Photo by: Rich Clarkson and Associates
Sophomore alpine skier Sterling Grant, who went undefeated in the slalom during the 2011 season and claimed the NCAA championship title as a freshman, is back on the slopes as the Pioneers begin their 2012 season.
“She’s a coach’s dream,” said head alpine coach Andy LeRoy. “She came to the team already good enough to win pretty much every race. She didn’t necessarily need to work harder to get better, but she did, and she brought the whole team with her.”
Grant, who was named First Team All-American after her performance last season, also won the slalom at the 2011 Winter World University Games in Erzurum, Turkey, Jan. 27 through Feb. 6 of last year.
Before coming to DU, Grant was a member of the U.S. Ski Team for five years, beginning with her junior year of high school in 2005. She declined a nomination to the 2010 team in order to begin her education at DU, standing at 4th in the U.S. and 39th in the world for slalom.
“DU has great academics and great athletics,” said Grant. “I already knew both coaches and knew it was a great school to be at.”
Grant began skiing at the age of one and a half in Amery, Wis., and said her mother is the one that encouraged her to begin racing. At 12, she began traveling more than 80 miles each way to train at Buck Hill, Minn., with Erich Sailer.
Sailer, a 2006 inductee into the National Ski Hall of Fame, also coached 2010 Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn.
“Skiing is a lot of fun,” said Grant. “There are a lot of different variables in it; every course and every slope is different. It’s an adrenaline rush, and it’s a great way to stay active.”
By the time Grant came to DU, she had compiled 19 slalom wins and 35 slalom podiums since she began racing in the International Ski Federation at the age of 15.
Grant established herself as a competitor early in her career as a Pioneer, skiing in 12 of 15 races for Denver during her freshman year and finishing the season undefeated.
“[Going undefeated] was a big accomplishment for me,” said Grant. “Before every race, I just didn’t think about it. I just focused, and it worked out in the end.”
LeRoy, currently in his sixth season as head coach for the Pioneers, said he’s never seen a season like Grant’s debut and doesn’t know how to describe it.
“She came in at a pretty high level and throughout the season she continued to grow,” said LeRoy. “If I knew what it takes to do that [go undefeated], then we’d do it a lot more. It’s just impressive.”
The slalom race, which involves skiing between poles, called gates, is an extremely technical and fast-paced event, involving quick, short turns at high speeds.
“[To be an alpine skier] takes a drive, a competitive side,” said Grant. “You compete individually, but in the big picture it’s a team sport. You have to have a positive mentality. You have to not only push yourself, but the team as well.”
Grant also competes in the giant slalom, a more spacious version of the slalom. Last season, she earned a season-best 9th-place finish in the giant slalom at the RMISA Qualifier. She also finished 18th in the event at the NCAA championships.
The Pioneers, who finished 5th as a team at the NCAA championships last year, were led by six All-Americans, including Grant.
At DU, Grant is currently pursuing a business management degree with the hopes of attending fashion school post-graduation.
“I have always been interested in fashion and the latest trends,” said Grant. “I’d like to maybe start an athletic line or be on the business side of things.”
According to LeRoy, Grant’s dedication to her academics is one of the most impressive aspects about her.
“She’s obviously driven in her athletics, and her success shows the attention she puts into it,” said LeRoy. “But the attention she pays to her academics is even better. She’s driven on both ends, and that isn’t always the case with an athlete at this level. She even skips training to keep up on her classwork.”
So far this season, the Pioneers have made several showings. Grant finished 2nd at the University of Colorado Spencer J. Nelson Memorial Invitational last week, breaking her undefeated streak. At the DU Invitational, held over the weekend at Winter Park, Colo., Grant started in the third position, but finished 17th after falling on the last gate of her first run.
“This season, I’m just going to continue trying my best and going in with a positive mindset,” said Grant. “I have to push my team and myself and hopefully we’ll win the NCAA.”
