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Utah connections
If it's "official" you want, look no further than Park City. It is, after all, the official headquarters of the U.S. Ski Association, governing agency for the American ski and snowboard teams.
Everything begins and ends in Park City.
On any given day, in the offices on Kearns Boulevard, it's possible to run into everyone from Bill Marolt, president/chief executive officer, to Tom Kelly, vice president/ member services, to Juliann Fritz, public relations manager, and Tina Chumas, event media services coordinator, all living close to the offices.
Not to mention Bill Gorton, chief operating officer, and longtime Utah resident Alan Ashley, vice president/athletics.
Which in itself has been enough to lure some pretty notable athletes to make Park City their permanent home, such as Heidi Voelker, Holly Flanders and Kristi Terzian, three of the most successful skiers ever to represent the United States. Now on the list of Park City residents are Erik Schlopy, Picabo Street, Alex Shaffer and Julia Mancuso — all skiers to watch in the upcoming Olympics.
Street is probably the most recognized name. Her career has been filled with incredible highs and agonizing lows. She won a silver in the '94 Olympics in the downhill, world downhill title in '96 and a gold in '98 in the super G. In between she suffered what to some would be career-ending injuries.
After a particularly bad crash after the '98 Games and nearly two years of recovery, she returned to the team last year and posted some impressive finishes. She will definitely be a threat in 2002.
Schlopy's story is quite different. Touted as one of the bright, young hopefuls, he had only modest success and left the team in 1994 to pursue a pro career. When the pro circuit folded three years ago, he asked to return to the U.S. team. He could, they said, if he proved himself . . . and he did. Last season he was America's top technical skier in the slalom and GS.
Shaffer's roots go back to high school. She came to Salt Lake City for school and training at the Rowmark Ski Academy. She made the team six years ago and has been on the rise ever since. After a good season two years ago, she injured her left knee and sat out most of the year. Now she's back, healthy and hungry for success.
Mancuso is the newest resident and one of the newest members of the team. Her rise from the development team to the C team and now to the B team has been rapid and impressive.
It doesn't hurt these skiers to have coaches close by.
Marjan Cernigoi, head coach of the women's ski team, lives in Salt Lake City, as does head service tech Edi Waldburger and conditioning coach Bill Harris. The men's head slalom and GS coach, Jesse Hunt, lives in Park City, as do men's conditioning coach Per Lundstam and trainers Forrest Pecha and Sheri Woroschuk.
All in all, Park City is and remains the hotbed of activity for the U.S. teams.
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