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**truebluefan** · 04-02-2008, 11:06 PM

PARK CITY, Utah (March 29) - Athletes from the past were honored by the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding with its second annual alumni recognition ceremony March 29 in the Team's home of Park City. Among the honorees was 2002 Olympic moguls silver medalist Travis Mayer.

Around three dozen alumni attended the annual gathering, with 10 athletes being honored.

"Being a part of the U.S. Ski Team or U.S. Snowboarding is a great achievement," said USSA President and CEO Bill Marolt. "We're proud to honor these alumni and recognize that achievement."

2008 Alumni Honorees

Alan Alborn, ski jumping 1998-2006, including 1998, 2002 and 2006 Olympics plus four World Championship Teams. Alborn is presently the elite jumping coach with the highly-regarded National Sports Foundation in Park City.

Krista Pettibone Arthur, freestyle 1984-88. Competed in first World Freestyle Championships in 1987 in Tignes, France; now living in Salt Lake City, single mother of a 16-year-old son and has managed the dental practice of Dr. Thomas Brickey for 14 years.

Marissa Berman, freestyle aerials 1997-2001. Presently a student at the University of Denver as a Doctoral candidate in clinical psychology (sport and performance psychology).

Michael Friedberg, freestyle moguls 2000-03. Member of the 2003 Freestyle World Championships Team, now athlete manager for 48Straight ski and snowboarding tour.

Mike Jacoby, snowboarding 1994-2001. A legendary pioneer of snowboarding's growth as a competitive sport in the '90s, and a member of the first U.S. Olympic Snowboard Team in 1998, now a pilot for Western Air Express.

Peter Lahdenpera, cross country 1957-1966. A standout cross country skier in the '50s and '60s, and a member of five separate Olympic teams at three different Olympics including cross country in 1960 and 1964, and biathlon in 1960, 1964 and 1972.

Hoot Maynard, nordic combined and ski jumping 1988-94. A longtime member of the nordic combined team and later ski jumping, he's now a producer on ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

Kate Reed, freestyle aerials 1997-2005. A veteran of the 2003 and 2005 World Championships, presently a junior at Westminster College as part of the USSA's partnership with the Salt Lake City college.

Adam Schwall, nordic combined & ski jumping 2001-2003. Presently a realtor and ski bum in Park City, UT.

Travis Mayer, freestyle moguls1998-2006. A two-time Olympian (2002 and 2006) and member of the 2003 and 2005 World Championship team, he broke through as a surprise qualifier for the 2002 Olympic team and went on to win silver at Deer Valley. A graduate from Cornell, he now works in marketing for IntraWest resorts and has been accepted for business school at Harvard.

Alumni data sought
Each year the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding look to recognize alumni and celebrate their accomplishments. To ensure the Team has current data, national team alumni should contact the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team Foundation noting:

- Which sport competed in (alpine, freestyle, cross country, ski jumping, nordic combined, disabled alpine, disabled cross country or snowboard)
- Which years on the national team and which team you competed on (World Cup, A/B/C/Development Team or Olympic, World Championships, Paralympics)
- Current contact information including mailing address, email and phone
- Information regarding occupation, marital status, children (especially if they're aspiring ski or snowboard athletes), and
- Fun memories of being on the national team you'd be interested in sharing.

**truebluefan** · 04-02-2008, 11:07 PM

PARK CITY, Utah (March 29) - Michael Morse (Duxbury, MA) and Emiko Torito (Steamboat, CO) each laid down spectacular runs to win gold in the moguls competition of the Sprint U.S. Freestyle Championships at Deer Valley Resort in Park City Saturday.

The Sprint U.S. Freestyle Championships will air Sunday, April 6 on Versus at 3 p.m. ET.

"We had a great day. Everybody put together some really good stuff," said Moguls Head Coach Scott Rawles. "We have a competitive group and they came out and skied hard. It was awesome."

Adding to an already successful season filled with four World Cup podium finishes, including a victory in Lake Placid, Torito owned the moguls course by completing a tight run with a 360 and a backflip.

"I am shaking. It's unreal," Torito said. "I know I had a successful year with World Cups and that was great, but there's just nothing like being able to say you're a national champion. It's really special."

"She's worked her way back in to the position she's in now. She worked hard last summer on her jump package along with everything else and she came out with a lot of fire this year," Rawles said. "After she won the event in Lake Placid, she maintained that momentum throughout the year."

Torito was especially pleased to be competing for her title at Deer Valley Resort.

"Deer Valley is my favorite course. It's so challenging but you can also rip. I couldn't be happier to win here."

Shelly Robertson (Reno, NV), who's best World Cup result for the season came when she won dual moguls at Deer Valley in February, captured the silver while 2006 Olympian Hannah Kearney (Norwich, VT), who was sidelined most of the season, took the bronze.

