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Meb, Morgan and Amy don’t disappoint

The 2012 London Olympic Games will go down in US history for many reasons: the first African American woman to win gold in the all-around gymnastics competition and Michael Phelps becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 medals, just to name a few, but for Mammoth and the Eastern Sierra, there were other historic moments that should make us cheer our Olympic athletes as they arrive back home.

While Mammoth resident Meb Keflezighi may have finished one step below the podium, in fourth place in the men’s marathon, his accomplishments in these Games were huge. As the LA Times pointed out in an article earlier this week:

“Yet while Keflezighi will leave London empty-handed, Sunday’s race did secure him a place among the most accomplished marathoners in Olympic history. Since Keflezighi was a silver medalist in Athens eight years ago, his fourth-place finish here makes him the only American besides two-time medalist Frank Shorter to finish that high in multiple Games. And just six other runners from any country have finished fourth or better twice — none of them over the space of three Olympics, which is how long it took Keflezighi.”

“Basically he proved everyone wrong in the last year,” said Mammoth Lakes Tourism Executive Director John Urdi, referring to all of the naysayers who claimed Keflezighi, 37, was too old to challenge for a medal.

Not only did Keflezighi make his way back to fourth place after dropping into 16th place at one point during the race on Aug. 12, but he was also the only American to finish the men’s marathon this year. Ryan Hall, 29, and Abdi Abdirahman, 35, dropped out just after 15 kilometers. Hall had a tightening right hamstring and Abdirahman said he felt his knee pop.

According to Urdi, the marathon winner, Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda is only 23, while the second and third place winners from Kenya are 30.

Which means Meb was only three minutes behind someone who was 14 years younger than him, and even closer to runners who are seven years his junior.

Urdi also pointed out that Keflezighi had worked his way back from an injury he received when he left a Breathe Right nasal strip in his shoe during the New York City Marathon. The strip cut into his foot, and left him with an infection, but he still won the Olympic Trials in Houston 69 days later with a personal best time.

“Did I want to finish fourth – no,” said Keflezighi in an interview with the Denver Post following Sunday’s race. “But at the world (championships) or Olympic Games I’ll take it, especially considering that I did not make the Olympics in 2008. I am very proud of myself and our country to finish fourth.”

And the rest of us should be as well.

As for Mammoth’s female runners, who trained locally in the run up to the Games, Urdi emphasized the following:

“Amy Hastings finished 11th in the Women’s 10,000 meters but was the #1 finisher for the USA,” Urdi said.

“Morgan Uceny [27] had to go through two qualifying rounds (quarterfinals and semifinals) in order to be one of two Americans in the finals on Friday. While it is unfortunate she tripped [during the 1,500 meter race] – making it to the finals is a HUGE accomplishment and she will be back and ready for 2016 in Rio for sure.”

Expect Hastings, 28, to be a contender in the 2016 Olympics as well, Urdi said. “Both women will be a big threat for the next Olympics.”

Urdi stated that Mammoth Lakes Tourism is waiting to determine when the runners will be returning to Mammoth before planning a celebratory party, but promised to keep the community posted.

Randonee race winner Matt Irons (PHOTO PHIL SCHAEFER)

Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol hosted the 3rd Annual California Ski Patrol Olympics last week at Mammoth’s Main Lodge. On April 18 and 19, ski patrols from Squaw Valley, June Mountain and Mammoth Mountain competed for regional bragging rights. The competitions covered many of the skill sets that ski patrol professionals use in the execution of their job duties.

The first day of competition started with the Randonee Race. Beginning at Chair 11, up to the top of the Paranoids via White Bark Bowl and down Scottie’s to the Chair 11 finish. The first place men’s finisher was MMSP’s own Matt Irons with second place going to Squaw Valley’s Zebulon Blais. The first place women’s finisher was Robin McElroy of Squaw Valley.

In the Bomb Toss event, the top results in distance reaching 150 feet was David Glidden of Mammoth Mountain. In the accuracy competition, bull’s eye at 75 feet, was Kirk Maes of June Mountain with a direct hit, with skis on, in the wind, with a 2.2 lb. simulated hand charge. Quite a feat!

