ski like a girl profiles Robel Teklemariam

"One Winter, Five Dreams" Panasonic Vancouver 2010 Athletes Blog

"The five athletes we have chosen to introduce here have overcome a variety of adverse circumstances in seeking the opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games.
They may not be “star” athletes, but like every Olympic contender they have a dramatic story to tell. About having meager finances and putting one’s entire resources intro training. About battling the barrier of an aging body before even beginning to face one’s rivals in sport. About going to the Olympic Winter Games from a country without snowfall.
And like every athlete who aims for the Olympic Games, they each cherish a special dream in their hearts.
It is the strength to believe in one’s dream that makes it possible to keep on trying and overcome all types of adversity. We want to put these athletes in the spotlight and share their dreams and passion for Olympic competition.
Please add your comments to their blogs. Your voice of encouragement will cheer them on to pursue their dreams of Olympic gold. It will help them stay energized, motivated and focused on winning. In this way, you can participate in the human drama of making dreams come true and the thrill of victory.
The Olympic Games are a magnificent stage where athletes and their supporters from around the world can celebrate sports together regardless of national borders and cultural differences."

Here is the first of the five athletes.

Robel Teklemariam

Ethiopia

Men's Cross-Country Skiing

Robel Teklemariam (born 1974)

What would it feel like to be the only skier on your ski team? The only skier from your country? Robel Teklemariam is a skier who understands this. He was the only skier who represented Ethiopia at the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics. He was the first athlete to represent Ethiopia in any event at the Winter Olympics. Although he has lived in the United States since the age of 9, he has founded and heads the Ethiopian Ski Association. Robel Teklemariam believes that, if given the opportunity, Ethiopian athletes can become future gold medalists in the Winter Olympics.

Robel said of the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics, "I'm a realist. My goals are for further down the road. I want this Olympics to open my eyes and hopefully the eyes of other Ethiopians." Although he did not get his ticket to the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics he continues to work towards his dream. Robel believes that "nothing is impossible. I continue telling myself to strive until my dreams come true. No matter how long it may take." Once again in 2010 Robel is going solo to the Winter Olympics please join ski like a girl in supporting Robel's Olympic dreams!

Check out Robel's blog and share you words of support and encouragement as he continues to focus on his dream. And wish me luck in my dream of becoming the Gold Blogger so I can go to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and continue cheering on all the amazing athletes.

Here's the info on the Gold Blogger.

"Panasonic also is conducting a global campaign to select a "Gold Blogger" from among the general web users who share Panasonic's passion and help promote the blog, through their blogging and/or other social media activities. Panasonic will provide a place for the Gold Blogger to exhibit his/her skills.
The selected Gold Blogger will be sent to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games to cheer for the athletes and blog about the athletes' activities and competitive performances. The Gold Blogger will represent all who wrote support messages on the website and hand deliver these messages to the athletes. Roundtrip airfare, local accommodation and Game tickets will be provided by Panasonic Corporation!!!"

xoxo,
ski girl
p.s. Check back tomorrow at ski like a girl for a profile on Katharine Eustace, New Zealand, Skeleton.

ski like a girl previews Burton 2010 U.S. Snowboarding Team Olympic Uniform

Burton 2010 U.S. Snowboarding Team Olympic Uniform


Posted using ShareThis
Greg Dacyshyn, Senior Vice President of Creative at Burton, says, “The inspiration behind the U.S. Snowboarding Team outerwear for the 2010 Olympics is classic Americana,”. “Although we are creating a uniform, our first objective is to express the individuality of snowboarding. As such, we are taking vintage American looks and interpreting them in a very unique and unexpected fashion. Finally, we will ensure that all of the highest technical attributes are maintained in the pieces, so that performance and function are not jeopardized. The result will be a progressive and fresh look that challenges the former conservatism of the Olympics.

Does anyone know what the U.S. Ski Teams Uniform looks like? All I've found is this...

ST. PAUL, Minn. (May 15) - Thinsulate™ Insulation recently announced its commitment to a four-year sponsorship agreement as an official supplier to the U.S Alpine Ski Team and the U.S. Disabled Ski Team through the 2010-2011 race season.

Thinsulate insulation, in conjunction with Spyder Active Sports, the official uniform and outerwear supplier to the U.S. Ski Team, will be the featured insulation material used within the Team's official uniform collection. The Spyder and Thinsulate insulation logos will appear on the Team's racing uniforms as well as additional uniforming.

Thinsulate insulation and Spyder, in effect, co-sponsor the patch that appears on the left sleeve of all alpine race suits. The Thinsulate insulation patch will also appear on the outerwear, jackets and competition suits for team athletes, staff, trustees and sponsors of the U.S Ski Team."

Here's hoping that it has the a similar style (I know they are "skiers" but what about the Freestyle Team?)and steeze factor as the Snowboarding Team's uniform.

xoxo,
ski girl continuing my life long quest to ski like a girl!

Kelly Clark Makes Olympics Again

Kelly Clark Makes Olympics Again

Kelly Clark, the 2002 Olympic gold medalist in the women’s halfpipe, became the first snowboarder to snare a spot on the 2010 United States halfpipe team by winning the United States Snowboarding Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain, Calif. It is the third consecutive Olympic berth for Clark, who finished fourth at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy.  New York Times John Branch

 The lowdown from ussnowboarding.com

"In the women's pipe Clark's consistency and her overall riding quality were undeniable as she stomped a clean frontside air, backside 5, frontside 9, backside air, frontside 7, cab 7 for the win.

