The Ones to Watch
Photography: Jonathan Selkowitz and Courtesy of Individual Athletes
Park City had its fingerprints all over the five-ring picnic of February 2002, when Utah hosted the Olympic Winter Games. No town could match the number of athletes, coaches, venues or events that were found in Park City. It was as if Park City defined “front row seats” from start to finish during the Games, hosting alpine ski racing, snowboarding, aerial and mogul events, and, of course, ski jumping and the sliding sports at Utah Olympic Park.
Things will be different this February, with Olympic Winter Games XX taking place in Torino, Italy. The crowds, the buzz and the emotional electricity we experienced in 2002 will be eight time zones away, but Parkites will still feel involved, as perhaps the biggest legacy from our Games is the burgeoning community of world-class athletes living in Park City.
With hometown pride, we’ll be watching veterans like Erik Schlopy and Bode Miller alongside rising slalom blur Ted Ligety, and the legions of freestyle and Nordic skiers who have lived here for many moons, such as aerialists Joe Pack (Olympic silver medalist in 2002), Emily Cook and Jeret “Speedy” Peterson. Among others, we’ll be cheering on moguls world champion Nate Roberts, cross-country’s Kris Freeman and Andrew Johnson, jumper Clint Jones, and Nordic combined athletes Johnny Spillane and Bill Demong. And don’t forget skeleton gold medalist Jim Shea, who set up housekeeping here in Park City after his 2002 Olympic success.
In 2002, U.S. skiers and snowboarders raked in an unprecedented 10 Olympic medals. This time, the goal of “Best in the World!” translates into winning more skiing and snowboarding medals than any other nation. Take a look at the Park City athletes we’ll most likely see on the mountain in Torino this winter:
ALPINE
Justin J. Johnson (28) — “JJ” lost his spot on the U.S. Ski Team after the 1998 season but stuck with his Olympic dream. A native local, he came out of the mists in 2004 and reclaimed a place on the Ski Team for 2005. When fellow Parkite Bryon Friedman was sidelined with a severe knee injury—which will keep him out of Olympic consideration—Johnson emerged as a solid downhill contender.
Ted Ligety (21) — A Park City “lifer,” he grew up racing locally and has stepped forward in the last two seasons. The Winter Sports School grad was silver medalist in slalom at the 2004 World Junior Championships and earned his place on the World Cup circuit last season with blazing slalom runs. “Ted’s a guy other coaches and athletes stop to watch when he’s racing or just training,” said men’s slalom Head Coach Mike Morin. “He’s something special.”
T.J. Lanning (21) — Injuries have derailed Lanning’s emergence after being ranked No. 1 among his junior peers in slalom and Super G in 2001. Healthy again this winter, he could factor in Olympic selections.
Bode Miller (28; 1998 and 2002 Olympian) — A Park City homeowner since early 2004, Bode’s the sport’s anti-hero, ski racing’s rock star, and famous for miraculous on-course saves. He’s had four consecutive “best year since Phil Mahre in 1983” seasons, topping it all last winter when he became the first American to win the World Cup overall title since 1983. Miller, who skis all events, also won the gold medal in downhill and Super G at the World Championships. Add to this double silver in 2002, two golds and a silver at the 2003 Worlds and double gold at the 2005 Worlds. Stay tuned to the 2006 Games, because there’s a real chance that Bode could medal in five events.
Erik Schlopy (33; 1994 and 2002 Olympian) — Schlopy, who moved to Park City in the early ’90s, is shooting for his third Olympics. He left the Ski Team in 1995, skied professionally for three seasons, regained his Olympic eligibility and, along with Miller, has been a mainstay in the U.S. Team’s resurgence. Bronze medalist in giant slalom at the 2003 World Championships, “Schlopes” runs an occasional Super G but focuses on the tech events, slalom and GS.
Others — Both Julia Mancuso (21; 2002 Olympian) and Resi Stiegler (20) are Park City Winter School grads. Mancuso had a breakthrough season a year ago, collecting bronze in both Super G and giant slalom at Worlds.
