USSA Grand Prix: Snowboarders to vie for title, spot on Olympic team

PARK CITY — For Sandy's Louie Vito, snowboarding isn't just a sport.

"It's kind of like a lifestyle," said Vito, who will compete in this weekend's United States Ski and Snowboard Association Grand Prix at Park City Mountain Resort for a place on the U.S. Olympic snowboard team. "You add your own flavor, your own creativity. I can do the same trick, the same grab as one of the other guys, and it will look different because I put my own style on it."

Vito's style has him in a very comfortable position heading into this weekend's final Grand Prix. The U.S. Olympic snowboarding team will be announced after the competition on Saturday night. Vito is virtually a lock to make the team, as he is second in the Grand Prix standings with five positions up for grabs. Olympic medalist Shaun White leads the standings.

The fact that he doesn't have to win this weekend to make the team will not affect what he does — or does not do — when he drops into the half pipe.

"I don't have to do much," he said. "Every competition we're dealing with all of the hype, but I'm just going to try and put down a run that I am happy with and hope for the best."

Vito is like many snowboarders. The Ohio native started on skis but then saw snowboarders and decided it looked fun.

"It was something new," he said of the then budding sport. "I always had a lot of energy as a kid. Slowly, I did less and less and less skiing. Eventually it was sell everything I have, I just want to snowboard."

He even convinced his parents to send him to Stratton Mountain School in Vermont. There he could travel and compete while getting an education tailored to his schedule.

"I think I ended up getting a better education than if I'd stayed in public school," said the energetic 21-year-old.

His passion for snowboarding eventually brought him to Utah.

"As everyone out here knows, this really is probably the best snow," he said. "You can't beat it for location, either."

Vito can rattle off how long it takes to drive to Tahoe, Aspen and any other place one can possibly ski, snowboard or snowmobile. And, as he points, out, all along the Wasatch Front, he's only about 30 minutes from an airport, which is crucial when you travel as much as he does.

"There are so many good resorts around here," he said. "And it's become like a mecca for snowboarding."