Innsbruck, Austria – A team of 14 American skiers and snowboarders are a part of history this week as the first Winter Youth Olympic Games at the Olympic city of Innsbruck, Austria which began today with the Opening Ceremony. They are a part of a 57-athlete Team USA in an event that has attracted more than 1,000 athletes from over 60 nations in 63 different medal events for Games, which runs through Jan. 21.
Athletes ages 14-19 were eligible to participate, and qualified through results in high level competitions held during the 2011 season such as the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix, Revolution Tour and World Junior Championships. Ski jumping and nordic combined skiers qualified during competitions held as part of the Oct. 8-9 Flaming Leaves Festival in Lake Placid., N.Y.
“The Youth Olympic Games are an opportunity for our USSA athletes to feel the Olympic spirit and showcase their own athletic ability to the world,” said Bill Marolt, President and CEO of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. “The Games are especially important for us in presenting the new Olympic events of halfpipe skiing, slopestyle snowboarding and women’s ski jumping.”
“We are extremely pleased to be sending such a talented group of athletes to represent Team USA at the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games,” added Scott Blackmun, CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee. “This event is a critical asset in expanding the audience of the Olympic movement and our young athletes will gain sporting experience, culture and education while they participate.”
The first Summer Youth Olympic Games was held in 2010 in Singapore. For more information about the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics, go to www.innsbruck2012.com.
2012 U.S. WINTER YOUTH OLYMPIC TEAM
(Name, Hometown, Club, Date of Birth)
Alpine Skiing
Alex Leever (Vail, CO, Ski & Snowboard Club Vail, 07/6/95)
Julia Mueller-Ristine (Aspen, CO, Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboarding Club, 5/21/95)
Cross Country
Patrick Caldwell (Lyme Center, NH, Stratton Mountain School 2/18/94)
Heather Mooney (Peru, VT, Middlebury College Ski Team, 2/27/94)
Nordic Combined
Colton Kissell (Park City, UT, Park City Nordic, 5/30/96)
Halfpipe Skiing
Aaron Blunck (Crested Butte, CO, Ski & Snowboard Club Vail, 4/12/96)
Jeanne Crane-Mauzy (Waterville Valley, NH, Axis Freeride, 6/5/96)
Skicross
Lesley Wilson (Steamboat Springs, CO, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club 08/02/96)
Ski Jumping
Emilee Anderson (Eau Claire, WI, Flying Eagles Ski Club, 12/13/95)
Will Rhoads (Park City, UT, Park City Nordic, 6/8/95)
Snowboarding Halfpipe
Ben Ferguson (Bend, OR, U.S. Snowboarding, 1/21/95)
Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, CO, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, 05/04/96)
Snowboarding Slopestyle
Max Raymer (Park City, UT, Park City Snowboard Team, 08/24/95)
Indigo Monk (Manhattan Beach, CA, Breckenridge Resort, 01/5/95)
2012 YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES SCHEDULE
Friday, Jan. 13
Opening Ceremony
Saturday, Jan. 14
Alpine – Super G (Men and Women)
Freeskiing – Halfpipe Skiing Qualification (Men and Women)
Ski Jumping – Normal Hill Ski Jump (Men and Women)
Snowboarding – Halfpipe Snowboarding Qualification (Men and Women)
Sunday, Jan. 15
Alpine – Super Combined (Men and Women)
Freeskiing – Halfpipe Skiing Semi-Finals/Finals (Men and Women)
Nordic Combined – Individual Event (Men)
Snowboarding – Halfpipe Snowboarding Qualification (Men and Women)
Tuesday, Jan. 17
Alpine – Parallel Team Event (Mixed Men and Women)
Cross Country – Men’s 10k Classic/Women’s 5k Classic
Wednesday, Jan. 18
Alpine – Giant Slalom (Women)
Thursday, Jan. 19
Alpine – Giant Slalom (Men)
Cross Country – Freestyle Sprints (Men and Women)
Freeskiing – Skicross Qualifications (Men and Women)
Snowboarding – Slopestyle Qualifications (Men and Women)
Friday, Jan. 20
Alpine – Slalom (Women)
Cross Country/Biathlon – Team Event (Mixed Men and Women)
Freesking – Skicross Finals (Men and Women)
Nordic Combined/Ski Jumping – Team Event (Mixed Men and Women)
Snowboarding – Slopestyle Semi-Finals/Finals (Men and Women)
Saturday, Jan. 21
Alpine – Slalom (Men)