Laurenne Ross’ Quiet Victories

You’ve read about Lindsey Vonn’s domination on the North American and European slopes this winter—win after win, podium after podium, breaking records with each victory. But what you might not have read about are Laurenne Ross’ sneaky successes.

Ross happens to be one of the most dynamic athletes on the U.S. Ski Team – not only is she fast and fearless on the mountain, but she is a holistically intriguing woman off the mountain who approaches everything she does in a very individual style...with Laurenne Ross-flair. She writes beautiful prose. She strums a guitar and sings with a voice so beautiful it will quiet the most restless of spirits. She takes stunning photos. She has a keen eye for beauty. She creates.

So it’s no surprise that Ross, a speed skier like Vonn, is always searching for ways to find and create speed, in her own, unique Laurenne kind of way. She loves big air and wishes there was more on the women’s circuit. She cuts line. She’s been quietly fast throughout the season, recently snagging a strong finish at Garmisch, finishing fifth among the highly competitive field.

“It didn’t feel super, but it was nice to know that I still have that speed and that I’m still fast,” said Ross after Garmisch. “It was a surprise, but it was nice to be fast again.”

Ross stands in the start gate. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Michel Cottin)

While Ross has only three top-10 results this season, almost every finish has been in the top 20 and has slotted her into 13th overall in downhill and 11th overall in super G standings—a solid positioning for Ross.

Ross also spoke highly of her teammate Vonn and the friendship they have forged over the years. “She’s very helpful to all of us. She’s a really good teammate,” said Ross. “It’s pretty amazing to be part of her team and part of the history that she’s making. Sometimes it can be a little bit embarrassing to get beat by that much, but it’s really cool to be a part of it. To be her friend, be there for her and to have her there for us is a really wonderful thing.”

But Ross isn’t done and she’s ready to move back to the podium, where she has stood once before in Garmisch in 2013. Watch out, World Cup.