U.S. Olympic Trials in Steamboat

Interested in seeing the Olympic trials in Steamboat for yourself? You've come to the right place! Watch successful seasoned Olympians compete, live and in person from December 23-24 in Steamboat Springs: book now.

"I feel so much affection for Steamboat. It is the place where I believe I blossomed as a skier. There is no better place to have the Olympic Trials than Steamboat Springs."
- US Skier Emiko Torito

At the trials, American athletes will be given a one-shot, winner-takes-all chance at making the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team.

The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) are hosting these Olympic Team Trials. A total of five U.S. Olympic Team spots will be up for grabs on these two days in Steamboat Springs.

The event, which complements the season-long selection process for the remainder of the Team, offers athletes a direct ticket to the Games should they be skilled enough to win against a field of the nation's best. The format dates back to 1998, and Nordic combined is being added for the first time this season.

"The Steamboat community takes great pride in its hometown winter Olympians, and has been a hotbed of athletic development in Nordic combined and freestyle skiing over the years," said USSA Vice President of Events, Calum Clark. "It will be great to bring the best athletes in the country to Ski Town USA to compete in front of an enthusiastic and supportive crowd."

"Freestyle and nordic combined skiing always has been at the heart of Steamboat's claim to Ski Town USA," said Andy Wirth, senior vice president of sales & marketing for Steamboat Ski & Resort Corpora-tion, and president of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (SSWSC). "The Winter Sports Club, Ski Area and entire community are excited to be hosting the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials."

"The USOC welcomes the opportunity to partner with the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association and the city of Steamboat Springs to offer this unique winner-take-all event," said USOC Chief of Sport Perfor-mance Mike English. "These Trials will capture all the thrill and excitement that comes with making Team USA, and they should prove to be a great holiday present for all ski enthusiasts."

Featuring appearances by World Champions and hometown heroes Todd Lodwick and Johnny Spillane (both natives of Steamboat Springs) as well as World Champion and former Steamboat resident Billy Demong (now from Vermontville, NY), all looking for a wildcard spot on the U.S. Olympic Team prior to the official team selection, the combined events will be held at Steamboat's historic Howelsen Hill, situated in the heart of the city and home to the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.

After the Nordic combined competition, the Trials move to the moguls event on the afternoon of Decem-ber 23, right here at Steamboat Resort! World Cup moguls champion Hannah Kearney (Norwich, VT), Olympic silver medalist Shannon Bahrke (Tahoe City, CA), moguls World Champion Patrick Deneen (Cle Elum, WA), local favorite Emiko Torito (Denver, CO) and their teammates will all be going after the chance to be placed on the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team.

The party will continue after the awards are given on December 23 with a night of live music and celebra-tion in the heart of the mountain village.

The event will wrap up on Christmas Eve morning, as Colorado native, SSWSC athlete and aerials World Champion Ryan St. Onge (Winter Park, CO), superstar Olympian Jeret "Speedy" Peterson (Boise, ID) and World Cup winner and U.S. Ski Team veteran Emily Cook (Belmont, MA) fly and flip toward a place on the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team.

"Going home to compete in Steamboat is always my favorite," St. Onge said. "I'm going back there to win. The last time I competed in Colorado I won, so hopefully I can do it again."

The full 2010 U.S. Olympic Teams for freestyle and nordic combined will be determined primarily from season-long World Cups, and will be named in January.

2010 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS - FREESTYLE SKIING/NORDIC COMBINED EVENTS
(actual start times TBD)

December 23, 2009:
Morning - Nordic Combined, Howelsen Hill
Afternoon - Men's and Women's Moguls, Steamboat Resort
Evening - Concert and Celebration

December 24, 2009:
Morning - Men's and Women's Aerials, Steamboat Resort