At the Avalanche Dog Search event, Erik Knudson and Boon from Squaw Valley were the winners, with Sean Macedonio and King from Mammoth Mountain the runners up.

The last event for the day was the All Mountain GS, with the fastest time posted by Corey Denton of Mammoth Mountain, winning by 8 seconds! Second place men’s finisher was West Vane of Mammoth Mountain. First place women’s finisher was Robin McElroy of Squaw Valley with Kelly Miller of June Mountain second.

Day two brought the Avalanche Transceiver competition with Neil Satterfield of June Mountain winning in 2 min. 25 sec. for three buried beacons.  Eric Diem of June Mountain was a close second, posting a time of 2:37. Top women’s finishers were Robin McElroy, 2:47, and Coryl Dolfin MMSP, 3:01.

In the Recco Search with a double burial, the winner was Erik Knudson SV, ripping it up with 55 sec. total!! Second place Kirk Maes JM in just 1:27. First place for the women, Robin McElroy SV edging past Kelly Miller JM by only one second!

In the complicated Toboggan Race, involving not only GS gates, but picking up a patient too, first place went to Jason Torlano/Jeff Fox/Ryan Copenhagen of MMSP. Second place, Corey Denton/Mitch Dreese/Scott Donaghey, MMSP.  The women’s winner was Kelly Miller/K. Maes/E. Diem JM, runners up Coryl Dolfin/Amy Grahek/Mandy Fels, MMSP.

The last event of the day was the, just for fun, Bamboo Toss from the moving chair at various targets.  Winners were Zebulon Blais and Robin McElroy, both of Squaw Valley!

In the overall standings the men’s winner was Corey Denton MMSP, second Zebulon Blais SVSP, and third Neil Satterfeild JMSP. The women’s top finishers, first Robin McElroy SVSP, second Kelly Miller JMSP, and third Coryl Dolfin MMSP. Team overall finish order was; first Mammoth Mountain, second Squaw Valley, and third June Mountain.

All of the participants had a great time and would like to thank our sponsors: Alpha Explosives, Clif Bar, Edge Rescue, FallLine, Mammut, Mountain Uniforms, Patagonia and Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.

Meanwhile, Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol would like to thank all the local establishments that donated awards to its 2011-2012 Awards Banquet, including: Clocktower, Petra’s, Convict Lake Resort, Giovanni’s, Hair and Now, Kittredge Sports, Lakanuki, Mammoth Mountaineering Supply, Mammoth Outdoor Sports, Nevado’s, Rafters, Roberto’s Café, Slocums and Anonymous.

The combine is over. The spandex unitards are funky and sweaty, and teams are salivating over the aptly dubbed, “Underwear Olympics.” And despite all the things that happened one thing is clear. THE JETS JUST DON’T GET IT.

I told you their problems start with the top and filter down to the bottom. The Jets General Manager, Mike Tannenbaum, in a TV interview said the team won’t rule out Peyton Manning and that their QB situation, “will look a lot different at the start of the season.”

Now everyone knows that means they need a veteran backup, because Mark Brunell isn’t the solution. But now Coach Rex Ryan and Tannenbaum have both said they are interested in Manning. Which raises the question: why are they putting more discontent and unrest on the team? 1. Manning isn’t going to a dysfunctional team with a jackass head coach and jackass GM and jackass owners who can’t keep their mouths shut. Manning needs total control and the Jets frankly aren’t worth his time, much less his trouble. 2. Manning hasn’t proven he is capable of playing again. 3. Even if he does, he’s not going to fit into a GROUND AND POUND offense. Seriously, what ARE the Jets thinking? Are they THAT clueless?

The fact that they stand behind Ryan and his miserable method of running a team indicates they DON’T have a clue and they keep affirming that every time they bring up Manning.

Now … Dontari Poe, a 346-pound defensive lineman ran a 40-yard dash in 4.87 seconds. How is someone that big running that fast? That is impressive.

