Usually when people say things are going downhill fast it’s a bad omen. But for Reilly Wahlers the whole point of her sport is to go downhill as fast as she can, and the more speed she can generate on her skis the better.
When Reilly first began skiing at age 5, no one would guess that she would emerge as one of the best ski racers in northern Minnesota as an 11 year-old.
But with the culmination of the 2012 Region 1 Planet Cup ski races, Wahlers has won first place in the slalom, first place in the giant slalom, 4th place in the Kombi and 1st overall in the 11-12 age group division.
To win the title, Reilly had to compete against about 80 girls in the J5 division. Skiers come from Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Iowa. The skiers competed in a series of races this winter, with the best 7 races out of 12 counted in the slalom, and 5 of the best races in the giant slalom, and the best 3 out of 5 races counted in the Kombi.
Reilly began skiing at 5 and racing at age “6 or 7,” said her father, Max Wahlers. She races and trains with the local ski team at Lutsen headed up by Charles Lamb and Rick Backstrom, and competes for Team Duluth, traveling once a week for training with her Duluth team. She also traveled to Colorado last fall to participate in a weeklong ski camp, said Max.
Eight Duluth area athletes were selected for the Junior Championships Alpine J3 Rocky Central Regional in Vail, Colorado. These athletes have qualified from the Central Region Alpine Division to represent Duluth and the surrounding area. These 13- and-14 year-old athletes will be racing events including Downhill, Super G, Giant Slalom and Slalom the week of March 4-10. Members of the Duluth Superior Alpine Club include Nick Fontaine, Will Lamb (Lutsen Alpine Club), Tyler Winberg, Madison Danelski, Kristen Johnston, Stephanie Anderson, Luci Billings, McKenzie Bremmel.
Last winter Reilly placed 3rd in the Planet Cup series, a strong finish for the season. A year older, stronger and more focused, this time out she didn’t surprise anyone, she just outraced her rivals.
As good as Reilly is, there is no resting on her laurels. “She’s not very good at the Kombi yet,” her father said.
The Kombi is a mixture of slalom and giant slalom where skiers have to get used to controlling their speed through wide turns and then short, quick turns.
Begun in 2003, the Planet Cup was introduced as a season-long series recognizing the excellence for the Junior 4, 5, and 6 racers. As kids progress in the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA), they can advance to National Championships, the U.S. Alpine Championships, the World Cup and ultimately the Olympics.
Team Lutsen’s Will Lamb skiing the Super G at the Junior Champs in Vail.
For now Max and Lisa Wahlers say they are proud of their hardworking daughter’s accomplishments no matter what the future of skiing holds for her.
“She’s done a lot in a short time. She’s gotten better and better,” said Max, adding that none of this would happen if not for her two local coaches, Charles Lamb and Rick Backstrom.
“They are volunteers who give so much to the kids. I can’t thank them enough for their efforts and their dedication,” Max said.
Reilly Wahlers holds two of the three first place trophies she recently won racing in the Region 1 Planet Cup series. Reilly beat about 80 girls from the Midwest to claim the overall trophy and the slalom and giant slalom events. She is the daughter of Lisa and Max Wahlers of Grand Marais.
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