Vermont skiing and biking communities mourn the loss of a rising star

From left, Moriah, Matthew, Karen, and Eric Wilson at Burke Mountain Academy. (Burke Mountain Academy Photo)

The cycling community is mourning the tragic loss of 25-year-old Anna Moriah Wilson, the native of East Burke, Vt., who was shot and killed last week in East Austin, Tex.

According to cycling magazine VeloNews, Wilson was in Texas ahead of last Saturday’s Gravel Locos, a gravel cycling race in Hico, where she was a favorite to win. Her death has been ruled a homicide. Thus far, detectives in Texas have only said that they have identified a “person of interest” in the shooting. 

Wilson was a rising star in the gravel cycling community, according to VeloNews, having already amassed 10 victories heading into the summer season. 

A former ski racer who attended Burke Mountain Academy and Dartmouth College, Wilson was raised in a Vermont home with strong skiing ties. Her father, Eric Wilson, was a member of the U.S. Ski Team, while her aunt made a couple of Olympics as a Nordic racer. 

In her most recent interview with VeloNews, Wilson discussed her shift in professional focus from skiing to biking. 

“I grew up in Vermont and we had really good mountain bike trails around my house,”  Wilson said. “My parents have been mountain biking since the ’80s. I grew up skiing and mountain biking in the summer. As I got older, skiing was a natural thing to start racing because it was something that my dad was super into. That happened pretty naturally. As I got older, I continued to bike recreationally with my family. Eventually it became a training tool for me for skiing. Apart from going out and riding with my family and friends, I started to build some structure around my riding. The year before I went to college, I took a post grad year to focus on skiing. I tore my ACL for the second time and I relied on biking a lot through those injuries to help get my strength back.” 

In a statement, about Wilson’s death, Burke Mountain Academy Head of School Willy Booker said, “The entire Burke Mountain Academy community was devastated to learn of the passing of Moriah Wilson ‘14. As a dedicated student, compassionate friend to all, and a courageous athlete, she exemplified the values that our school hopes to inspire in every student. Moriah was an inspiration to our community, and her death at a moment when her athletic star seemed so assuredly ascendant only amplifies the deep sense of loss associated with a beautiful life that ended far too early.”

Kirk Dwyer, who was Head of School while Wilson was at BMA, said, “Moriah was inextricably part of BMA, a deeply embedded Burkie. Her father, Eric, aunt Laura, and brother Matt are alumni. Her father was a long-time coach both for BMA and our weekend program. Moriah grew up skiing in the weekend program and then attended from middle school through a post-graduate year. Just this week, I was following Moriah’s achievements as Eric said how excited she was by her cycling results and turning professional. Looking at her photos and videos, one description which comes to mind is incandescent. Moriah matured into a vibrant, confident, and proud young woman pursuing her passion and living life to the fullest.

“Moriah committed herself to the highest degree to be the best she could be and became one of the top skiers her age nationally. After two knee injuries, she turned her athletic commitment to cycling, recently winning a top national level competition by over twenty minutes! Moriah was sensitive, caring, and humble; a wonderful member of our community. We feel her passing deeply.”

Kingdom Trails, the Vermont biking network where Wilson once worked, also posted a social media tribute to its former employee. “We are heartbroken and share in the deeply felt loss of Moriah Wilson. Moriah was a former KT employee, babysitter to many in the KT family, consummate riding buddy, mentor and model to aspiring young riders, and much, much more. Simply put, we loved Moriah and she loved Kingdom Trails. Please keep Moriah’s family in your thoughts and prayers and close to your hearts.” 

According to a video release from the Austin police department, a woman called 911 last Wednesday night after she returned home and found Wilson bleeding and unconscious in her apartment. Police did not immediately reveal the identity of the shooting victim, but on Friday, Wilson’s family confirmed that she had died in the incident in a statement provided to VeloNews. 

In addition, Wilson also worked full-time as a demand planner for Specialized, a California biking company. She had given her notice only a few weeks ago in order to fully concentrate on her biking career.