Born in upstate New York, Erik Schlopy began his ski career at the tender age of 2 at Kissing Bridge, located near Buffalo, and honed his skills in Stowe, VT. He made the Ski Team at 18, retired briefly after 1995, then earned a spot on the Team in 1999 after paying his own way the season prior. A two-time Olympian, Schlopy has seven U.S. titles to his credit and won bronze in giant slalom at the '03 World Championships.
Update
After missing the 2004 season following surgery on his left ACL, Schlopy made a solid return to World Cup racing in '05, finishing sixth in giant slalom at Beaver Creek and racing in his fourth World Championships. As he prepares for his third Olympics, the ex-Worlds giant slalom medallist has tightened his focus to GS and slalom, putting thoughts of super G on the shelf so all his energy can go toward those two flawless runs in Torino in February.
Start-Up
Schlopy started skiing at Kissing Bridge, near Buffalo, when he was 2. When the family moved to Stowe, VT, a few years later, he developed through the Mount Mansfield Ski Club, then went to Burke Mountain Academy. Eastern junior champ at 14, he was J-1 slalom/GS champ at 16, on the Ski Team by 18. He retired from the World Cup in 1995 but returned after the '99 season, having paid for a year of training and traveling, and working his way back to the Ski Team.
First World Cup
Nov. 28, 1992, in Sestriere, Italy (DNF-1 in GS).
Olympics/Worlds Experience
2005 Worlds - 17th in GS. 2003 Worlds—GS bronze, 15th in SL. 2002 Olympics—14th in SL, did not start 2nd run in GS. 2001 Worlds—21st in SL, DNF-1 in GS. 1994 Olympics—34th in GS. 1993 - Did not compete, injured in DH training.
Injuries
2003—Crashed in just second giant slalom of the season, tearing knee ligaments and sidelining him for the rest of the season. 2002—Undiagnosed preseason bout with mononucleosis, which led to bronchitis during the winter, hobbled him all season. 1993—Horrendous crash in downhill training (so he would be familiar with Morioka's course for the super G) caused multiple injuries, including fractured vertebrae and compressed sternum. He returned to racing with '94 season, raced in the Olympics.
Personal
As he raced his way back to the Ski Team during the '99 season, Schlopy bought a minivan—alternately called "Dream Machine" after good training or racing sessions, "Death Star" on bad days... He carried the 2002 Olympic torch, taking it from Mom, Marny, during the Torch Run and dedicated his two-tenths of a mile "to all the mothers who've made it possible for their children to chase their dreams"...He and former Olympic swimming champion and Fox Sports TV personality Summer Sanders, who started dating while he was recovering from that knee surgery in 2004, are planning to marry after the Olympics, but no date has been set...Schlopy's a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan...
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Erik Schlopy
Born: Aug. 21, 1972, Buffalo, NY
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 190 lbs.
Resides in Park City, UT
Highlights:
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6th in Beaver Creek GS in '05 |
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2005 U.S. giant slalom champion |
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'03 Worlds GS bronze medal |
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'03: Top-5s in GS, top-10s in SL |
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4th in '03 Kranjska Gora, Kvitfjell GS |
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3rd overall (two podiums) in '01 GS points |
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Seven-time U.S. champion |
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