On the outside looking in, independent Wiley Maple still hopes for a solid season.
Modest Expectations for Beaver Creek
BEAVER CREEK – Wiley Maple has modest expectations for his first race here in five years: “I’ve never scored in Beaver Creek,” the independent skier based out of Aspen said this week before Friday’s Birds of Prey World Cup downhill.
Battling Adversity
Maple, 34, has yet to find a smooth path at Beaver Creek, but hope springs eternal. On Thursday, the zipper on his speed suit broke at the race start, a distraction that probably contributed to what he called a “bumpier than expected” course. In 2014, just before Birds of Prey, a broken hand and a dislocated elbow the following year sidelined Maple.
A Career of Persistence
He was first named to the U.S. Ski Team 16 years ago as a recent high school graduate. “I’ve been on and off the team my whole career,” he said with a soft laugh on Wednesday. “Every time I was hurt and couldn’t compete, they kicked me off.”
But he persisted.
A Surprising Comeback
After a premature retirement in 2020—prompted by getting flagged on back-to-back courses in Wengen and Kitzbühel, exhausting his cash reserves, losing his best friend and ski tuner Sam Coffey, and tiring of skiing with back pain—he mounted a surprise comeback two seasons later. And in December 2023, competing in his 72nd World Cup start, Maple scored his best result in a downhill, 12th in Bormio, Italy. Before that, his best race was 17th in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, in February 2015.
Bormio: A Course to Respect and Fear
This season, and for the first time as an independent, Maple is planning a full World Cup schedule, having secured spots from earning points in Bormio and Kvitfjell last season.
“I also made sure to lock up a NorAm title last year, which guarantees me starts in every downhill. He said, “The spot is mine, so no one else can use it.”.
‘Separate but Equal-ish’
The U.S. Team integrated Maple into its speed block at Copper this fall, and he trained dryland with the D Team. “It’s hilarious—my energy levels and will to play games are closer to 18-year-olds than 30-year-olds,” he said.
While Maple appreciates the team’s contributions, he describes the relationship as “separate but equal-ish.”
“I’m still on the outside looking in and self-funding,” he said.
Support from Friends and Family
Bryce Bennett agrees with that description: “I think he is sometimes on the outside looking in, yes.”
They’re close enough that Bennett had Maple officiate his wedding two years ago. Bennett isn’t afraid to support his buddy given the powers that be when necessary.
“I always vouch for him. He’s obviously capable,” Bennett said. “He’s not so much a conformist, which I absolutely love him for. But that gets taken the wrong way sometimes. He really has to prove himself.”
Will Gregorak has returned this year as Wiley’s technician and technical advisor. “Yes, I coach Wiley on technique and review videos with him, but I don’t call myself a coach because, in the typical ski racing dynamic the coach is the leader of the program and the athlete the follower.
“Wiley is the director of his program, and I give my expertise where he needs it,” Gregorak said.
Family Support
Wiley’s father, Mike Maple, initially was less than thrilled when his son first mounted the comeback, but he has come around to supporting his only son’s dreams.
“Part of me would rather he was doing something else,” the elder Maple said. “He knows what he is getting into. His perseverance is incredible. Even more incredible is his resilience.”
Mike Maple noted that Wiley now lets setbacks roll off his back, which he admitted isn’t typical.
Take the broken zipper, for example. While it annoyed him and resulted in a disappointing training run, Maple said his takeaway for Thursday was to focus on “some of the turns I did well.” He reflected on what he learned through the Pumphouse and Russi’s sections of Birds of Prey.
A Test of Character
Will Gregorak pointed to Wiley’s numerous experiences in Bormio that built his character.
Maple’s 12th place last December “was certainly a nice surprise, but I won’t say I was shocked, as I knew he was capable of it. It was a particularly impressive day because it was Wiley’s first World Cup in years, and Bormio is the most demanding track.”
Moreover, there was a bit of justice at play. “It was a particularly poetic day because after the Bormio training run in 2019 Wiley decided his body couldn’t handle it, and he went into temporary retirement. That was the last track I wanted him to make his return on, but pulling off such a great result made it clear that World Cup downhill is where he still belongs.”
Gregorak said he would prep Maple’s skis for Bormio and join his friend in January for the Kitzbühel, Wengen and Garmisch stretch of races.
The Rogue Lines Journey
In the soon-to-be-released Sync film “Rogue Lines: The Independent Ski Racing Journey,” Maple reflects on that fateful day in 2019.
“Bormio put into sharp relief the consequences of pushing out of any World Cup start. I was just surviving these tracks,” he said. “Bormio and Kitzbühel—you could die out there.. I walked out of the finish, knowing I was never putting a pair of race boots on again. I was retiring right then.”
That is until he unretired.
Commitment and Focus
Mike Maple, never one to soft-pedal an idea, isn’t expecting any miracles this weekend on Birds of Prey.
“Beaver Creek has never been his strength. It’s clear to me he’s never killed it there. He’s had some good training runs, but part of the challenge is he’s not good out of the start because it’s flat. That’s a tough way to start.”
He believes Wiley’s skill set suits Bormio better. “In some ways, I believe it is the most difficult downhill (in the world). It’s tough from top to bottom.”
This week, Wiley said Bormio “is so intense that it’s hard to love. But it is a track I like and a place I like to be.”
In the Sync film, Wiley discusses crossing the finish line there last December 28. “Looking up and seeing that 12th was like a double take. As soon as it kind of settled in, I was like, ‘Life is a fucking joke… now I just want to see what the ending will be.’”
Fundraising and Finances
Self-financed yet again this season, Maple said he doesn’t know what his total tab will be, but he estimates needing at least $100,000 for the season’s prep period, which included six weeks in Chile, where he spent an estimated $25,000.
Maple’s supporters will host a fundraiser on Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Mi Chola restaurant in Aspen.
Tackling Friday’s Downhill
In the first training run of the week, Maple said he had some decent splits but was “fairly messy. I was kinda all over the place.” Broken zipper aside, in Thursday’s training run, it was clear he was “getting skied by the course.” He reflected on how to turn that around for Friday’s downhill.
Bryce Bennett implied that perhaps that’s indicative of a new and improved Wiley Maple.
“I’ve never seen him so committed and focused,” Bennett said. “And he’s been doing a really good job.”
About the Author: Madeleine Osberger
