Lila Lapanja had just finished her first driving lesson when she got the call from the U.S. Ski Team in early 2011. "I was so excited. I've been working so hard for it, and it's just one step closer to my dream of being an Olympic ski racer," said Lapanja, who learned of her nomination at the summit of Mt. Rose Highway.

Fast-forward a few years and Lapanja has won back-to-back junior combined titles at the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships. She also upped her regional game during the 2013 season by landing top 10 in both the NorAm slalom and super combined standings. Plus, she stomped a 15th in slalom at her first Junior World Championships.