I love Hines Ward as a Steelers fan. I think he has carried the Steelers mentality and history through some rough times. From the tough Rod Woodson and Greg Lloyd days through the Tommy Maddox days he has been a model of the Steelers way. But, Ward to be cut by the Steelers and the shock is, well, unwarranted. Look, they force-fed him the last few weeks of the season to get him 1,000 catches and everyone saw him standing on the sidelines as the 4th WR in the Steelers offense. Now I believe they will bring him back, but for league minimum. That’s all he is good for at this point; he can’t play special teams. He should come back at minimum salary, work a clipboard when he is inactive and be a coach in training. He still has value, but it would be a waste to see him go sit on the sidelines and bench for the Bengals or Browns. No, that’s just stupid. Setup your coaching career with the Steelers, Hines … that’s the smart play.

The NFL’s season-opening game has been moved to Wednesday instead of Thursday because of Obama’s re-nomination at the Democratic National Convention. Good for me, I get football a day earlier.

The NFL should do away with the franchise tag as it is. I can’t believe the player’s union didn’t get a rule in the collective bargaining agreement that the Franchise tag can only be used on a player ONE TIME. How did they settle for something like that? They can tag you 2 years in a row and keep you on a risky one-year contract? That’s just nuts.

Rob Dibble’s radio show. First let me say I don’t know how Rob Dibble got a radio show. Isn’t he the pitcher that was going to fight his manager, Lou Piniella, in the locker-room? Hilarious. But that jackass really pissed me off today. I had to listen to him whining on the radio about how the college and NBA systems are screwing the NCAA basketball coaches. Really? He complained about how these 19-year-old kids only have to play one year of college basketball before they can jump to the NBA and it isn’t fair to the university or the coaches. Get out of here. These coaches have shoe and TV contracts and make a few million dollars a year. The schools make a mint selling the jerseys and games, and NCAA tourney and game tickets, and Dibble gripes about the players getting to go pro and earn a living after one year? Dibble was a baseball player. MLB teams draft kids right out of high school. If the NCAA looked out for those kids, maybe I’d care more, but they don’t … and the coaches and universities still get paid. They have boosters paying the coaches millions, jack up tuition every year despite making millions every year, and from my Lay-Z-Boy don’t have the right to bitch. AT ALL. And neither does Dibble.

Let me ask you a question. Why does the media dog Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo for his playoff performance but call Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan “Matty Ice.” Ryan hasn’t won a single playoff game and they talk about how great he is, but Romo gets dogged. Now I hate the Cowboys and Romo, but give me a break. Ryan has lost every playoff game. He had weapons this year: Michael Turner, Tony Gonzales, Roddy White, Julio Jones, Jazquizz Rogers … and “Ice” racked up 2 lousy points in the playoff game. And those were scored by the defense on a safety! What do the pundits see in this guy?

I heard people say, “The Steelers draft this year is vitally important. They need players and they have salary cap issues so can’t pursue free agents.” Now this burns me up. Name the last high-priced free agent the Steelers signed. I bet you can’t … because they don’t. Sports broadcasting and sports writing “experts” … yeah, right! Morons. The Steelers NEVER SIGN BIG NAME FREE AGENTS. Ever. Every year the Steelers draft is important … that’s how they put together their team. Their stars are all drafted players. Why the NFL and the experts can’t acknowledge that is beyond me. The Steelers lose players to free agency, because they plug in another draft pick and feed the system. And think about the Steelers that lose. What they do elsewhere? Name a Steelers player that went somewhere else and became a star. The Steelers kept Alan Faneca ‘til they thought he was done, and two years later he was done. Joey Porter hung around for a couple years. The one you go back to is Rod Woodson. So I am flying to ESPN headquarters tomorrow to punch those experts in the mouth. Then to the NFL network headquarters … more punches to the mouth. Experts … hah! Morons!

Parting shots …

Watched “American Idol” pare down to the final 24. I have to say, the 12 guys all suck. I watched their performances and couldn’t find one of them that would be worthy of collecting coins on the local freeway off-ramp.

