Colorado is not only providing the U.S. Olympic team strong medal contenders in skiing, but several compelling story lines as well.
Start with the generational dynamic of three Colorado women on the alpine team. Vail’s Sarah Schleper, 30, returned to the U.S. Ski Team last season after becoming a mother. Downhiller Alice McKennis of Glenwood Springs, 20, made the team in her first season as a World Cup regular.
Halfway between them on the age spectrum is Lindsey Vonn, 25, who goes to Vancouver as a threat to win multiple medals and become the sweetheart of the Games.
I expect the nordic combined team to win a medal or two — which would be the first for the U.S. in that sport. Yes, it’s an obscure sport, but for me that’s part of its charm. With three Steamboat Springs natives on the team, this could be one of the most compelling stories of the Games.
Winter Park’s Ryan St. Onge should be a medal contender in freestyle aerials — he’s the reigning world champion — and Aspen’s Casey Puckett could challenge for a medal in skicross if his shoulder, which he recently separated, doesn’t hamper him too much.
Denver’s Michelle Roark is another name to watch in freestyle moguls. Equal parts entrepreneur and skier, Roark finished third and fourth in her final two World Cup competitions before Vancouver. An Olympic medal would look great in her downtown Denver salon, next to her other trophies.
There’s another intriguing name on the list of Colorado skiers going to Vancouver. Simi Hamilton of Aspen, 22, made his first Olympic team in cross country. The fortunes of cross country skiing in the U.S. have been rising in recent years, and Hamilton has been considered one of America’s top young prospects. He’s not going to medal in Vancouver, but like McKennis, he figures to get valuable experience for future Games.
Overall, I see Bode Miller and Ted Ligety as medal contenders in alpine, plus a cross country medal coming from Kikkan Randall, Andy Newell or Kris Freeman.
