“It’s about changing perspectives and setting a new standard for what it means to be older and an athlete. Especially if you’re a woman.” At 40, that is exactly what Lindsey Vonn felt when she decided to come out of a five-year retirement last winter. Yet, few losses cut as deeply as the one she shared this week. Her childhood coach, Erich Sailer, the man who helped shape her into one of the greatest Alpine skiers in history, passed away at the age of 99. For Vonn, this wasn’t just the passing of a coach; it was the departure of a family figure who had been there since the very beginning.

In true Vonn fashion, she found a way to honor him in words that carried as much weight as her countless medals. The message came through a deeply personal Instagram post that walked us down her memory lane.

“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…” Vonn began, before painting a vivid picture of the man who coached not just her, but also her father, for decades. “Erich was more than my ski coach. More than my father’s ski coach. Erich was my family. My father has known him for 62 years and he has been a part of my life since I was born. There is no doubt that I would not be the person or skier I am today without him.”

That reflection wasn’t just about her own career, though. Vonn made sure to underscore Sailer’s impact on the sport itself. He turned Buck Hill, Minnesota, a modest slope, into a premier racing program. Sailer “single handedly did more for skiing than any other coach in America and perhaps the world.” Few tributes capture a legacy so powerfully.

The race camps Sailer founded in America, Lindsey Vonn was trained there since she was a little girl. And that’s probably why Lindsey Vonn couldn’t stop at just remembering his past. She carried him forward into her present. She vowed to make her last turns on the snow meaningful for him, carrying his belief into every starting gate.

Her words closed with a poignant farewell: “Ich liebe dich Erich. Give my Mom a hug up there for me. Until we meet again.”

When she made her comeback this year at the World Cup in Sun Valley, Idaho, Erich Sailer was sitting thousands of miles away. But he never missed supporting her with all his energy. In fact, talking about the chances of Vonn’s Olympics return with KARE 11, the coach laughed and affirmed, “Of course!”

The question now is not how much Erich Sailer gave to skiing, but how much his spirit will continue to inspire every run Lindsey Vonn makes in her final season.

Nevertheless, Sailer’s legacy will be everlasting in the US Alpine Skiing arena.

The legacy of Erich Sailer, America’s most influential junior ski coach

Sailer immigrated to the United States in the 1950s, and he wasted no time in making his mark on the sport. From the relatively modest hills of Minnesota, he built Buck Hill into one of the nation’s premier junior racing programs. His coaching philosophy was relentless yet nurturing, instilling both technical precision and mental toughness in his skiers.

Over a career that spanned decades, Sailer trained more than 25,000 athletes, shaping not only their skiing but also their lives. Widely regarded as the most influential junior ski coach in U.S. history, Erich Sailer left behind a legacy that stretched far beyond the slopes of Buck Hill, Minnesota. But for the Buck Hill Ski Team in Burnsville, he was the driving force for decades.

Erich Sailer even launched summer training camps during the 1950s at Mount Hood, Oregon. Aspiring racers from around the world came here, setting new standards for development in skiing in the US. He dedicated his life to the growth of skiing and was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.

Lindsey Vonn’s father, Alan Kildow, too talked about Erich Sailer’s style of coaching, and that pretty much summed up his approach. “He wasn’t just a coach, he was a psychologist… He had a unique perspective on skiing techniques, but he also understood how to help kids navigate the mental aspect of the sport and gain confidence.”

The impact of his training is felt most visibly through the champions he produced—Olympians like Lindsey Vonn, Kristina Koznick, Julia Mancuso, Sarah Schleper, and Resi Stiegler all trace part of their journey back to his guidance.

Kristina Koznick, one of his star protégés with 6 World Cup wins, also echoed the deep sense of loss felt across the ski racing community. “There are no words. My heart is broken, yet I have never felt more grateful. You were my coach. You were my mentor. You poured your heart and soul into me,” she wrote in tribute, underscoring how Sailer’s influence extended far beyond results.

No doubt that Erich Sailer’s name will forever remain synonymous with American ski racing excellence. RIP Legend.