A couple of years ago Nyman visited Haiti to perform humanitarian work for the Child's Hope Foundation. While helping to build an orphanage, he saw abject poverty and malnourishment, but also a proud, dignified people. He was so moved that he gave all his shoes and clothes away, returning home with only the clothes on his back and cheap flip flops on his feet.

"It opened my eyes," he says. "I don't complain about my life. I am here and should be happy."

Now he is urging U.S. ski officials to "give back." He wants skiing, which he considers to be cliquish and expensive, to be available to more people. During his travels on the Tour he says he has been saddened to see that the people who live in towns that host World Cup events are unable to ski.

"We tend to have events in communities that are supported by lower classes, but their kids can't ski," says Nyman. "I'm sure we can get sponsors to help them teach the kids to ski and give them a chance to ski. Racers could stay an extra day or have a day off to help the community. I love skiing. I'm fortunate to have it as my job. I want to see others enjoy it too.

"The ski team pulls in an insane amount of money to fund athletes. We don't give back. I'm telling them we should give back. They have been receptive. Especially with our tainted image, and the Olympics and Bode, they're trying to put something good out there."

Ask Nyman if he gets along with Miller, who recently left the U.S. ski team to train on his own, he pauses, and then pauses some more.

"Ummmm, it's tough," he says finally. "He was the example for the world, and it was not a good example. His image is what people's perception of the ski team is — partying, drinking. And all this fund-raising we're doing is going toward that? The ski team felt it; it was tough. The problem with that whole situation is it was all pegged on one person. Everybody else was amazing. I felt bad because Julia (Mancuso) and Ted's (gold-medal) performances were tainted by the hype around Bode. It was such a show he put on."

Nyman hopes to put another image out there of a young man who loves his sport and is grateful for the opportunity to ski for a living.

"Think about it," he says. "They close down the mountain so you can ski as fast as you want."

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E-mail: drob@desnews.com