke Mountain Ski Academy in Vermont for high school. So when he qualified for the US Ski Team and won a national title, it was affirmation that he was on the right path. Erik was on to the world scene, however, Erik's rise there was not as swift.

Middle Years

In 1993, Erik made a name for himself at the World Championships in Japan. Unfortunately it was not for his outstanding performance, but because he crashed on the downhill course. It was so spectacular and dramatic, he hit a jump and flew over 200 feet before landing on his tailbone - that ESPN continually replayed it and it ended up as one of the all-time greatest crashes.
Erik lay slumped for minutes before it was confirmed that he was still breathing. Erik was still alive, and he could move but could he ski race again? He had broken his back, severed his tongue, cracked his sternum, broken a couple of ribs and punctured a lung. Even if he was physically capable, would he have the guts to hurtle himself down a mountain traveling 70 miles per hour again? The answer is yes. Later that year, Erik was ski racing again and even competed at the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer. He, however, did not live happily ever after. There were a couple more detours first.

The Pro Tour

In 1995, Erik considered giving up his position on the US Ski Team to join the pro-tour. Erik was still in love with ski racing but disheartened by his lack of improvement while on the US Ski Team. On the one hand, the auspicious start to his career had severely plateaued, and he did not want to languish in mediocrity and yet if he left the team he would be giving up a chance to compete in the Olympics again, for no one had ever left the team and returned. Erik decided that commitment to his craft was more important. He took a step that many thought absurd but, he wanted to take responsibility for himself ö he left the Ski Team.

Joining the pro-tour was a huge turning point for Erik. The pro-tour (which no longer exists) had an entirely different format. The races were head to head and each athlete had to fend for himself. Gone was the support of coaches, trainers, physiotherapists, not to mention sports agents and travel agents. In addition to training and racing, Erik had to do the work that dozens of people had previously helped him with, but it was OK, Erik was doing what he loves - ski racing. Not only was he racing, he was doing well and earned Rookie of the Year honors. Erik enjoyed his time on the pro-tour but most important, he was acquiring the tools to succeed through self-reliance.

Back to the Team

Erik realized that in order to fulfill his dream of becoming the best in the world, he would need to rejoin the US Ski Team, with confidence he set out to do what many deemed impossible.

Erik borrowed $25,000, bought a minivan, hired a coach and set out to earn enough points in FIS sanctioned races to qualify for the team. Limited funds meant he was confined to races in the US. He and his coach would alternate driving for dozens of hours going from race to race. He would start last, behind kids who had just joined the tour, since he had no ranking, and ski on courses which were extremely rutted from the 130 racers that went before him. Commitment to his program, patience, belief in himself, and tenacity, in addition to the support of his family and the guidance of his mentor, Dean, are what allowed him to go on. Slowly but surely he climbed his way, earning points and improving his start position.

Erik was at the last race of the 2003 season and needed to win by 1.5 seconds to make the months of toiling worthwhile. There were two slalom races and winning both by a cumulative 1.5 seconds was doable but could not be taken for granted. No matter what happened, it was going to be a defining moment.

Race 1, after the first run, Erik is in the lead. In the starting gate for the second run, Erik is charged and confident. The countdown before Erik's race begins, 3, 2, 1... he pushes to leave the starting gate and·a screw rips out of his ski! Unable to make a turn, Erik falls into the fencing. The race is over. No points.

The next day, the last race, another slalom, and he still needs to win by 1.5 seconds. The pressure is on and he is skiing on a patched up ski.

He skies cleanly, finishes the first run ahead by 1 second. The second run goes off and he finishes with a margin of .5 seconds! Erik had done it!

Erik's detractors would have been correct to say nearly impossible for him to regain a spot on the Team, for Erik is not a wizard, just a committed and confident young man who is not concerned with what others think is impossible. It was triumphant, a definite turning point, but it was only the beginning, for rejoining the Ski Team only gave him the platform to do what he really wanted - become the best in the world.

In his second season back on the World Cup Tour, Erik had the season of a lifetime by finishing ranked third in the world. The Olympic season was somewhat of a disappointment due to his illness during the summer and the DNF in the Olympic giant slalom. However is is looking forward to a successful World Championship season and his ultimate goal the 2006 Olympic Games in Italy.

His secret to his success and longevity is a tenacious and systematic approach that includes not only self-responsibility but also a strategically picked support team.

Season 2003~ on the Injured List!

First came the pop. Then the crash; the toboggan ride; the concerned mutterings of the doctor.   Erik was leading the men's giant slalom at the America's 2003 Opening World Cup event when he felt his left knee "pop" as he was making a turn on a steep pitch high on CB's run. Thrown aloft, he slammed down on his left side and never got up.
"The snow was really aggressive and it just grabbed the ski."

Head games

He credits Boston based sports psychologist David Striegel and his mentor and part-time coach Dean Nicholas to develop mental toughness for his strong, positive outlook. "Toughness is a matter of being in adverse conditions and knowing you're committed," Schlopy said.