Breckenridge’s Katie Uhlaender, a 23-year-old graduate of Summit High School, is the reigning World Cup skeleton champion and a medal favorite for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Her father, Ted, played Major League Baseball for Minnesota, Cleveland and Cincinnati (1965-72) as an outfielder. Skeleton involves riding a sled headfirst on bobsled tracks at speeds in excess of 80 mph.
Denver Post sportswriter John Meyer caught up with her Wednesday by phone at her hotel room in St. Moritz, Switzerland, where she competes in a World Cup event Friday.
Q: How did you get into skeleton?
A: I met Sara Sprung (a Frisco skeleton racer) and she talked me into trying it. Eight weeks later I was national champion.
Q: What’s the coolest thing about skeleton racing?
A: I like the rush, because it’s relaxed chaos. You have to be explosive, powerful and fast (in the push start), then become completely calm with your body as everything around you is moving fast. You’re just letting it go.
Q: You’ve thought about pursuing halfpipe skiing and competitive big mountain skiing but decided to stick with skeleton through Vancouver. Why?
A: I don’t feel like I accomplished what I wanted to in Torino (sixth place) and I want another shot. If I reach the point where I feel like I’ve accomplished all my goals, I could walk away, but I wasn’t ready yet.
Q: Wish you were competing in the halfpipe Friday at the Winter X Games?
A: Every year, because I honestly feel if I had the time to ski the past five years instead of doing this, I’d have a shot.
Q: Two summers ago you worked on the production crew for “Survivor” in the Cook Islands. Last fall you were a camera assistant when the show was shot in Palau, Micronesia. How was that?
A: It was phenomenal. I learned a lot. I felt like I was getting paid to get a film school education. It was wicked.
Q: Despite all these exotic places you visit, you really love and miss Summit County, don’t you?
A: A lot. I love the mountains. It’s a spiritual place for me. And the people — you can’t beat trading a six-pack to get your skis tuned.
Q: When I asked you about the best advice you’ve gotten, you said your dad and speedskater Bonnie Blair said pretty much the same thing in different ways. Could you elaborate?
A: When my dad stepped into Yankee Stadium for the first time and there were 60,000 fans in the stands, Mickey Mantle in the outfield, he said he just had to step up to the plate and hit the ball. Those great legends had to take those same steps up to the plate, and your job is no different, you just have to hit the ball.
Bonnie said, “Just do it.” There’s no secret to being great, there’s no secret to winning, you’ve just got to do it. I think that applies to life in everything we do. You just have to decide to do it. Any other thoughts that enter your head are distractions or hesitation. Both of those things in my sport will cause you to go slow.
Once you make your decision, commit to it and do it. Step up to the plate.
Katie’s top five
Katie Uhlaender’s five favorite places:
1. Venice, Italy — Amazing atmosphere, a lot of passion.
2. Aitutaki, the Cook Islands — South Pacific paradise.
3. Summit County — I love being home.
4. New Zealand — Love the skiing.
5. Golden, British Columbia — Great backcountry skiing.
John Meyer: 303-954-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com
