Louis Muhlen-Schulte
Transplanted Surfer Leads Bobcats Down the Slopes during NCAA Skiing Championships Starting Wednesday
3/10/2020 4:31:00 PM | Men's Skiing
Louis Muhlen-Schulte took the long way to Bozeman, but has made the most of it
BOZEMAN, Montana – In the moments before speeding down the mountain, in the starting gate waiting to blast into another slalom or giant slalom race, Louis Muhlen-Schulte reassures himself that he knows the course and affirms his preparation. He considers any experience that might help in the task at hand, and then "I try to just let it all go, try and breathe a couple times, and then focus in."
But the Montana State sophomore from South Yarra, Australia, might just as easily be climbing onto a surfboard as heading down a mountain at speeds that would make most people queasy.
"I actually learned to surf before I could ski," he says with a laugh. "I honestly don't really know" how skiing became his sport, confirming that no one in his family holds a similar passion for ski racing. "I've always been someone who's loved sports, any sport has been a good sport for me, and I think skiing was just the one that I liked the most when I picked it, so I just followed that progression."
That progression led him first to Sugar Bowl Academy based out of Lake Tahoe, a famed college prep school for ski races, and later to a year ski racing throughout the U.S. and Europe, and eventually to Montana State. That journey has been fruitful. A year ago, Muhlen-Schulte earned Second Team All-America honors in slalom by finishing seventh at the NCAA Championships, and finished ninth in Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association MVP Alpine point standings.
Muhlen-Schulte and his Bobcat teammates close the 2019-20 collegiate skiing this week, when Montana State hosts the 2020 NCAA Ski Championships. The Alpine events take place at Bridger Bowl on Wednesday and Friday, with Nordic races at Crosscut Ranch Thursday and Saturday.
MSU Head Alpine Coach tapped into his California and U.S. National Ski Team connections to successfully recruit Muhlen-Schulte. "He went to Sugar Bowl Academy in California," Francis said, "and I was coaching in California before I came (to MSU). Some of my contacts there contacted me and said, 'This guy is amazing. We haven't coached him long, but attitude-wise (he's) amazing.' Then I saw him ski, and I lucked out because he wanted to come to Bozeman. He looked at some other places but he said that this is where (he wants) to be."
Following his dream of advancing his ski racing career, Muhlen-Schulte said, came with a cost. He left the life he knew in Australia, and those he loved the most. "That was a huge, huge change for me because my family is still in Australia," he said. "Moving halfway across the world by yourself is definitely a big step but one that I wanted to make because of my passion for the sport. To progress in the sport I knew it was a necessary step. It was tough at first, being away from the family for so long, but it was one that made sense to make and I haven't looked back."
In addition to skiing and surfing, Francis said that Muhlen-Schulte competed in rowing. The wide range of sporting interests helped build a well-rounded athlete. "Louie is a good athlete," Francis said, "he has good strength and he competes hard."
That competitiveness channels into his training, which is well-known around the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. "He's not afraid to put himself all the way into the tank," Francis says, "and take it even farther when we ask it of him. When we're on the assault bikes he can really go all in and make himself miserable. But then he knows when the time comes and he's racing, that he's got it in him and he can throw down."
Francis says the attitude and commitment is infectious. "I think what's cool is he also encourages his teammates to do that. So when he does that to himself sometimes we think it's a little much, but I think it sets an example for the rest of the team. To me that is an awesome leader."
After his All-America freshman season, Muhlen-Schulte is enthused to compete in the NCAA Championships on his home course at Bridger Bowl. "I'm super excited going to Nationals," he said. "Last year NCAAs in Vermont was a pretty big eye-opener because it's different from any ski race I'd really ever done. It's not part of the normal ski federation, it's its own separate competition, it's very much emphasized in the college aspect of the sport, so it's pretty phenomenal and really a great experience. To have it here in Bozeman on our home hill is the pinnacle and a really exciting step."
The Bobcats hosted the RMISA championships a week ago, and Kuhlen-Schulte finished seventh in the giant slalom and ninth in the slalom. Francis said the 2019-20 season has provided ups and downs for Muhlen-Schulte, but that the sophomore is trending up at the right time. "Louie actually has really come on the last couple of weeks," he said. "He's had some really great runs this season, but has struggled a little bit to put it all together. I think that's starting to happen and his mindset is really in a good spot right now. That's exciting."
Spending the past two weeks at home, Muhlen-Schulte said, has provided a necessary respite from the rigors of an intercollegiate ski season. "Skiing is one of those sports we travel so, so much, you feel all of your time is spent in airports and on buses, so having this opportunity to be in your own home and own bed for three weeks you feel like you're actually rested and recovered for once and going into the end of our season (that) feels really good."
The feeling of being at home in Bozeman isn't just a temporary phenomenon for Muhlen-Schulte. "The platform here in terms of collegiate sport is pretty phenomenal and second-to-none anywhere else in the world. I really wanted to get an education and (further) my career in ski racing. That's what took me to collegiate skiing, NCAA skiing."