Then tonight the women went on. And there were 4 of them that blew the doors off the joint. Elsie Testone (whose last name is, I must point out, eerily close to “testosterone”) blew it up. She is from Charleston, South Carolina, and that probably explains why I like her to a certain extent. Charleston is my old stomping ground. Love and miss that place. Jessica Sanchez. Wow, that girl was smoking. Then there was Skylar, who is too young for me to talk about, but she put on a performance that made me think about Reba McEntire. And that is never a bad thing – I like Reba. Skylar could well be the new Reba. But the closer, the best singer in the group was HOLLIE CAVANAUGH. That girl was the BOMB. I replayed her song 4 times! Man, I am going to watch it again. If you haven’t watched her, check out her performance. Unbelievable! “AI” pulled me in again. I have an idea. They should make the minimum age 18 and allow the performers to use poles and oil into their performances. It only makes sense.

Alpine Garage’s Johnny Teller (right) was left out of the Olympics, but his American counterparts may not have been up for the job. (Photo: Wolf)

Teller stays on bench as U.S. Olympic Skier Cross athletes flop Vancouver

Skier Cross made its debut in the Winter Olympics on Sunday, Feb. 21, and Switzerland’s Michael Schmid went into the history books, taking home the sport’s first gold medal as part of the 2010 Games in Vancouver. Meanwhile, U.S. athletes Casey Puckett and Daron Rahlves were nowhere near the top 10, finishing 23rd and 28th, respectively. (Silver went to Andreas Matt of Austria, Bronze to Audun Groenvold from Norway. Canada, which was expected to do at least reasonably well, managed to put  Chris DelBosco in fourth, and France’s Enak Gavaggio rounded out the top five.)

Earlier this month, Puckett was nursing a separated left shoulder and Daron Rahlves was recovering from a dislocated right hip. With both injured, many in the sports community pondered the rationale being used by both United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSSA) CEO Bill Marlot and skier cross coach Tyler Shepherd who insisted that Puckett and Rahlves would be 100 percent by the time racing commenced.

Maybe they were both able to ski, but being able to bring it full on was arguably another matter. Previously, Shepherd was quoted as having said Rahlves and Puckett need to be 100 percent if the team hopes to bring home a medal, especially a gold. “The gold medal is not going to be won by going 80 percent,” he stated. Shepherd was right on that point at least. In light of the poor results, it’s questionable as to whether Puckett and Rahlves were up to the task, as Marlot and Shepherd maintained.

The skier who was 100 percent, Johnny Teller, sat at home, skied the local Village Championship race series, and watched the Olympics from afar. Teller, who finished sixth at the recent X Games, was considered by many — Puckett included — as a logical choice to replace the injured team members.

After the race, the media spin attempting to take the edge off what may have been a poor decision by the U.S. coaching staff seemed to be taking effect. “Rahlves’ spill off the second-to-last jump during the first round was particularly exciting. The alpine master, who was sitting second in his heat at the time, went down on his back only to get back on his feet and make a photo finish of the race, of which he was unfortunately on the wrong end,” read part of story on www.utahskier.net.

The skiers themselves were apparently spinning out of control, too.

“I never have regrets. I’m out there having fun. I still had fun today,” Rahlves said in the story. “The ultimate is just to love what you do and go out there and give it a shot.” Rahlves, however, insisted he was ready for Sunday’s race. “I felt ready to roll. Today was the outcome I didn’t really expect it. I thought I was going to be moving through to the finals,” Rahlves said. “I felt great. I’ve been skiing hard and as of yesterday I had zero pain in the hip. I was still doing physical therapy every morning. To be back this way three weeks after dislocating my hip was a pretty outstanding recovery.”

Outstanding, it turns out, may not have been good enough.

Meanwhile, Puckett, who made little or no mention of his shoulder injury, was unable to generate enough speed, which he said probably cost him on Sunday. “The start is really important and I wasn’t able to get out of the start really well,” Puckett told www.utahskier.net. “There’s a little bit of apprehension when I’m going down a course like that — huge air coming down from pretty high heights. There’s nothing else I could have done. I did everything I could. I’m proud I was able to make it here, and I laid it out there.”