"I was a little bit nervous, but I skied a good run," Robertson said. "It wasn't the cleanest run I've put down this year, but that's OK - I was happy with my jumps."

Morse, who landed a backflip with an iron cross and a D-spin while listening to some tunes in his helmet, couldn't believe he won a national title.

"It hasn't really sunk in yet, but it's pretty amazing [to win the title]. I had a tough year and it feels good to lay down a run," Morse said. "I was pretty amped to go. The moguls were a little bit firmer than they were in the morning, but I just tried to keep it together and let it run through the bottom."

"He's really had to battle through some injuries the last couple of years. He did a really good job of managing that this year," Rawles said. "It was funny because we were all sitting around last night picking our dark horse and everyone picked Mike. It was great to see him put it together in a big event and lay down some great stuff."

Nate Roberts (Park City, UT) followed Morse with the silver and David Babic grabbed the bronze.

"It's another day in a judged sport and I'm definitely pleased to be in front of my home town and friends," Roberts said.

Whitney Henceroth (Dillon, CO) of Team Summit and Cody Tempel (Missoula, MT) of Missoula Freestyle each gave national team members a run for their money in the moguls competition.

"I'm just super excited. I skied really well and I'm happy to be out here. It's intimidating to ski against the national team, but it's good to be able to judge yourself," said Henceroth, who finished fifth.

"My run went pretty well. The course was good and I was pretty happy with it," said Tempel, who finished sixth. "This is the second year I finished right behind the U.S. Team and I need to [keep] building."

The Sprint U.S. Freestyle Championships conclude Sunday with men's and women's dual moguls at Deer Valley Resort in Park City.

MULTIMEDIA:
To see pictures from the Freestyle Championships click here.
For audio from this competition click here.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
SPRINT U.S. FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Park City, UT - March 29, 2008
Moguls

Men
1. Michael Morse, Duxbury, MA, 24.76
2. Nate Roberts, Park City, UT, 24.69
3. David Babic, Washington, VT, 24.68
4. Pat Deneen, Cle Elum, WA, 24.41
5. Bryon Wilson, Butte, MT, 23.70
6. Cody Tempel, Missoula, MT, 22.98
7. Zak Watkins, Durango, CO, 22.54
8. Nate Johnson, New Gloucester, ME, 22.06
9. Landon Gardner, Missoula, MT, 21.77
10. Ryan Reilly, Park City, UT, 21.56

Women
1. Emiko Torito, Steamboat, CO, 23.68
2. Shelly Robertson, Reno, NV, 22.86
3. Hannah Kearney, Norwich, VT, 22.08
4. Kayla Snyderman, Winchester, MA, 21.90
5. Whitney Henceroth, Dillon, CO, 21.84
6. Lindsey Cannon, Telluride, CO, 21.70
7. Heather McPhie, Park City, UT, 21.41
8. Eliza Outtrim, Steamboat Springs, CO, 21.30
9. Michelle Roark, Winter Park, CO, 21.11
10. Jordan Poyfair, Denver, CO, 19.91

**truebluefan** · 04-02-2008, 11:10 PM

PARK CITY, Utah (April 2) - Veteran ski coach Jim Tracy (Hood River, OR) is returning to the U.S. Ski Team as women's alpine head coach, according to Alpine Director Jesse Hunt. Tracy, who was women's head speed coach from 1997-2004, brings an extensive background having worked five Olympics and eight World Championships in his career before retiring from the Team in 2006.

"Jim is bringing 20 years of international coaching experience to the position," said Hunt. "He brings the knowledge, contacts, and the continuity that will help us continue to achieve success."

"I'm extremely excited and honored to come back when the team is doing so well," said Tracy, who has been coaching at Mt. Hood Meadows, OR. "I'm humbled by the support from the staff in wanting me to come back. There are going to be some big shoes to fill.

"My goal is to support everyone and just keep the ball rolling, and to get the technical side going as well as the speed side. We want to go into Vancouver with a lot of excitement and be ready to win."

The U.S. women's program has had strong success the last three seasons. Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) won the Audi FIS World Cup overall and downhill titles last season. Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) won the Olympic giant slalom in 2006 and challenged for the overall title in 2007.

Tracy coached at Colorado's Ski Club Vail for nine years before joining the U.S. Ski Team staff in 1986 as a men's coach. He took over the U.S. women's downhill and super G program in 1996 and continued to 2004 when he stepped down to work in development and with the Europa Cup women through the 2006 season.

The former Mammoth Mountain racer has worked with a star-studded lineup of champions in his career including Olympic champions Picabo Street and Tommy Moe, World Champions Daron Rahlves and Hilary Lindh, plus Worlds medalists AJ Kitt, Kirsten Clark, Jonna Mendes, Mancuso and Vonn.

Tracy replaces Patrick Riml, who retired following the 2008 season.

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