Let’s take a quick look at the ski conditions and the upcoming week before we take a look at the relationship between Olympic Valley and the upcoming Vancouver Olympics. The Squaw Valley, USA ski area is reporting between a 115” and 131” base, very nice! If you’ve been following the Olympic Village Inn Facebook updates and Twitter Tweets, you know the Palisades have been open for you expert skiers, with its extreme terrain that Squaw Valley is known for. The upcoming week is still in question as far as the weather is concerned. No big storms are forecast but it looks unsettled with impulses coming through at times, each one depositing a few inches of snow. The end of the week, starting Thursday night, and next weekend look much wetter, with a more potent storm moving in. We could get a short break on Sunday, so keep checking the weather updates; it could turn out to be a great ski day. These storms look warmer but should still drop a few feet of snow at the ski areas. Sorry it has to come on the weekend but we need to have the gratitude attitude and be thankful for all we get. If you don’t have to drive because you’re already here at Olympic Village Inn, and you’re dressed in today’s amazing ski wear that keeps you warm and dry in the worst conditions, you’ll have a wonderful ski day.
We know the role Olympic Valley’s played in the past in the Winter Olympics, but I was amazed to read how many top athletes make it, and the greater Truckee-Tahoe area, their home. You can read the full article at The Weekly Powder Report but here’s a condensed list of them and their latest accomplishments:
Shannon Bahrke of Tahoe City was third in Moguls at the Nature Valley Freestyle Challenge in Park City on Jan. 14Arne Backstrom of Olympic Valley won the Subaru Canadian Freeskiing Championship in Revelstoke, B.C., on Jan. 12.
Nate Holland of Olympic Valley won the Snowboardcross World Cup in Austria on Jan. 10, cinching his spot on the U.S. Olympic Snowboard team. He was 10th at the Snowboardcross competition at the FIS Snowboard World Cup in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, on Jan. 15.
Pat Holland of Olympic Valley was 33rd during the Jan.10 competition and 10th at the Jan. 15 completion.
Daron Rahlves of Truckee was fourth in the Nature Valley Freestyle Cup on Jan. 24 in Lake Placid, N.Y., the last Ski Cross World Cup before the 2010 Olympic Games.
Julia Mancuso of Olympic Valley was 25th in the Women’s Giant Slalom in the Audi FIS World Cup in Maribor, Slovenia, on Jan. 16, and 50th in the Slalom in Flachau, Austria, on Jan. 12. She was 10th in the Women’s Super G at the Audi FIS World Cup competition in Haus Im Ennstal, Austria, on Jan. 10, and in the Women’s Downhill in Austria on Jan. 9, Mancuso was 11th. She was 7th in the Moguls on Jan. 8 in Calgary, AB during Freestyle World Cup competition.
Marco Sullivan of Olympic Valley ended up tied for 18th position with his teammate Erik Fisher of Idaho in the Men’s Downhill World Cup on Jan. 23 in Kitzbuehel, Austria. He was 36th in the Men’s Downhill at the Audi FIS World Cup in Wengen, Switzerland on Jan. 16.
Travis Ganong of Olympics Valley was 43rd in his third World Cup start at the Men’s Downhill on Jan. 16 at the Audi FIS World Cup.
Scotty Bahrke of Tahoe City was 31st in Men’s Aerials at the Freestyle International in Park City on Jan. 15 and 28th in Aerials at the Freestyle World Cup competition on Jan. 10 in Calgary, AB.
Scott Horn of Truckee was 64th in the Men’s Ski Cross at the FIS Freestyle World Cup on Jan. 20 in Blue Mountain, Quebec and 77th in Ski Cross competition World Cup competition in Les Contamines, France, on Jan. 10.
Nick Daniels of Tahoe City, a member of the Squaw Valley Ski Team, has been named by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association to the Alpine World Junior Championship Team. He will compete in the Mont-Blanc region of France from Jan. 30 to Feb. 6.
We have so many incredible athletes in our area! They make Olympic Valley their home because it’s a perfect place to live and train. They’re drawn to the area for the same reason that you and I are, there is no better place in the world to ski. Enjoy the snow and have a great week!
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