MINNESOTA, USA — Erich Sailer, the legendary Austrian-born ski coach who transformed American ski racing and inspired generations of athletes, has died at the age of 99, just shy of his 100th birthday.

Sailer moved to the United States in the 1950s and went on to become one of the most influential figures in the sport. For decades, he was the driving force behind the Buck Hill Ski Team in Burnsville — an unassuming hill that, under his guidance, became one of the nation’s premier training grounds for slalom talent.

Sailer’s coaching philosophy combined rigorous technique with an infectious enthusiasm for the sport. Over his long career, he coached and mentored countless athletes, including Olympians such as Lindsey Vonn and Kristina Koznick, while also dedicating himself to nurturing ski

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