TJ Lanning, a former U.S. Ski Team alpine racer known for his fearless approach to speed skiing, has died at the age of 41.
People close to Lanning confirmed his death to Ski Racing Media, and the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team also shared the news in a public post, saying his impact on the sport reached far beyond his years of competition and that their thoughts are with his family, friends and children. An official cause of death has not been confirmed.
Early Life and Rise Through the Ranks
Thomas “TJ” Lanning was born on August 27, 1984, in Helena, Montana. He picked up skiing at a young age.
He quickly stood out as a junior racer, eventually building a reputation as one of the more promising American speed skiers of his generation. He focused on downhill, super G, and combined events and became known for an aggressive, all-in racing style.
Some highlights of his competitive career include:
- Competed at the FIS Junior World Ski Championships in both 2001 and 2002
- Represented the United States at the 2007 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Åre, Sweden
- Scored World Cup points nine times, with three top-ten finishes
- Placed ninth in downhill at Lake Louise, Canada, in November 2008
- Finished tenth in Val Gardena, Italy, in December 2008
- Finished tenth in the super combined at Beaver Creek in 2007
- Became U.S. downhill champion in 2008 and qualified for the World Cup Finals that season
A Career Cut Short, A Life Spent Giving Back
Lanning’s talent came paired with a willingness to take risks on the course, and that style carried a physical toll. Injuries interrupted several of his seasons throughout his career.
The turning point came on November 28, 2009, during his final World Cup race in the downhill at Lake Louise. Lanning crashed in a high-speed section near the timing flats, suffering a dislocated left knee and a fractured vertebra in his neck. The injury brought his World Cup racing career to a close.
Rather than stepping away from the sport, Lanning shifted into coaching, working with the U.S. Ski Team and passing along his experience to a new generation of athletes. Friends and former teammates have described him as someone who cared deeply about the people around him, both as a competitor and later as a mentor.
His death has been felt widely across the American ski racing community, where he is remembered for the courage he showed on the mountain and the guidance he gave off it. He is survived by his family, including his children.
