On the snow, she's a blazing blur in your eyes. For the record, she's a state champion.

Thirteen-year-old Erin Kistler of Palmerton recently proved she was the best of the best in the Pennsylvania Alpine Racing Association's U14 division at Seven Springs Mountain Ski Resort, located just outside of Pittsburgh.To qualify for the state championships, Kistler had to accumulate enough points based on finishes in the regular season slalom and giant slalom races skied at Camelback, Jack Frost, Elk Mountain and Blue Mountain."I was pretty calm when I first found out I had won the state," Kistler said. "Then when I saw how happy my parents were, I got pretty excited."Kistler first slipped her feet into a pair of skis when she was just four years old. Since then, she's trained in the Blue Mountain ski racing program.According to her mother, Vicki, Erin "took to it well" and began racing competitively in U10 races when she was only nine years old."She really improved her technical skill, especially her edges and turns," said Vicki. "We were told she was ahead of the game for her age."In 2014 at age 10, Kistler qualified for her first states competition at Round Top near Harrisburg in the U12 age group. She was seeded in the C bracket (skiers are ranked in either the A, B or C groups based on skill levels. Kistler exceeded her seeding level, placing seventh overall. She has qualified for the state championships every year since, placing 5th in 2015, 3rd in 2016, and 1st in 2017."When I'm racing, I really like competing, even against the older girls," she said. "but skiing in general makes me happy and free. I don't have to think about anything."State winners are eligible to compete at the Eastern US Regionals."The first year she qualified at 10 years old, but Erin was a little short of confidence to compete in the regionals held that year in New Hampshire," said Vicki. "so we decided not to go."After her victory at Seven Springs this year, Kistler moved on to the regionals in Sunday River, Maine, where she skied against many older girls who spend much more time training on the slopes because they come from colder environments. Kistler finished 37th overall out of 83 competitors based on World Cup Points."She finished 24th in the slalom, 20th in the giant slalom, and 24th in the super G," said Vicki.She is proud of her daughter and describes her as "well grounded.""She tries to avoid all the drama you find in girls her age. She's focused on trying to be the best she can be," Vicki said.Kistler's determination when she's on the slopes is apparent. She skis as fast as she can, tries not to go airborne, and never worries about falling."Sure I get disappointed when I fall, but I just get right back up and go at it again," she said.Kistler, who's favorite skier is Olympian Mikaela Shiffrin, says her favorite slope is Razor's Edge at Blue Mountain, where she hopes to compete next year in the U16 PARA state championships. But Kistler isn't looking beyond that when it comes to future goals."I live in the now. I don't think about the future," she said.The "now" includes playing field hockey at Palmerton Junior High School."I like playing a team sport, and it gives me a chance to be with my friends," Kistler said. "With skiing, you get to see how well you perform individually. In team sports, you have to rely on more people than yourself to do well."For Erin Kistler, doing well is an understatement.She loves living in the fast lane, and right now she stands alone at the top of the mountain as state champion.