Photograph: Christian Markthaler
Impressed by Lindsey Vonn, Fueled by Colour, and Rooted on Three Continents — Meet Lara Markthaler, the Pink Twister Lighting Up the Slopes
Born in Germany to a South African mom, Judith, and a German father, Christian, then raised in Canada, Lara “Spunkiiiiii” Markthaler now races underneath the South African flag. With pink hair, fearless turns, and a smile as brilliant as her race swimsuit, the “Pink Twister” is bringing recent shade, heat, and vitality to alpine snowboarding.
Cultures That Formed Her
Contemporary off a coaching camp in Hintertux, Austria, the place the circumstances had been “tremendous icy” — simply the way in which she likes them — Markthaler radiates enthusiasm as she talks about her roots in South Africa.
“All my mother’s household is in South Africa — grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles — everybody lives there,” she mentioned. “Once I entered FIS, I needed to determine between Germany and South Africa. I really like South Africa and really feel very related to the nation, so I selected them, and we’re tremendous proud of the choice. We love being the ‘unique’ a part of the ski neighborhood.”
Requested about life between continents, she smiles.
“I grew up amongst lots of cultures and other people. I don’t really feel like I belong to only one tradition. For me, every little thing is form of regular. So I don’t actually have a tradition shock between these locations. Does that make sense?”
Nonetheless, she is aware of snowboarding is uncommon in South Africa — which makes her connection to followers even stronger.
“In South Africa, everybody watches rugby and cricket,” she mentioned. “Once I inform individuals I ski, they’re like, ‘Actually? How do you prepare in South Africa?’ On the gymnasium, individuals requested about snowboarding and the Olympics — everybody was so supportive. Being the one one on the Youth Olympics for South Africa, it’s essential for us to place the nation on the winter sports activities map. I really like that function.”
Spunkiiiiii
It’s not possible to not discover her. With pink hair, infectious vitality, and an open character, Markthaler stands out in a sport of principally uniform race fits. Her daring look has helped make her some of the fascinating new faces on the alpine scene — and a rising social-media star.
“It began in Canada,” she mentioned. “I opened Instagram after I was round 10. My childhood nickname is Spunki, however with one ‘i’ it wasn’t obtainable, so we added extra — and now everybody is aware of it.”
Her father, a former advertising skilled, handles her social media whereas doubling as coach, photographer, and supervisor.
“My dad manages my Instagram. It’s lots of work, however I adore it. I really like when individuals come up and say, ‘Hey, you’re Spunkiiiiii, proper? I acknowledged the pink hair!’ Particularly when little children or mother and father say their daughter asks to see my account. I really like being a little bit of a task mannequin. We at all times carry stickers with my emblem — a cranium with a pink ponytail, created by my dad’s buddy — and hand them out to followers.”
She laughs when she hears a type of stickers already decorates the interviewer’s laptop computer.
Idols, Colours, and Followers
As her following grows, so does her sense of accountability. Markthaler understands the significance of inspiration.
“My all-time favourite? Lindsey Vonn,” she mentioned. “I really like that she’s not solely an athlete but additionally an entertainer. Many athletes have sturdy fan bases — persons are with you thru ups and downs. It’s essential to offer again, to speak to them. Lindsey does that amazingly — glamorous, sturdy, enjoyable.”
She additionally admires a brand new wave of racers redefining the game.
“And naturally, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen,” she mentioned. “He brings new, recent vitality and shade into ski racing. Professional sport is strict, so it may possibly use that form of vitality. I hope that, with South Africa, if I get quicker and turn into a World Cup skier, I can have an analogous impact. I truly use his signature guards — the Brazilian-style colours match my South African race swimsuit completely.”
On the 2025 World Championships in Saalbach, Markthaler raced alongside certainly one of her largest heroes — Mikaela Shiffrin, who had simply returned from damage and completed fifth.
“I noticed her on the high in hospitality,” Markthaler mentioned. “I used to be like, ‘Oh my God, what’s going on?’ Seeing her warming up — she was simply one other individual, so good and regular. You construct these superhuman pictures in your head — which they’re — however then you definitely see them simply sitting and consuming. It was surreal. And such an incredible expertise and motivation for me to progress.”
‘Go Sluggish and Make It a Nice Expertise’
The Saalbach World Championships additionally occurred to fall on her 18th birthday — a day she says she’ll always remember.
“It began within the morning earlier than inspection,” she mentioned. “I went to the begin to say my title and get my bib. Individuals began whispering. 5 minutes later, I’m ready to examine with some pals, and the entire ORF (Austrian TV) workforce — perhaps 20 individuals — began singing Comfortable Birthday to me at 7:30 a.m. I cried — completely satisfied tears — the primary of many instances that day.”
Her father supplied unforgettable recommendation earlier than the race.
“Earlier than the primary run, my dad informed me: ‘Lara, don’t go quick. Your solely aim is to make it down. The course may be very tough and icy. In the event you assault, you’re 99% going out. You’ll by no means expertise this once more — simply get to the end.’”
She adopted his phrases — and turned a cautious run right into a milestone.
“I acquired to the end — and 20,000 individuals sang Comfortable Birthday to me,” she mentioned. “It was unbelievable. There have been big banners with my title and picture everywhere in the grandstand. This would be the day I’ll inform my grandchildren about.”
Her “gradual” run grew to become a symbolic success, ending twenty ninth for South Africa — a proud second for each her and her nation.
Workforce Setup within the Olympic Season
Markthaler’s favourite coaching bases are within the Italian Dolomites — Val di Fassa, Cortina, and the encompassing peaks. For her, it looks like a second house: lovely views, nice meals, and among the world’s greatest coaching terrain.
However her setup is modest — simply her and her father, Christian, who manages teaching, ski prep, and logistics.
“This winter I’m becoming a member of a small Italian workforce with 4 or 5 athletes,” she mentioned. “They’ve just a few super-fast women with low-20 FIS factors. Hopefully I can chase them and have a profitable winter. We’ll be primarily based in Cortina earlier than the Olympics — to see the buildup, get used to it, perhaps prepare on the slope beforehand — so the Video games received’t really feel overwhelming.”
Her objectives are clear: decrease FIS factors, acquire expertise, qualify for a World Cup begin earlier than the Olympics, and proudly characterize South Africa on the most important stage.
A Pink Future
Lara Markthaler isn’t simply racing towards the clock — she’s racing towards one thing greater: a extra colourful, related, and joyful world of snowboarding.