The gold medalist, who stuck a claim on her third Olympic Team spot, was reeling after her victory lap.

"I couldn't be happier with my result today and it's a privilege to be going to my third Olympic Games," Clark said.

Being able to ride so solidly thus far in the season was a huge source of pride for halfpipe's strongest woman.

"Being able to come out and win the first two Olympic qualifiers is great and everything now will be practice for me," Clark said. "I've been getting ready for these qualifiers for a long time."

At the end of it all, there was just one word Clark could think of to describe how she felt.

"It's a pretty overwhelming thing and I would just say I feel privileged right now to be 26 years old and heading to my third Olympics. It's a really incredible thing," Clark said.

In the second place spot, Hannah Teter's (Belmont, VT) smooth style was a shout out to the world that she's still going strong and, after not being able to compete due to injury at Copper's Grand Prix, the Vermonter was happy to land her run.

"I feel really good. It's nice to come back after having a slight injury in the first Grand Prix. I've been doing a lot of visualizing, and seeing everything in my head then just putting it out on the snow," Teter said. "It definitely boosts it up bit to have a good result."

And, if you guessed that her money has a one-way ticket to the village she sponsors in Africa through the production of her maple syrup and the donation of all her contest earnings, you guessed right.

"I'm excited to donate the money I won from second place to the kids and elevate the charity," Teter said.

The exciting outcome of Wednesday's pipe is going to be hard to beat, but the athletes have a shot to do it again on Saturday as they drop into the pipe at Mammoth for the third of five Olympic qualifiers. Stay tuned."

OFFICIAL RESULTS
2010 Sprint U.S. SNOWBOARDING GRAND PRIX
Mammoth Mountain, CA - Jan. 5, 2010
Halfpipe

Men
1. Danny Davis, Detroit, MI, 49.20
2. Shaun White, Carlsbad, CA, 46.20
3. Scotty Lago, Seabrook, NH, 45.00
4. Louie Vito, Sandy, UT, 45.00
5. Elijah Teter, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 44.90
6. Greg Bretz, Mammoth Mountain, CA, 44.50
7. Jeff Bachelor, Canada, 43.50
8. Mathieu Crepel, France, 43.00
9. JJ Thomas, Golden, CO, 41.30
10. Jack Mitrani, Mammoth Mountain, CA, 40.30

Women
1. Kelly Clark, Mt. Snow, VT, 48.40
2. Hannah Teter, Belmont, VT, 45.20
3. Holly Crawford, Australia, 44.40
4. Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO, 42.50
5. Elena Hight, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 42.40
6. Maddy Schaffrick, Steamboat Springs, CO, 38.70
7. Ellery Hollingsworth, Stratton, VT, 31.00
8. Clair Bidez, Minturn, CO, 39.90

 
Congratulations and best wishes to Kelly, Hannah, and all the girls on your quest toward Olympic Gold!
xoxo,
ski girl

p.s. Here's Kelly Clark at the NZ Open

ski like a girl wants to be The Gold Blogger!!!!!

"Bloggers around the world who would like to see the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, please give us a hand! A Gold Blogger will be selected from users who have posted heart-warming messages on the blogs （of any of these 5 athletes）, or who have supported these athletes through their blogging and/or other social media activities. The selected “Gold Blogger” will be sent to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games to represent the online supporters by blogging about the athletes’ activities and competitive performances. The Gold Blogger will also deliver the online messages from the participators of the site to the athletes (subject to the conditions at the location). Your voices of support will encourage the athletes in their pursuit of their dreams and lead them to victory. So let’s share their passion!"

Here is the link if you'd like to enter and send some love and support to 5 amazing athletes.

"The five athletes we have chosen to introduce here have overcome a variety of adverse circumstances in seeking the opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games.
They may not be “star” athletes, but like every Olympic contender they have a dramatic story to tell. About having meager finances and putting one’s entire resources intro training. About battling the barrier of an aging body before even beginning to face one’s rivals in sport. About going to the Olympic Winter Games from a country without snowfall.
And like every athlete who aims for the Olympic Games, they each cherish a special dream in their hearts.
It is the strength to believe in one’s dream that makes it possible to keep on trying and overcome all types of adversity. We want to put these athletes in the spotlight and share their dreams and passion for Olympic competition.
Please add your comments to their blogs. Your voice of encouragement will cheer them on to pursue their dreams of Olympic gold. It will help them stay energized, motivated and focused on winning. In this way, you can participate in the human drama of making dreams come true and the thrill of victory.
The Olympic Games are a magnificent stage where athletes and their supporters from around the world can celebrate sports together regardless of national borders and cultural differences."

Here are the five athletes

Robel Teklemariam
Ethiopia
Men's Cross Country Skiing

Kazuhiro Koshi
Japan
Men's Skeleton

Katharine Eustace
New Zealand
Women's Skeleton

Tugba Karademir
Turkey
Ladies Figure Skating

Clyde Getty
Argentina
Men's Freestyle Skiing

Of course I'm entering the contest! It's a way for me to stop feeling sorry for myself and my inability to ski right now. (Refer to the post ski like a girl why am I smiling?). It gives me a chance to focus on someone else and give them much needed support and attention as they participate in something truly amazing the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. These five may not be the stars of the games but to me they are already winners. Best of luck to you all and I will continue to post and support each of you.

xoxo,
ski girl
p.s. Check back for more on each of these outstanding athletes!