⛷ Eleanor “Ellie” Hayes
Veteran semi-pro alpine racer from Bend, Oregon2010 NorAm Western GS Champion
Profile
- Name: Eleanor “Ellie” Hayes
- Born: March 14, 1989, in Bend, Oregon (age 37 today)
- Level: Veteran semi-pro alpine racer, a few World Cup starts in her early 20s
- Discipline: Giant slalom and super-G
- Now: Owner and head tuner at Hayes Edge & Wax in Bend, and a part-time masters racer and youth coach
- Look: Same sporty, ordinary build, now with weathered skin and a few lines from years on the mountain
Race Timeline
| Year | Age | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 16 | Oregon State Championships, GS | 🥇 1st |
| 2007 | 18 | Broke her ankle at Mt. Hood Meadows | Out for six months |
| 2008 | 19 | Western Region Championships, SG | 🥈 2nd |
| 2009 | 20 | NorAm Cup, GS (Panorama) | 6th |
| 2010 | 21 | NorAm Cup Western Division, overall GS | 🏆 1st (semi-pro title) |
| 2010 | 21 | World Cup GS, Aspen (quota spot) | DNF, first run |
| 2011 | 22 | World Cup GS, Sölden (quota spot) | 41st, missed the second run |
| 2011 | 22 | World Cup GS, Tremblant (quota spot) | 29th, scored her first World Cup point |
| 2012 | 23 | U.S. National Championships, GS | 9th |
| 2013 | 24 | Last full NorAm season | Retired from full-time racing |
Pro Appearances
Ellie’s pro starts came through national quota spots and wildcards, not a permanent team place. Her first World Cup start in Aspen ended with a crash on the first run. She was disappointed and got back in the gate the next day anyway.
Her best result came at Tremblant. She started 58th, used the bumpy, rutted snow to her advantage, and finished 29th, enough to score a World Cup point. She framed the result and hung it in her dad’s shop above the wax bench.
“Nobody cares how pretty you ski. Just get down faster.”
What Happened After
Ellie’s knee gave out in 2013. She had surgery, and the recovery took a year and most of her savings. She chose not to chase the World Cup any further and went back to Bend to work with her dad.
She took over Hayes Edge & Wax when he retired in 2018. It’s now known across Central Oregon for ski tuning and bike repair, and several junior racers and a few regional pros are regular customers.
Life Now
Ellie still races masters events and wins more often than she admits. She coaches kids on weekends, and her “Spud Team” scholarship has covered lift tickets, boots, and rental gear for dozens of local kids since 2019.
She wears a hoodie to everything, drinks coffee from a local roaster, and ignores most journalists. Her old World Cup point certificate still hangs above the wax bench, and she still tapes her motto inside her helmet.
Ellie Hayes is a fictional character. All events, results, and places are invented.