INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – Local Incline Village-based professional ski racer Lila Lapanja has realized a life-long dream and qualified to compete in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy.
Lapanja grew up on the slopes of Diamond Peak Ski Resort, first learning to ski at age 2 when her parents scattered Easter eggs around the bunny slope and challenged little Lila to pick them up while wearing skis. She fell in love with the sport quickly and ultimately found a supportive environment with the Diamond Peak Ski Team as her junior ski racing career took off.
Lapanja began her professional ski racing career on the U.S. Ski Team, winning four U.S. National Championship titles along the way. After years of competing on the World Cup, Europa Cup and NorAm race circuits as an independent racer from the U.S., she switched affiliations to ski for her father’s home country of Slovenia two years ago, with the goal of qualifying for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics…