Originally published Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 12:00 AM
E-mail article
Print viewBellevue 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.S. Ski Team...
Seattle Times staff columnist
PREV
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
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
E-mail article
Print view
Digg
Newsvine
How to score 2010 Olympic tickets; last big batch goes on sale Thursday
Ron Judd: Anger replaces elation over extra Olympic tickets
40,000 more Winter Olympic tickets to go on sale next week
2009 fireworks time lapse
With strict parking rules enforced at this year's July 4th celebration on Wallingford Ave North, less cars and more spectators filled the streets.
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
shopping
events for Sunday, Jul. 5th
- IKEA Summer Sale
- REI Summer Sale and Clearance
- Seattle Premium Outlets July 4th Summ...
- Kibbn Storewide Summer Sale
editors' picks
More shopping guides
- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Landmark Smith Tower mostly vacant
- Former NFL MVP McNair killed
- Russell Branyan, Mariners fight off the Red Sox
- Property taxes: Appeals shoot up in King, Snohomish Counties
- Palin takes to Web for hints of political future
- Fourth of July festivals and fireworks in Seattle, the suburbs and beyond
- Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' and blasts media in Facebook posting
- Hard times for tourist towns means good deals for travelers
- Tenn. police rule ex-QB McNair's death a homicide
- Palin resigning as Alaska governor
786 - Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox: 07/05 game thread 247
- Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' and blasts media in Facebook posting 164
- Hatred for the NBA runs deep, but don't take it out on the players 132
- Tukwila residents rally against light-rail noise 118
- Former NFL MVP McNair killed 112
- Property taxes: Appeals shoot up is King, Snohomish Counties 103
- Tent City on campus: UW stalls decision 96
- Anti-tax rally in Olympia attracts about 1,500 64
- Seeking your questions 49
- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Property taxes: Appeals shoot up in King, Snohomish Counties
- Merchant Marine veterans fight for recognition
- Hard times for tourist towns means good deals for travelers
- Landmark Smith Tower mostly vacant
- Close-up | Prison guards intercept carrier pigeon with a cellphone
- Amtrak cleared for 2nd daily train to Vancouver, B.C.
- Tent City on campus: UW stalls decision
- Pre-grill drill: marinate steaks
- Concert Review | Green Day blasts off 4th weekend with KeyArena show
