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Schleper returns to slopes, will ski for Mexico

By WTOP Staff

PAT GRAHAM
AP Sports Writer

Sarah Schleper has one stringent rule around her house these days: The family must speak in Spanish and that even applies to her 1-year-old daughter, who’s quickly learned to say “Hola!”

Just a way for the longtime American skier to become more fluent in the language of her recently adopted country.

The four-time Olympian will have a new passport when she returns to the World Cup circuit this season after retiring 2½ years ago. The Colorado skier just became a citizen of Mexico, where her husband is from. The International Ski Federation signed off on her decision to compete for Mexico, too, approving her release from the U.S. squad.

“You never really dream that you will be from somewhere else,” Schleper said in an interview from Cabo San Lucas, where she’s spent the last few weeks as she finished up the naturalization process. “I love the United States — it is an honor and a privilege to be born here, so many people want that, but it feels amazing to be a dual citizen of Mexico.

“I love that it opens up a whole new world.”

For now, Schleper’s goal remains modest in her return — race at the world championships next February in her hometown of Vail, Colorado.

Down the road, the 35-year-old wants to represent her new nation’s green, white and red flag at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.

“It’s going to be fun to be out there again and see all my friends, just to be on tour again,” said Schleper, who had four World Cup podium finishes, including a win in 2005, during a career with the U.S. that spanned from 1995 to 2011. “I just want to give it a shot.”

Schleper will compete only in giant slalom events, starting Oct. 25 in Soelden, Austria. And she will race under her familiar name, even though she vigorously lobbied to change her last name to that of her husband, Federico Gaxiola, a native of Mexico City whom she married in 2007.

The undertaking to gain Mexican citizenship actually began a while ago for Schleper, in the hope the paperwork could be completed in time for her to race at the Sochi Olympics. She fully envisioned being there with one of the country’s most famous skiers, Hubertus Von Hohenlohe, the German prince who’s represented the nation at six Winter Games.

No such luck, though.

“It was so hard — my hardest Olympics yet,” joked Schleper, who’s still trying to line up funding.

The last time Schleper competed in a World Cup race was Dec. 29, 2011, in Lienz, Austria, and she went out in style. She wore a beige dress for the occasion and stopped halfway down the slalom course to scoop up her young son, Lasse, so she could carry him across the finish line.

A memorable final run before stepping away for good — or so she thought, anyway.

Returning to the U.S. team wasn’t really an option, though. Not due to any sort of falling out, but rather because “the thrill of taking on the challenge of a new team and the chance to do it differently was what attracted me to racing for Mexico.”

No hard feelings from the American side, either.

“We respect her decision to take on a new challenge and hope to see her racing again at the world championship level this winter in Vail-Beaver Creek,” Alpine director Patrick Riml said in a statement.

Plenty has changed since she left the race scene. Longtime friends on the tour have called it a career. Teenager Mikaela Shiffrin has emerged as one of the faces of the sport. And, oh yeah, Schleper and her husband welcomed another child a year ago, naming their daughter Resi after U.S. skier Resi Stiegler.

Even in retirement, Schleper just couldn’t resist the lure of the slopes, spending 150 days on snow this past winter.

“I feel like my skis are my shoes,” said Schleper, who did some private coaching in Vail. “I just feel comfortable on skis.”

Now, it’s time for a new chapter — with a new country and a new child along for the ride. She and her husband used to take Lasse all around the globe, but now Lasse is in school and her husband is starting a career as a real estate broker in Vail.

So Resi and Schleper’s mother-in-law will be her new travel companions.

“My daughter needs to see the world a little bit, too,” Schleper said. “It just wouldn’t be fair otherwise.”

___

Online: http://vivasarah.com

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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