Born in Arlington, Massachusetts, and raised in Candia NH, Flanders specialized in downhill and finished second in the World Cup downhill season standings in 1982. She gained her first World Cup victory that season in Bad Gastein, Austria, and followed it up with another podium the next day. Flanders represented the U.S. in the Winter Olympics in 1980 and 1984, and in the World Championships in 1982 and 1985. During her career, she tallied three World Cup wins, six podiums, and 27 top ten finishes.