Lake Placid, NY – The Olympic village of Lake Placid, nestled in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York, holds a special charm. The site of the 1932 and 1980 Olympics, it’s a town where the legacy of the Games lives on – a place where memories have been made for athletes over decades. Freestyle aerials … Continue reading Behind the Gold: Joy of Coming Home
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany – Over the past decade, Lindsey Vonn has established herself as one of the world’s most notable athletes. People on the street know Lindsey Vonn. They recognize her as an accomplished ski racer and cultural hero of her time – a glamorous woman whose image has graced every level of global media. What they … Continue reading Behind the Gold: Hard-Earned Tears
Val di Fiemme, Italy – Norwegian cross-country skier Heidi Weng stood atop Alpe Cermis screaming. Below, her teammate Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg was challenging Swede Stina Nilsson for third in the seventh and final stage of the Tour de Ski. The screams came with passion deep from within her burned out lungs. Two minutes earlier, she had … Continue reading Behind the Gold: Pain That Never Felt So Good
Park City, UT – Six-year- old Anna Hoffman sat on the bar atop of the 20-meter jump at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City. Next to her was one of the leading ski jumpers in America, Lindsey Van, offering words of encouragement. Young Anna was calm and collected, helmet and goggles on her head and … Continue reading Behind the Gold: Fly Girl Comes of Age
Sestriere, Italy – The Giovanni Agnelli race course in Sestriere is steeped in history. Named for the founder of Fiat and developer of the resort in the 1930s, this was the piste that sent 21-year- olds Julia Mancuso and Ted Ligety on to Olympic gold in 2006. It was here that the legendary Janica Kostelic of … Continue reading Behind the Gold: Becoming a Part of History
Val d’Isere, France – Gold comes in many forms. Last weekend on the icy pitch of the fabled O.K. course in Val d’Isere, a 15th-place World Cup super G result gleamed brighter than an Olympic medal for Vermont’s Ryan Cochran-Siegle. It had been nearly four years since his last major international speed event in February, 2013. … Continue reading Behind the Gold: Ryan Cochran-Siegle
Waterville Valley, NH – The young ski racer stood outside the start house at the top of the mountain, a mix of Stevie Wonder, Zeppelin and Beatles playing in her ears. The U.S. Ski Team’s 19-year-old rising star out of Vermont’s Burke Mountain Academy was contemplating her first run lead in a World Cup giant slalom – … Continue reading Behind the Gold: Her Day to Win