Of course, one can only speculate how the U.S. team would have done had they brought Teller up in one of the slots, but in any case it’s at least a curiosity that Rahlves and Puckett were kept on the team and fared so poorly.

Locally, Teller finds himself currently in the top spot in the Mens A category of the local Village Chamionships race series.

Greg Bretz competes in the Olympic Halfpipe this evening (Photo courtesy nbcolympics.com)

Head to Lakanuki tonight at 6:30 p.m. to cheer on your local Olympic athletes. Mammoth’s own Greg Bretz and Stacey Cook compete in the Olympic Halfpipe and Downhill events, respectively.

Mammoth's alpine master Stacey Cook competes today in the 2010 Olympics (photo courtesy nbcolympics.com)

Clockwise from left: Nancy Fiddler, Tommy Czeschin, Karen Keehn, Deena Kastor, Robin Morning, Jill Kinmont Boothe (Photo by Layton Petersen)

For many television viewers of the Olympic Games, the advent of this global ceremony only comes every two years. For athletes who compete in the games, however, their sport consumes virtually every aspect of their lives. Even when retired, athletes pass the torch on to those who will follow in their footsteps, as their legacies and lifestyles continue to shape lives beyond their own.

On Tuesday night, the Inyo Council for the Arts in Bishop hosted an evening interviewing a panel of both past and present Olympians. The crew included world-class athletes Deena Kastor, Tommy Czeschin, Nancy Fiddler, Karen Keehn and Robin Morning. The panel answered both prepared questions and inquiries from the audience, on topics covering career highlights, the steroids controversy, and overcoming adversity.

Karen Keehn, who made the 1976 women’s rowing team for the Summer Olympics in Montreal, said she felt honored to compete the first year women’s rowing was included at the Olympics. She said she remembers wanting to march into the stadium at the opening ceremony on the right side, where she had calculated the TV cameras and the queen would be. But when she marched through the tunnel into the light of the stadium, she said it felt like she had been “microwaved.”

“Every thought and preconception I had before the experience flew out the window,”

Keehn said. “I don’t remember the video cameras or the queen, just the incredible feeling of   being there.”

Born and raised Mammoth Lakes resident Tommy Czeschin, who competed in the 2002 Olympic team for snowboarding, described his experience at the Winter Games as, “Just wow.” He said competing in the United States right after the attack on Sept. 11 made him feel honored because the national pride was so palpable.

Although all five athletes who spoke on Tuesday participated in the Olympics during their lifetimes, it was not always a life dream for each of them. Robin Morning, who competed in downhill skiing at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, said she never had a great desire to go to the Olympics when she started learning to ski.

“But when you’re doing something, you just want to get better and better at whatever it is,” Morning said.

Since she was learning to ski under the first-class mentorship of Dave McCoy, Morning said she was constantly surrounded by other great role models in her sport who, by virtue of proximity, influenced her to strive for greater goals.

Deena Kastor, the 2004 Olympic marathon bronze medalist in Athens, said her calling wasn’t clear until she had tried almost every other sport before attempting long-distance running. Not having much success in soccer, she said, “I was the girl who scored goals for the other team.”

When she took up softball, she was designated as an outfielder, and spent her time blowing bubbles and constructing daisy chains. When she began running through the Santa Monica Mountains with her track team though, she said she didn’t want to turn back. She has now been dedicated to the sport for 26 years. In addition to medaling at the Olympics, Kastor was the 2004 USA 10,000m champion, won the Jesse Owens Award in 2003, was a two-time World Cross Country silver medalist and a four-time USA 10,000m champion.

When watching the Olympics, viewers get glimpses of the athletes’ sense of glory and pride. What the viewers don’t often see is the athletes’ dedication to a certain kind of lifestyle, the hours of training, and the overcoming of major obstacles.

For example, marathon competitor Kastor said she averages 20 miles per day of running. When she was training for the 2004 Olympics, she said she wore layers of clothing to simulate the heat of Athens during the winter months in Mammoth Lakes. She also said tests showed that her body doesn’t feel the effects of altitude until 12,000 feet, so she had to train at 9,000 feet in elevation.

