PARK CITY, UT (Jan. 19) - Following 14 years with the U.S. Ski Team, World Championship medalist Erik Schlopy (Park City, UT) is retiring, U.S. Ski Team Alpine Director Jesse Hunt announced.

"Erik took a road less traveled in his pursuit to be the best and on that road he achieved greatness for all of us to admire," Hunt said.

Schlopy, who skied his final World Cup race in Val d'Isere, France in December, grew up skiing in Buffalo, NY and Stowe, VT before ascending to Burke Mountain Academy and eventually the U.S. Ski Team.

"This Team has been a family to me for so many years, the last few have been especially fun because with all the younger guys coming up," Schlopy said. "The program that Sasha (Rearick, Head Coach) has built is incredible and I felt honored to be a part of what he's done – this is a strong program now and it's not easy to step away from that."

In his time with the Team, Schlopy's accomplishments included a miraculous winning second run by over a second in the 2003 St. Moritz World Championship giant slalom where he moved from 23rd to the bronze medal rank. In 2001, Schlopy beat Austrian Benni Raich by finishing second in the World Cup Finals giant slalom to take third in the standings behind Austria's Hermann Maier and Swiss Michael Von Gruenigen.

Through his career Schlopy collected many accolades but, according to Hunt, none of it compares with his ability to be himself.

"My greatest memory of Erik during his career was not his World Championship bronze medal or the third in the World Cup standings. It was the meticulous approach and the inspiring commitment he brought to every day of his pursuit to be the best," Hunt said.

A three-time Olympian and seven-time U.S. champion, Schlopy is now looking forward to spending time with his family.

"Now, it's all about being with my wife and two children," he said. "They've been incredible in supporting me and now it's time for me to be there 100 percent for them. It's an easy transition to make and one I've been looking forward to."