The Anderson family grew up skiing in Sandpoint and climbed the competitive ladder to ski-racing together for the University of Idaho Ski team.
Erik, Drew, Ashley and Lindsey Anderson are nationally ranked ski racers and four of the top skiers on UI’s team.
“It’s just like a family thing that we have done our whole lives,” Erik said. “Growing up, I started racing and then everybody else started racing.”
They have competed against countless skiers since the beginning of their racing careers, but the Andersons said sibling rivalries have been the most beneficial. Brothers Erik and Drew used intra-family competition to hone their skills, Drew said.
“We were competitive growing up,” Drew said. “Skiing just became our biggest competition with each other and it made us better skiers.”
Ashley and Lindsey said they don’t have the big sister, little sister rivalry — being twins, but that does not make their rivalry any less competitive.
“It was always intense because you don’t want to be the second person behind your sibling,” Ashley said.
Ashley said she and Lindsey always tried to beat their older brothers and the sisters disagree on whether they ever actually beat them. Ashley said she wasn’t really worried about beating the boys though.
“Lindsey was always my biggest competition and we switched off getting first and second quite often so it was pretty fun,” Ashley said.
Erik said it is definitely a family rivalry for him, but one that he enjoys. He said they skied every day growing up and were always racing each other.
Erik, the eldest Anderson, led his siblings to choose UI for college. After a two-year break from school to try for the U.S. Ski Team, Erik said racing became full-time work and eventually burnt him out.
Erik said he told his dad he was ready to go to college and start a new chapter in his life.
” I didn’t think I was going to race when I came here but Brett Bullard, who I met through rush, really pushed me to do it and I definitely wouldn’t take that back,” Erik said.
Erik is the president of the ski club this year. Ashley is vice president and said even though her brother gives her a lot of responsibility, it’s fun. She said she is excited about getting more involved and learning about being a leader. She is also grateful for the people she gets to meet through participation in the club.
“It is so fun and you definitely connect with a lot of people,” Ashley said. “It’s like a family on the ski team, everyone bonds and since everyone has skiing in common everyone can just relate really well and I am just really glad I joined.”
Lindsey said the team is really close-knit and it has been easy to relate with everyone on the club because they all have a desire to ski.
Both sisters said the brothers have done what most big brothers would and scared a few guys off but that they would not want it any other way.
“We always have someone there if we need someone to talk to or help with school because they already know the ropes since they are seniors and it’s been great having them around,” Lindsey said.
The Anderson siblings also all have a personal goal in common.
“The ultimate goal is to graduate, I’m here for an education and ski racing on the side,” Erik said.
Coach McMurtry said he never imagined having four siblings on the same team at the collegiate level and that it has been really special having them on the team.
“They are nationally ranked competitors and so they are strong in the entire Northwest which is pretty remarkable to have four at the University of Idaho where we are a non-scholarship club sport,” McMurtry said.
He said they have a great pedigree for racing and all four of them are capable of winning races and leading the team.
“It’s just really fun to be around them and they are just really fun spirited kids,” McMurtry said.