“It’s a pretty intensive lifestyle,” Kastor said. “But I absolutely love it.”

She said she has to think about everything she does and how it will affect her performance, including how she eats, sleeps and thinks. Bending her day around her sport has just become an engrained part of her life.

But Kastor is not the only one who monitors her lifestyle. In an age when performance-enhancing drugs are more accessible than ever, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has become a professional athletic watchdog. Kastor said the agency must know where she is at all times, so if they plan to make a random visit and administer a drug test, she will be at the prearranged location.

“They can give you a random test at any time,” Kastor said. “If you get three missed tests, then it counts as a positive test. So I have to text in any changes in plans so I can always be followed.”

Although some might see this as an invasion of privacy, Kastor said she feels it’s necessary. She said taking drugs is like cheating in sports.

Nancy Fiddler, who competed in two Winter Olympics in cross country skiing, had strong feelings about steroids. She said knowing that her competitors were taking performance-enhancing drugs made her feel like she had been robbed of her true results.

“I feel like the athletes who take drugs are missing the thrill of victory—of seeing what their bodies can do,” Kastor said.

Sometimes, however, bodies don’t do what athletes want them to do. When the panelists discussed how they have faced adversity, they primarily talked about their injuries. Kastor described how disappointing it was for her to compete in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, only to withdraw from the race after about 3 miles due to a debilitating foot injury. After winning the bronze in Athens, Kastor said, she wanted to bring home the gold from Beijing.

“I had such high hopes,” Kastor said. “It was very devastating. But challenges and obstacles are undoubtedly opportunities in disguise—opportunities to grow as individuals.”

Kastor was the only one of the five athletes on the panel who is not retired. She is still training, competing, and loving the lifestyle she has chosen. Each athlete remarked on how their sports became both their passions and their lives. They described how enriching and fulfilling it was to travel and find companionship and fellowship with their teammates.

“I didn’t lose things from that lifestyle,” Morning said. “I only gained things.”

Keehn said, for her, team became family, and every morning she woke up looking forward to advancing in her sport.

“If you think you should be doing something else besides your sport,” Fiddler said, “then you shouldn’t be doing it.”

Kastor emphasized how giving up things to focus on a sport shouldn’t feel like it’s a limiting factor in life. She said if you’re finding joy in what you’re doing, then you shouldn’t feel like you’re sacrificing anything.

Mammoth and its Olympic athletes are on the countdown to the start of the Games this Friday, Feb. 12.

Greg Bretz (Wire service photo courtesy Daylife/Getty Images)

Is Alpine Garage’s Johnny Teller (right) going to the Olympics? (Photo: Wolf)

In political parlance, one could say that local Mammoth skier cross athlete Johnny Teller’s shot at an Olympic team berth is the victim of a vast, hero-worship conspiracy. Teller, who finished sixth at the recent X Games, is a logical choice to replace injured team members Casey Puckett, nursing a separated left shoulder, and Daron Rahlves, recovering from a dislocated his right hip.
At the moment, however, Teller still sits on the non-injured reserve bench. Puckett has said Teller should be placed on the team if either he or Rahlves aren’t up to the task, but so far neither has thrown in the towel. Far from it, it seems.
Latest reports in the New York Times indicated the two are still planning to race. United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSSA) CEO Bill Marlot earlier this week even went so far as to declare to the Associated Press that both were recovering at home and “will be fully ready to go” for the Vancouver Games. The Skier Cross competition takes place on Feb. 21. (Training camp starts Feb. 14.)
Meanwhile, Tyler Shepherd, the United States skier cross coach, appears to be suffering from a bout of denial, seemingly unwilling to consider what would happen if Rahlves, Puckett or both would be unable to compete.
“We’re fully expecting them to be set to go for Vancouver,” Shepherd told the NY Times. “They’re both very tough guys.”
Tough guys or not, U.S. skiers will have to bring their A-game if they’re to fend off a major challenge shaping up from a strong Canadian team that would like nothing better than to clean up on its home turf.
Shepherd’s reaction has also met criticism by some in the media, given a recent statement he made acknowledging that Rahlves and Puckett need to be 100 percent if the team hopes to bring home a medal, especially a gold. “The gold medal is not going to be won by going 80 percent,” Shepherd was quoted as saying.
Asked about the situation, Teller is trying to stay grounded. “Daron [Rahlves] is a stud. He’s had this injury before and after the latest recurrence, just walked out of the hospital that night [Sunday, Jan. 24.],” Teller said. “Basically I’m just back in reality waiting for the phone to ring.”

