“Leave your heart on the mountain,” advises senior captain of Wayne Valley’s Girls Ski Racing, Julia LaSala, to the underclassmen on the team. At the close of the winter season, LaSala reflects upon her memories and takeaways from the four years she spent in the program. “Time flies, and you truly never know how much you’ll miss it until it’s over.” 

This season, LaSala received First Team All-County and Third Team All-State honors. After the girls ski racing state championships in February, LaSala was ultimately ranked 14th in the state. Last year, she received First Team All-County honors, and received All-State honorable mentions in her freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons. LaSala learned to ski more than ten years ago, and her hard work and dedication certainly paid off, as she earned numerous accolades and helped to gain recognition for the already-standout girls ski team. 

In fact, led by LaSala, the team had an impressive 2020-2021 season overall. The girls finished third in the Big North Conference and placed ninth in state championships, after finishing first in one of their slalom races. 

Through LaSala’s success on the team, her passion for the sport is evident. She is grateful for all of the opportunities that ski racing has introduced. From meeting new friends from all over New Jersey, to traveling to and exploring new mountains, she will treasure her memories of the sport for years to come. 

In addition to her ski racing career, LaSala is an assistant producer of Wayne Valley Television’s V, and the blue tap captain for SDA. 

Wayne Valley and the girls ski team are incredibly proud of LaSala for her accomplishments, and they wish her the best of luck in all of her future endeavors!