Passion drives snowboarders

Not all Olympic dreams are born in childhood. Some develop over time as athletes realize the potential in themselves and their sport.

When Danny Davis began sailing down mountains on a snowboard, he had only one goal in mind — having as much fun as humanly possible.

"I just wanted to be on a board," said the 21-year-old who rides professionally for Burton and hopes to make the 2010 U.S. Olympic Snowboard Team. "I wanted to have fun."

U.S. Snowboarding is the most successful international snowboard program. Snowboarding became a medal sport the year Davis was born — 1988. Since then, the U.S. team has won a dominating 14 medals. While Davis didn't grow up dreaming of being a part of that, his desire to reach the highest pinnacle in his sport now has him aspiring to represent his country.

Davis' desire when it comes to snowboarding was pretty simple — he just wanted to be on the snow as much as possible. He was talented and he was committed to becoming a champion. And by the time he was 16 or 17, he was competing in contests that got him noticed by sponsors and coaches.

"I wasn't even thinking about making a living," Davis said. "It was so fun."

Some suggested he participate in the Grand Prix races, and eventually those led him to a World Cup. The point system used by the U.S. Snowboard team requires athletes to compete in at least five Grand Prix events. He will do that again.

The down side to being a world-class snowboarder was leaving home at a young age.

"I left my family, which was a bummer," he said. "But I was on my way."

He moved from Michigan to California, although he spends a significant amount of time traveling with Burton.

Last time Davis tried to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Snowboard Team, he finished sixth. They only take four male athletes to the games.

"I have just had opportunity after opportunity and I'm trying to take advantage of those opportunities," he said. "It was fun. It was what I wanted to do. … I don't work like an athlete does."

Davis doesn't feel like he missed out on a "normal" life by turning pro as a teen.

"I never really gave anything up," he said. "I was going to school; it was very normal. I still had to graduate."

Like Davis, Mason Aguirre didn't grow up dreaming of being an Olympian. Instead, he grew up playing hockey in Minnesota.

Then one day his father came home with snowboards for him and his sister. That became the way they spent their time with their father, who eventually moved them to Mammoth Lakes, Calif. He was 13 at the time and so good at snowboarding, his father felt he needed to be near the sports growing epicenter.