USA Ready for Youth Olympic Games
INNSBRUCK, Austria (Jan. 11) – A team of 14 American skiers and snowboarders will be a part of history this week when the first Winter Youth Olympic Games open at the Olympic city of Innsbruck, Austria which begin with the Opening Ceremony Friday. They will be a part of a 57-athlete Team USA in an event that is expected to attract over 1,000 athletes from over 60 nations in 63 different medal events for the Jan. 13-21 Games.
HIGHLIGHTS
Debut Winter Youth Olympic Games Jan. 13-21 at Innsbruck
Athletes ages 14-19 were eligible
Athletes 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 competitions during the Oct. 8-9 Flaming Leaves Festival in Lake Placid determined the final nordic qualifiers.
First Summer Youth Olympic Games was held in 2010 in Singapore
QUOTES
Bill Marolt, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association President and CEO
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. The Games are especially important for us in presenting the new Olympic events of halfpipe skiing, slopestyle snowboarding and women's ski jumping.
Scott Blackmun, USOC CEO
We are extremely pleased to be sending such a talented group of athletes to represent Team USA at the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games. 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.
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)
For more information about the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics, go to www.innsbruck2012.com.
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)
YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES NEWS
www.usskiteam.com
Twitter: #2012YOG