My Way | Lila Lapanja

A Story of Independence, Identity and Fighting on Her Own Terms

SHRED. is proud to share the latest installment of My Way, featuring alpine skier Lila Lapanja — an athlete who has redefined what it means to build a career on her own terms.

“There’s a sense of peace that comes from knowing this is my structure, my career, my fight, my way.” — Lila Lapanja

Born in the United States to a Slovenian father who grew up in former Yugoslavia, Lapanja built her early career within the U.S. Ski Team system. After years of narrowly missing Olympic qualification — twice finishing as the first alternate — and facing major setbacks including a broken leg and COVID, she stood at a crossroads.

Rather than step away from the sport, Lapanja chose a new path. In a decision that reshaped her career, she began representing Slovenia, embracing both her heritage and a new opportunity to pursue Olympic qualification on her own terms.

Always Close — But Never Finished

Before the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, Lapanja was skiing well but struggled to convert performance into results when it mattered most.

“Both times I had the opportunity to qualify, I was the first alternate. Just outside the four athletes that got to go. That fueled me.”

Those near misses could have marked the end. Instead, they became fuel. “I really thought about giving up. There was something inside me that just decided to keep pushing.”

Independent Inside a Team

Long before joining Slovenia, Lapanja had already spent seven years racing independently in the U.S. That experience shaped her identity as an athlete — and as a leader of her own program.

“Once you’re independent for that long, it’s super hard to go back into any sort of established group setting. You know more about who you are and what you need.”

With Slovenia, she created what she calls her “own structure within the structure” — maintaining autonomy while contributing to a healthy team dynamic. She built her own support system, hired coaches as equals, and took full ownership of her path.

“If I have a goal to achieve, it’s ultimately up to me. I’m the one who has to show up. I have to speak up. I have to take the action.”

The Power of the Underdog

Lapanja embraces the underdog role — not as a limitation, but as a strength.

“Being the underdog is an interesting blend of feeling like you have something to prove and having absolutely no expectation to prove it.”

From Aspen GS Nationals in bib 32 to international starts under the Slovenian flag, her career has been defined by grit, persistence and belief.

My Way. My Fight. Still In It.

At this stage of her career, Lapanja feels something deeper than validation — she feels peace.

“There’s a really deep sense of pride in myself and accomplishment of having done my career my way.”

Her story is not just about changing flags. It is about ownership, resilience and the courage to define success independently. And she’s not done yet.

Read the full story of Lila Lapanja’s journey in My Way on the SHRED. website.