Potential defines her

American Laurenne Ross’ style sets her apart from other top skiers

Associated Press

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany

Laurenne Ross is not your average skier.

And that’s not because she sticks her tongue out at the cameras, wears a nose ring or sports dreadlocks.

Well, OK, that’s part of it.

But what really sets this 22-year-old World Cup rookie apart is her talent, speed, and — perhaps most of all — potential.

“She’s a five-event skier but I have a feeling that she will be the future of our speed team,” American teammate Julia Mancuso said.

That seems fairly evident following Ross’ performance at her first world championships over the past week.

She started off with a 16th-place finish in the super-G, her best career result in that discipline, then was fifth in the downhill portion of the super-combined before straddling a gate in the slalom leg and hiking back up to finish 28th.

Her most impressive result came in the traditional downhill Sunday, where she finished 10th, one spot ahead of Swedish standout Anja Paerson.

“I really nailed the bottom part of the course,” Ross said. “It wasn’t a perfect run, but it was one of the better runs that I’ve had.”

The first skier out of the gate, Ross registered the second-fastest speed of any skier on the lower section — 67 mph. She fell upon crossing the finish line but bounced right up and stuck her tongue out, as is her custom.

“She’s a tough chick,” U.S. speed coach Chip White said. “She’s been building all season long and it’s really not a surprise for us, because we’ve been working with her for a long time and she’s doing a great job. But she showed it on game day today and we’re psyched.”

Ross was born in Edmonton, Alberta, and moved from Canada to Klamath Falls, Oregon, when she was 7. Her father Robert competed for the Alberta ski team until he was 20 and taught Ross to ski when she was two.

“I don’t know if I actually did it or he carried me, but I’m glad he did that,” she said.

While Ross has dual citizenship, there was never any doubt she would compete for the U.S. Ski Team.

“It’s just sort of the practicality of it. It’s hard to switch countries when you already have your FIS license. You have to start over with points and everything, and I like the U.S. Ski Team, I like where I’m at and I love my teammates,” she said. “There’s really no point in skiing for Canada when I live in the states.”

Laurenne has no trouble keeping busy off the slopes.

She’s an amateur photographer, she plays a multitude of instruments — piano, violin, cello and guitar — and also likes to sing and draw.

Ross got into photography when she took a class at Westminster College in Salt Lake City over the summer.

“I started developing and shooting my own stuff and that’s when I fell in love with the dark room and the process of photography in general,” she said, adding that she just bought herself a semiprofessional camera.

Her current instrument of choice is the guitar.

“I bring my guitar everywhere,” she said. “I used to travel with my violin, but I picked up the guitar last November and since then I’ve just been teaching myself.”

On occasion, she plays for her teammates.

“I am no [Carlos] Santana,” she said. “I’m OK.”