Some day, Muhlen-Schulte will return to his first love. "Oh yeah, I still love to surf," he said with a smile. "I have surf boards littered all over the country with friends."
For now, Francis is thrilled that the journey has led Muhlen-Schulte to Bozeman. "He's been great, and I'm excited to watch him continue to develop."
But the Montana State sophomore from South Yarra, Australia, might just as easily be climbing onto a surfboard as heading down a mountain at speeds that would make most people queasy.
"I actually learned to surf before I could ski," he says with a laugh. "I honestly don't really know" how skiing became his sport, confirming that no one in his family holds a similar passion for ski racing. "I've always been someone who's loved sports, any sport has been a good sport for me, and I think skiing was just the one that I liked the most when I picked it, so I just followed that progression."
That progression led him first to Sugar Bowl Academy based out of Lake Tahoe, a famed college prep school for ski races, and later to a year ski racing throughout the U.S. and Europe, and eventually to Montana State. That journey has been fruitful. A year ago, Muhlen-Schulte earned Second Team All-America honors in slalom by finishing seventh at the NCAA Championships, and finished ninth in Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association MVP Alpine point standings.
Muhlen-Schulte and his Bobcat teammates close the 2019-20 collegiate skiing this week, when Montana State hosts the 2020 NCAA Ski Championships. The Alpine events take place at Bridger Bowl on Wednesday and Friday, with Nordic races at Crosscut Ranch Thursday and Saturday.
MSU Head Alpine Coach tapped into his California and U.S. National Ski Team connections to successfully recruit Muhlen-Schulte. "He went to Sugar Bowl Academy in California," Francis said, "and I was coaching in California before I came (to MSU). Some of my contacts there contacted me and said, 'This guy is amazing. We haven't coached him long, but attitude-wise (he's) amazing.' Then I saw him ski, and I lucked out because he wanted to come to Bozeman. He looked at some other places but he said that this is where (he wants) to be."
Following his dream of advancing his ski racing career, Muhlen-Schulte said, came with a cost. He left the life he knew in Australia, and those he loved the most. "That was a huge, huge change for me because my family is still in Australia," he said. "Moving halfway across the world by yourself is definitely a big step but one that I wanted to make because of my passion for the sport. To progress in the sport I knew it was a necessary step. It was tough at first, being away from the family for so long, but it was one that made sense to make and I haven't looked back."
In addition to skiing and surfing, Francis said that Muhlen-Schulte competed in rowing. The wide range of sporting interests helped build a well-rounded athlete. "Louie is a good athlete," Francis said, "he has good strength and he competes hard."
That competitiveness channels into his training, which is well-known around the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. "He's not afraid to put himself all the way into the tank," Francis says, "and take it even farther when we ask it of him. When we're on the assault bikes he can really go all in and make himself miserable. But then he knows when the time comes and he's racing, that he's got it in him and he can throw down."
Francis says the attitude and commitment is infectious. "I think what's cool is he also encourages his teammates to do that. So when he does that to himself sometimes we think it's a little much, but I think it sets an example for the rest of the team. To me that is an awesome leader."
After his All-America freshman season, Muhlen-Schulte is enthused to compete in the NCAA Championships on his home course at Bridger Bowl. "I'm super excited going to Nationals," he said. "Last year NCAAs in Vermont was a pretty big eye-opener because it's different from any ski race I'd really ever done. It's not part of the normal ski federation, it's its own separate competition, it's very much emphasized in the college aspect of the sport, so it's pretty phenomenal and really a great experience. To have it here in Bozeman on our home hill is the pinnacle and a really exciting step."
The Bobcats hosted the RMISA championships a week ago, and Kuhlen-Schulte finished seventh in the giant slalom and ninth in the slalom. Francis said the 2019-20 season has provided ups and downs for Muhlen-Schulte, but that the sophomore is trending up at the right time. "Louie actually has really come on the last couple of weeks," he said. "He's had some really great runs this season, but has struggled a little bit to put it all together. I think that's starting to happen and his mindset is really in a good spot right now. That's exciting."
Spending the past two weeks at home, Muhlen-Schulte said, has provided a necessary respite from the rigors of an intercollegiate ski season. "Skiing is one of those sports we travel so, so much, you feel all of your time is spent in airports and on buses, so having this opportunity to be in your own home and own bed for three weeks you feel like you're actually rested and recovered for once and going into the end of our season (that) feels really good."
The feeling of being at home in Bozeman isn't just a temporary phenomenon for Muhlen-Schulte. "The platform here in terms of collegiate sport is pretty phenomenal and second-to-none anywhere else in the world. I really wanted to get an education and (further) my career in ski racing. That's what took me to collegiate skiing, NCAA skiing."
Some day, Muhlen-Schulte will return to his first love. "Oh yeah, I still love to surf," he said with a smile. "I have surf boards littered all over the country with friends."
For now, Francis is thrilled that the journey has led Muhlen-Schulte to Bozeman. "He's been great, and I'm excited to watch him continue to develop."
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