A talented musician as well as a ski racer, Laurenne Ross is a four-discipline threat both on and off the snow, with incredible talent on violin, piano, guitar and vocals. Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Ross cut her teeth at a small local hill but headed to the Rockies on weekends, where she raced her Dad (a former alpine racer) to the lodge.

Since her World Cup debut in 2010, it was evident the podium wasn't going to be too far behind. Ross proved that in 2013, but here's the real story – Ross was one of six American women to land on the World Cup speed podium last season, meaning coaches had a super-tough decision to make on who to start during the World Champs downhill. Ultimately, Ross was left off the start.

Did it bum her out? Maybe. But it didn't hurt her motivation. She slammed home a downhill second at the very next race in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. She then came back to the U.S. to win the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships super G title over a hard-charging Julia Mancuso on her home snow in Squaw Valley.

By the numbers Ross finished top 30 in the World Cup overall, downhill, super G and combined standings. The women's speed team, meanwhile, won the World Cup downhill standings. Not bad, not bad at all.

LAURENNE SAYS
I really had no idea where I was in the downhill standings before Garmisch. I didn’t want to look. I didn’t want to know. I just knew that I had to be fast. So I just put it all out on the line and I’m psyched. I’m so happy that I made it and I got on the podium. It actually locked my spot at the World Cup Finals for downhill and I'm proud of that.

It’s so cool to have the support of this group of teammates who are always happy for you. And to have them in the finish when I was walking through: it’s just something special. They’re there for you and that means a lot to me.

FIRST TRACKS
One of three daughters, Ross picked up skiing at age two because of her father’s former alpine racing career. Like father, like daughter. The family kicked around at Snow Valley in Edmonton but headed to Canmore on the weekends, where Ross raced a bit at Lake Louise, Mt. Norquay and Nakiska. After two seasons on the Development Team, Ross upped her status to the C-Team for 2010, but a haul of NorAm titles upgraded her in a hurry and she jumped to the top tier after the 2011 season.

OFF THE SNOW
It's all about rock climbing, playing music, knitting and drawing. If there's a microphone around and music playing, Ross is in – on both – the music and the microphone. She's spearheaded many a winter jam sessions on tour with teammates Mancuso, Cook, McKennis and Smith, which spurred the FIS to make a film about the band. Summertime is spent working on her home, which she bought at the opening of the 2012 season, as well as catching up on classes – mostly art – at the University of Oregon.