Lindsey Vonn, 40, is mourning the loss of her youth ski coach Erich Sailer, who passed away this week at the age of 99. Renowned as “The Yoda of Ski Coaching,” the charismatic Austrian built a lasting legacy in American alpine skiing after moving to the United States in the 1950s, where he founded racing camps that helped shape generations of racers.
Vonn, one of the sport’s most celebrated figures with three Olympic medals (gold in 2010 and bronzes in 2018), paid a heartfelt tribute to Sailer on Instagram following the news of his passing, just shy of his 100th birthday. In a post filled with archival photos of herself, Sailer, and her father, Alan Kildow, she expressed how deeply he touched her life.
“Yesterday my coach passed away. It’s hard to put into words how much of an impact Erich Sailer had on my life, but I will try…,” she wrote, describing Sailer as more than a coach and more than a mentor to her family. She recalled that he had known her father for 62 years and had been part of her life since birth. Vonn emphasized that Sailer’s influence helped shape who she is as a skier and as a person, and she thanked him for the unwavering belief he showed in her, even as she approaches the final seasons of her career. She ended with a personal vow to keep racing fast in his honor and to carry his lessons forward on and off the mountain.
Sailer’s impact extended beyond Vonn. He coached four other U.S. Ski Team members—Kristina Koznick, Julia Mancuso, Sarah Schleper, and Resi Stiegler—through his Buck Hill, Minnesota racing program, a partnership that helped put Buck Hill on the map as a premier training site for competitive alpine skiing. The coach’s long-running program is remembered for turning a small ski hill into a breeding ground for elite racers and for instilling a deep love for the sport in countless athletes.
Sailer’s family and followers celebrate a life dedicated to skiing, coaching, and fostering talent. His “training with heart” approach and lifelong commitment to the sport left an indelible mark on American skiing culture and on the countless athletes who benefited from his guidance. His legacy lives on in the speed and skill of the racers he mentored and in the continued tradition of Buck Hill’s racing camps.
If readers want to honor his memory, plans across the skiing community often include moments on the mountain to celebrate the coaches who shaped generations of athletes. Sailer’s influence will likely continue to be felt in the next wave of skiers who rise through Buck Hill and the camps he built, carrying forward the lessons he imparted and the passion he sparked for the sport.