FREESTYLE
Eric Bergoust (36; 1994, 1998 and 2002 Olympian) — After two decades of big jumps, “Bergy” has done it all in aerials, from Olympic (1998) and World Championships (1999) gold to World Cup title holder (2001, 2002), U.S. champion (1996, 1997) and NorAm king (1989).
Emily Cook (26) — Emily won the Gold Cup at Deer Valley to earn a 2002 Olympic spot, then had to yield it two weeks later when she smashed her feet in a faulty training jump landing. Cook returned to World Cup action last season and anticipates finally competing in the Olympics.
Joe Pack (27; 2002 Olympian) — Silver medalist four years ago on his favorite jump site, Pack has battled persistent injuries since then, but was healthy last season. If he remains healthy, we know he’ll be in the podium mix.
Jeret Peterson (24; 2002 Olympian) — Given a slot on the 2002 U.S. Olympic team when Cook was injured, “Speedy” turbo-charged his career. He grabbed his first wins last winter en route to the World Cup aerials crown, a U.S. first since Bergoust won in 2002. He’s working on bigger and better tricks for Olympic competition this season.
Michelle Roark (31) — Silver medalist in moguls at 2003 Worlds, Roark earned the third win of her World Cup career last season. Rebounding from multiple knee surgeries, she’s more resilient than a bungee cord.
Nate Roberts (23) — A bona fide local, Roberts’ aerials background helped him make the transition quickly when inverted aerials were allowed after the 2002 season. He finished last season by winning both U.S. moguls and dual moguls titles at PCMR in March. “The Olympics aren’t just another contest. They couldn’t be with all the media and hype, so I’ll respect them,” he said, “but I won’t be intimidated.”
Jillian Vogtli (32; 2002 Olympics) — Vogtli moved to town in 1996 after graduating from college in upstate New York. She’s skiing the best of her career: Vogtli’s first World Cup win came last season, and she’s won two U.S. titles in two years.
NORDIC
U.S. cross-country, jumping and Nordic combined teams all have residence programs in Park City with most athletes living and training here.
Up to 30 athletes may be chosen for the Games. Among the top contenders:
Cross-Country
Andrew Johnson (27; 2002 Olympian) —The Vermonter got cross-country’s residence program off the ground in 1999, and he’s sunk roots in Park City. A 2002 Olympian, he won his first two U.S. titles last January at Soldier Hollow and is skiing better than ever.
Carl Swenson (35; 1994 and 2002 Olympian) — On the bounce-back from an illness-flooded 2005 season, Swenson is a skating (freestyle technique) specialist who is best at distance, and the Olympic 50-kilometer will be a skate race.
Jumping
Clint Jones (21; 2002 Olympian) — Although it seems as though he’s been watched since the Last Supper, Jones just turned 21 and is ready to make his breakthrough with more consistent long jumps.
Anders Johnson (16) — Johnson was born in Lake Placid, but grew up in Park City, where he’s been a jumper most of his young life. An ankle injury knocked him off a U.S. Ski Team pre-season training trip to Norway, but he may still end up being the youngest Olympian.
Nordic Combined
Johnny Spillane (25; 1998 and 2002 Olympian) — The 2003 sprint world champion, Spillane was out last season with a cranky back. He nurtured it through the summer and remains one of the sport’s medal contenders.
Bill Demong (25; 1998 and 2002 Olympian) — The fractured skull Demong sustained in summer of 2002 is ancient history, and Bill returned to full-time World Cup action last season.
The Camerota twins (20) — Brett and Eric are two peas in a pod, solid in cross-country and working to boost their jumping. They’re definitely in the mix to complete the combined Olympic Team.
Snowboarding
Park City produced world-class riders Ricky Bower and the late Cammy Potter (halfpipe bronze medalist at the 1996 World Championships). We’re waiting for the next round of local champions to emerge.
A regular contributor to Park City Magazine, freelancer Paul Robbins has covered U.S. skiers and snowboarders on the World Cup circuit and at various Olympics since 1978. Watch for his by-line during the action in Torino.
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