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Zach Lund: Skeleton Slider from Salt Lake
Skeleton slider Zach Lund was born and raised here in Salt Lake City. He says he is truly blessed with advantages that no other skeleton slider has.
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(Dec. 8, 2001)------Zach graduated from Judge Memorial High school and his father is a Salt Lake County Firefighter. Shelley Osterloh introduces us.
Zach Lund/U.S. Skeleton: YEAH THIS IS MY HOME TRACK. ANYONE THAT COMES HERE HAS TO BEAT ME.
Zach Lund feels like he's grown up on the Olympic Park track. He started in the sport of Luge when he was just 16, and switched to skeleton when he was 20.
Now at 22, -- with seven years sliding experience -- he's getting great results.
Zach Lund/U.S. Skeleton: I HAVE DONE WELL IN THE PAST YEARS BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD THAT MATURITY LEVEL. I HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE MENTALLY TO KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THE RIGHT TIMES AND WHAT NOT TO DO AT THE RIGHT TIMES.
Zach Lund/U.S. Skeleton: IT'S REALLY HARD TO BE COMPETITIVE MENTALLY. A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN PUSH FAST BUT THEY CAN'T STEER THE TRACK. I CAN'T PUSH VERY FAST BUT I CAN STEER THE TRACK BETTER THAN ANYONE.
Along with experience and maturity, Lund believes he has another advantage.
Zach Lund/U.S. Skeleton: I ALWAYS FEEL I HAVE A GUARDIAN ANGEL WATCHING OVER ME.
When Zach was 16, his mother was diagnosed with a deadly form of skin cancer. Though she eventually died from the disease, she left Zach a special remembrance.
Zach Lund/U.S. Skeleton: I LOVED TO PLAY WITH HER HAIR AND STUFF AND I WAS REALLY UPSET WHEN SHE HAD CHEMOTHERAPY SHE LOST HER HAIR. SHE LOST ALL OF HER BEAUTIFUL HAIR. AND I WAS REALLY UPSET ABOUT THAT AND SO SHE WAS VERY RELIGIOUS AND SHE GAVE ME THIS CROSS THAT HAS A LOCK OF HER HAIR IN IT.
A cross that Lund always wears, even during races. He says as he speeds down the track at 80 miles an hour, he can feel the G-forces pressing the cross to his chest, a reminder that he is not alone.
Zach Lund/U.S. Skeleton: WHEN I NEED HELP, WHEN I NEED STRENGTH, WHEN I NEED GUIDANCE, I DO PRAY TO GIVE ME THAT STRENGTH I NEED. AND I ALWAYS ASK FOR MY MOM TO BE THERE WITH ME TOO.
Zach Lund's need for speed continues off the track too. In his spare time, he attends flight school. He hopes someday to be a professional pilot.