In the meantime, Teller said you can catch him at the Village Championships competing for his father Karl’s “Fossil Fuel” team sponsored by Mammoth Chevron.
So, while both Puckett and Rahlves may be currently at that 80 percent level, a 100 percent Johnny Teller sits in Mammoth toiling away at Alpine Garage, waiting for the phone to ring. -Sheet Staff

Greg Bretz (Wire service photo courtesy Daylife/Getty Images)

Bretz grabs final Olympic Snowboard spot

The red, white and blue flannels were handed out last weekend in Park City, Utah as the 2010 Olympic Snowboard team was announced following the final qualifying event of the Grand Prix.
Shaun White, landed the first-ever-in-competition double McTwist 1260 (essentially two backflips while rotating 1260 degrees) showing the fans that the “Flying Tomato” (though he doesn’t like to be called that anymore) is more than ready for Vancouver.
Spin-doctor Scotty Lago threw down a score of 48.00 earning him a spot on the Olympic roster and proving that “Shaun of the Red” may not be alone on the Olympic podium.
Apparently little big man Louie Vito, couldn’t get it together that night, but it really didn’t matter since he’s already got his bags packed for Vancouver anyway after two previous 2nd place finishes.
But in a surprising Cinderella story, Mammoth local Greg Bretz spun his way past Zach Black at the Grand Prix to earn his first Olympic flannel. Danny Davis had enough points for the fourth roster spot, but decided to ride his ATV into a closed parking gate last week instead of going to the Olympics. Meanwhile, Bretz finished in a three-way tie for 5th with Luke Mitrani and JJ Thomas but beat out both via a tiebreaker formula.
Bretz had 3rd and 4th place finishes in the final two Grand Prix events.
The Women’s Roster was also stamped with untouchable Kelly Clark at the top of the heap. Gretchen Bleiler, Hannah Teter and Elena Hight were also named to the roster.

Teller to compete at X-Games

Johnny Teller may have missed out on an Olympic team berth for Skier Cross, but terrific performances recently have landed him a spot at the X Games this weekend.
Reached in Aspen this week, Teller said his Olympic bid came down to a final World Cup race in which he needed to finish in the top three.
Starting from the 59th position, Teller qualified 12th and finished 20th, his best World Cup finish ever.
Teller said that essentially the same World Cup field will be in Aspen this weekend. Qualifying is Friday and the finals are scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday.

Weinert rolls

Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team member, Garrett Weinert had a huge day last Saturday at Bear Mountain Resort. The 16 year-old Crowley Lakes resident placed 2nd in the Gatorade Free Flow Tour Slopestyle comp and 2nd in the Burton Am Halfpipe competition. Weinert is blasting through this season after finishing 2009 with a win at the Volcom Peanut Butter Rail Jam here in Mammoth. Weinert also placed 2nd in this year’s first stop of the Volcom PB and J’s in December.

Wave Raver headed to Dew Tour?

Local Wave Rave employee, Mark Reininga placed 1st (ahead of Weinert) at the Gatorade Free Flow Tour Slopestyle comp last Saturday, which incidentally earned him an all-expense paid trip to Mt. Snow Vermont for the final tour stop. A win at Mt. Snow would guarantee the 19-year old a spot on the Dew Tour (and a shot at bigger purses) After his win, Reininga told powdermag.com “I’m so happy I won. It totally made sleeping in my car worth it.”

-Briefs compiled by Wolf