When people think about South Korea, what usually comes to mind?
Some might think of the Olympic games, tantalizing Korean food and the first time the United States was defeated in war.
Nothing comes to mind about snow covered peaks and the burning passion for extreme skiing in the heart of Korea.
But don't tell that to this a six-year old girl perched atop the blistering cold peak of Spirit Mountain in Duluth, Minn. It is her first time strapping on a pair of boots and skis as she anxiously awaits her first drop to the bottom. Little did anyone know, this native South Korean would end up high atop the mountains of New Mexico, home of the University of New Mexico ski team, racing down the slopes towards a collegiate championship.
Thousands of miles away, UNM freshman skier Gladys Weidt, was conceived in the bustling city of Seoul, South Korea to her Korean parents. Four months after her birth and for unclear reasons two Americans from Duluth, Minn., MaryAnn and David Weidt, adopted her. So, just how did this girl with Korean blood get so enveloped in this cold weather sport?
"My parents weren't into skiing at all," Weidt said. "But in Minnesota, there isn't much else to do but ski. They put my brother and I into a Christmas ski camp and from then on, we went. My brother started racing competitively first, then I started racing at about age 11."
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Staying competitive in the same sport is a challenge because of the intangibles such as burnout and injury, but Weidt has always possessed a burning desire for thrills and risk taking.
"I consider myself a risk taker," she said. "I always like to give 100 percent and never hold back."
Weidt credits the intense rush that comes from flying down the mountain and the nauseating nervousness before the races to keep her motivated.
Weidt did not come all the way to New Mexico on scholarship without a great mentor to keep her motivated. Scott Ransom, her first ski coach in Minnesota, was her adamant inspiration.
"Scott just really loves the sport and he helped me stay with it," Weidt said. "Also, all my friends and girlfriends skied with me and we thought it was so much fun that I kept on doing it."
Before leaving Minnesota, Weidt accomplished one of her dreams and her greatest skiing accolade thus far.
"I won the state high school ski championship in Minnesota," she said. "There are a ton of great skiers that come out of Minnesota and that was one of my biggest goals from the time I started skiing."
Weidt left her hometown of Duluth her junior year in high school and headed west to Colorado to finish her scholastic career.
In Colorado, Weidt was highly touted and was recruited from big time ski schools all over the Rocky Mountain region. Those included Denver University, the University of Colorado, the University of Utah and Montana State University. Weidt made the tough decision and decided to trek to UNM with the assurance of Lobo head coach George Brooks and fellow teammates.
"I talked to Brooks a lot in high school and he helped with the decision," Weidt said. "I know one of the other girls, sophomore Helena Woodrow and she talked about the team and said she loved it her first year. I also know Monica Bruggeman and Jennifer Shively from racing in the central region in high school. And you know what, I just really love the weather out here."
From Korea, to Minnesota, to Colorado, and now New Mexico, Weidt has been in transition and experienced plenty throughout her adolescence, but she finds herself quite at home in the Land of Enchantment.
She finds herself among a team full of talent that is ranked third in the region behind Utah and Colorado.
"Our team is awesome and I love everyone on it," Weidt said. "We are always together and we love hanging out. It makes a big difference as a team. I've never raced on a team before and to be successful as a team, I think everyone has to get along."
Weidt has a bright future ahead of her, academically and athletically. Her two goals as a student-athlete remain ambitious as she strives to get her degree and hopes to go after her masters. She would also love to go after a broadcasting career. As for her and the ski team, the challenge is to win the NCAA Skiing Championships.
These goals don't seem too far fetched for this talented woman, who reaches for nothing less than the top.
