Bellevue skier retires from U.S. racing team

Bellevue's Libby Ludlow, who has been recovering from microfracture surgery, announced her retirement Tuesday after 10 years on the U.S. Ski Team.

Ludlow's dream of skiing in the nearby Vancouver Olympics wasn't to be.

"It was clear that now is my time to walk away," Ludlow, 26, told U.S. Skiing. "I feel really good about my career, and I am excited about what lies ahead."

Ludlow, who began skiing at age 2 at Crystal Mountain and racing with Crystal Mountain Alpine Club at 6, said she will take a year to finish her undergraduate degree — in philosophy modified by Eastern religion — at Dartmouth, then work toward certification as a yoga instructor.

She has a career to look back on with pride: She made the Turin Olympic team, won the 2004 giant slalom national crown, and posted 45 top-30 World Cup finishes, three of them top 10s. She also skied on the 2003 and 2007 World Championships teams. She was ranked 10th in the world in super G at the dawn of the 2007 racing season.

"The fact that I am healthy right now and can walk away from the sport healthy, happy and satisfied with what I've accomplished is what I've always wanted," Ludlow said.

She also was a talented athlete off the slopes. Ludlow was a soccer midfielder and won a state girls pole-vaulting title at Interlake High School, where she graduated first in her class.

Ron Judd: 206-464-8280 or at rjudd@seattletimes.com