Intro

My name is Katharine Irwin.  I am 19 years old from Vail, CO and a current member of the US Ski Team Europa Cup Speed Team.  As an alpine ski racer skiing mostly Downhill, Super G and Giant Slalom.  Being a member of the US Ski Team is a HUGE accomplishment, but I, along with many other athletes, do not receive any funding from the US Ski Team.  This year my team fees are a minimum of $25,000.  I could not have accomplished all that I have thus far without the support of my friends, family, and coaches.  

Please join my in my Rally to reach my goals of representing the USA in the Winter Olympics, the 2015 World Championship, and the World Cup Tour.  

The Why
It is no secret that ski racing is a very expensive sport.  Being nominated for the US Ski Team while still in High School and continuing on with the team for the years immediately following has given me little time for a job.  If I am not out somewhere skiing I am in the gym training from 8 AM-3 PM five days a week or more.  I am passionate about my goal to make it to the top, and will do everything in my power to achieve my goal.  I hope that my passion for the sport of Alpine Ski racing will inspire other young women to push themselves to their limits and beyond in sports and academics and beyond…  If I achieve my own goal, my life will change as I to show others how hard work, passion, and focus can make a little kids dream come true.


Your story, your background
I grew up in Vail, Colorado with Vail and Beaver Creek Mountains for my back yard. I lived on the mountains whether it was summer or winter.  I started skiing, on my own, at age 1 1/2.   Before I could walk, I “skied” in my Mom’s backpack—always telling her “Faster! Faster!”  I fell in love with the sport immediately.

I joined Ski & Snowboard Club Vail (SSCV) around the age of five, skiing mostly on the weekends. I skied the entire mountain and especially loved skiing on little trails in the trees.  Shortly after joining SSCV I started to race the Vail Cup Races on the weekends.  That is when I fell in love with racing.  At age seven, I moved up to the race program and have never stopped racing.

I was nominated to the US Ski Team when I was 16 years old.  I completed high school while on the road with the USST with a 4.0 GPA.  This winter will be my third season with the US Ski Team.  Many people ask me what is it about ski racing that has kept me at it for over a decade. The answer is simple, but hard to put into words.  The feeling you get when you make a perfect turn, the rush of going 75+ MPG on skinny little skis, the community, the support of teammates and friends, pushing your physical and mental limits  to the extreme maximum.   

Finally, if you have ever run a Downhill or Super G and have been super scared at the top, but you make yourself push out of that start and you know that you have to put your fears aside and ski or you will get hurt, but when you reach the finish line all you want to do is to go do it again.  These are the reasons I love this sport and it might not make any sense to people unfamiliar with the sport and maybe even non skier, but  ski racing is crazy fun sport that is hard to put into words unless you have experienced it yourself.

Successes
1st Place NorAm Super G, Panorama, BC, Canada 2013                                  
11th Super G & Downhill, US Nationals, Squaw Valley CA & Copper Mtn , CO
7th overall NorAm Super G Standing                                                    
2012, 2013, & 2014 member of the US Ski Team       
J2 National Champion SG 1st, GS 1st                                  


My Team
I have been extremely fortunate to grow up in a community with a world class ski club in my back yard, so I would like to thank Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, Dan Stripp and Nick Foster (my SSCV coaches the year I made the USST), the Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy, the Vail Valley Foundation, the Town of Vail, the US Ski Team, and finally my coaches on the Ski Team the past few years: Seth McCadam, Mike Prado, Trevor Wagnor, Jeff Pickering, and Jonathan Weyant.  Also I would not be here without the support of my family: my mother Diane Boyer, my father Dudley Irwin, and my sister Jocelyn Irwin.

Other Ways To Help
Thank you for taking the time to support my Rally.  Please help me spread the word by sharing my Rally via facebook, twitter, or simply emailing it to all your friends.