January Athlete of the Month: Leah Bickler
Photo submitted by Bickler.
Congratulations to January's female athlete of the month, Leah Bickler! Bicker is currently a sophomore here at Hamilton. She's on the girls’ varsity Menomonee Falls-Sussex-Germantown Alpine Ski Team. She competes in Slalom and Giant Slalom. The next race for her and her team is the Giant Slalom race on the 22nd at Holy Hill.
Bickler’s coach, Kenny Butler, states, “For Leah Bickler, excellence isn’t a moment of victory. It's her discipline to show up, work harder than required, and lead by example every day.”
Teammate Molly Todd, the ski race captain from Menomonee Falls, praises her, stating, “Leah is super nice and an amazing skier; she always shows up for the team. She’s always supporting us throughout the entire race.”
Congrats to Bickler! Read more to hear from her:
How long have you skied and why do you ski?
I have been skiing since I was seven years old because my dad and his whole family used to race when they were kids and he wanted me to try it out and I ended up really enjoying it.
Who is your athlete role model and why?
My athlete role model is Isaiah Nelson (men’s World Cup skier) because he came from a small ski hill in the Midwest and made it all the way to the World Cup. [This] inspires midwestern racers to keep going even though our circumstances are unfair compared to kids who come from a mountainous area like Colorado.
What is your main goal this season?
My main goal this season is to get 1st team all conference.
What are your future plans involving skiing?
My future plans involving skiing are to finish high school racing and then just ski for fun (on vacation mostly).
Do you play any other sports and if so what?
I play one other sport, which is club and varsity softball.
Besides skiing, what are some of your other hobbies?
My favorite hobbies include paddle boarding, wake surfing, kayaking, hiking, and biking.
What are your pre-race rituals?
My pre-race ritual usually consists of just talking to my coach, Kenny, and stretching/staying warm.
Do you have any teammates, coaches, parents, or other people in your life that have helped as an athlete?
My dad has definitely helped me as an athlete as he’s been my coach since I was really little, so he’s taught me everything I know and he’s very passionate about the sport which keeps me motivated. My sister also helps me by calming my nerves before races and she’s always there for me and supports me when I have a bad race.
