Slope success for OJR sibling duo
Ellie and Reilly Koitzsch compete in Pa. Alpine Racing Assoc. races
It’s no exaggeration to say Ellie and Reilly Koitzsch have been skiing practically their entire lives.
The East Coventry residents and Owen J. Roberts High School students are big into slalom skiing. They’ve been involved in skiing since age 3: Ellie — a senior at Owen J. leading the way, followed closely by brother and Roberts junior Reilly.
“They started when they were almost walking,” their father, Keith Koitzsch, said. “They’re dedicated in their training, juggling it with school work.”
For the past eight years, from late December through late March, the siblings trained at Elk Mountain Ski Resort in northeastern Pennsylvania, competing in the slalom and giant slalom disciplines against ski-racing program participants from other ski resorts across the entire state. They are officially members of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA), which governs regional and state organizations such as the Pennsylvania Alpine Racing Association (PARA).
“I’ve been skiing for as long as I can remember,” Reilly said. “I liked it and kept going.”
It was a strong season of competition for the Koitzschs. By competing in the eight U-19 Pennsylvania Cup Championship races throughout the 2022 race season, Ellie secured the last spot on the U-19 Pennsylvania State Team. It was a significant achievement, with only seven spots available in the entire state.
“You basically have to qualify under Top 10 every race,” she said.
Reilly also had a successful campaign this year. He placed 19th overall in the eight U-19 Pennsylvania Cup Championship races and narrowly missed out on the post-season.
“This year, there were improvements, especially in the giant slalom,” he said. “I’ve been injuryfree so far.”
Ellie Koitzsch later advanced to a regional championship event at Gore Mountain in upstate New York, representing PARA against racers from other New England states. She had additional success at that level, placing seventh in giant slalom and 20th in slalom.
In light of schedule revisions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the past season was enjoyable for Ellie.
“The winter of 2020 and 2021, all levels after the regular season
were shut down. I felt lucky to have a regular season,” she said.
“Ever since my injury (ACL tear in 9th grade), I’ve improved. This year was the best. This season I was excited to go in. I was hoping to make it, so I was happy.”
Ellie recalled starting in ski racing around age 10, picking up her involvement in the sport when she was in eighth grade.
When she was in ninth grade, she tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) playing soccer which precluded her from skiing for a year, but she’s bounced back.
“I felt I could come back,” she recalled, “so I started back up. There
was some hesitation at the beginning ... particularly with the giant slalom.”
Both expressed a preference for giant slalom, which differs from regular slalom skiing in terms of equipment and course layouts.
“The hills tend to be steeper and faster,” Reilly explained. “There’s more distance between the gates. You use longer skis and poles, also shin guards.”
“Giant slalom is longer, and the course wider,” Ellie added. “In regular slalom, the gates are tighter.”
While both their parents — Keith and their mother, Heather — influenced the teens’ involvement in slalom skiing, their father played a significant role in their development. A staff member at the high school and a game manager/scoreboard operator at many of its athletic events, Keith logged 20-plus years coaching at Elk Mountain.
“Dad was a big influence,” Ellie noted. “He helped me with my skiing.”
Outside the season’s time frame, Ellie and Reilly take part in “dryland” training, which uses sandy terrain to duplicate the feel of maneuvering in snow when there’s no snow.
“It improves agility and mimics snow,” Reilly explained.
Following her graduation from Owen J. this spring, Ellie will be heading to the University of Vermont. She plans to participate with the college’s club team.
Reilly, in turn, will have one more go-round in U-18 his senior year. He’s still looking at colleges in the different NCAA divisions, considering participation in club competition.
He remains mindful, though, of how dangerous skiing can be.
“I just focus on what I can do, stay on my feet and be fast,” he said.
“Ellie and Reilly have truly dedicated themselves through the years with summer dryland training, winter weekend early wakeups and many miles traveled on the turnpike,” Keith added. “Their goal is to be lifelong skiers.”