 |
 |
|
Moguls 101
The Olympics Freestyle Mogul Competition will be held at Deer Valley Resort. The course will be a tough one, but the athletes say they thrive on challenge. News Specialist Jill Atwood has more on the course and a little "Moguls 101".
|
(Dec. 29, 2001)------It's a little longer and a little steeper than your average mogul course, but that just means the athletes have to train that much harder and be that much better.
Bob Wheaton/Pres. & G.M. Deer Valley Resort: WE TOOK THAT RANGE OF SPECIFICATION AND WE LOOKED AT THE HIGHER END OF THOSE SPECS AS FAR AS LENGTH AND PITCH AND THAT'S WHAT WE SEE BEHIND US.
Deer Valley resort will craft "Champion" run into a mogul course that will challenge even the best of the best...and today the mountain sits...taunting almost daring those with a desire to tame it.
THEY GET TO THE STARTING GATE AND LOOK DOWN AND SAY OKAY I HOPE I MAKE IT TO THE BOTTOM.
About a month from now, this grandstand will be full, the stage will be set, and a certain electricity will fill the air that only an Olympic games can inspire.
Donna Weinbrecht/Freestyle Mogul Skier: I DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY REGRETS THAT I DIDN'T TRY AND I'M GOING FOR IT 100 PERCENT.
Evan Dybvig/Freestyle Mogul Skier: IN MOGULS IN TAKES BEING REALLY PERFECT AND NOT MAKING ANY MISTAKES.
THIS IS A COOL SPORT. THESE PEOPLE ARE DOING CRAZY THINGS.
The turns are quick...the adrenaline high...and the jumps...
I LOVE THE POWDER AND I LOVE CATCHING BIG AIR...
are usually even higher.
Unlike alpine events, freestyle competitions are judged. 50 percent of their score is form and technique as they bounce there way through the bumps. 25 percent is the jumps, and the remaining 25 is speed.
IT'S ABOUT 250 METERS OF BIG VOLKSWAGON SHAPED MOGULS AND TWO AIRS-- ONE AT THE TOP AND ONE AT THE BOTTOM.
Tim Meagher/Chief of Mogul Course: WITH THE DIFFERENT VARIATION OF THE MOGUL SPACING IN THERE, IT'S REALLY TO REALLY TEST THE ATHLETES WHEN THEY'RE COMING IN AND OUT OF THE AIR, BUMPS IN THERE TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR BODY POSITION, MAINTAIN CONTROL ON THEMSELVES AND BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE AND SHUT DOWN WHEN THEY NEED TO.
This course set up last summer simulates the physical nature of a mogul's course. Here Olympic hopeful Jeremy Bloom tests his speed, agility and stamina.
The athletes train hard and make incredible sacrifices to be the best.
Ann Batelle/Freestyle Mogul Skier: I'VE STARTED EMPHASING BALANCING AND FLEXIBILITY AND QUICKNESS STUFF. I'M USUALLY MORE INTO THE POWER THING.
Hannah Hardaway/Freestyle Mogul Skier: WHEN I'M STANDING AT THE TOP OF THE COURSE, I'M PSYCHED AND I KNOW I CAN PUT THE RUN DOWN WHEN I HAVE TO.
TIM: "TOP PART OF THE COURSE IS GOING TO GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE. THEY GOTTA MAKE SURE THEY'RE OVER THE BALLS OF THEIR FEET BEFORE THEY COME OFF OF THOSE JUMPS AND STUFF UP THERE. ONCE THEY LAND THAT TOP AIR, ONCE AGAIN THEY HAVE ABOUT 7 TURNS OR SO OF CONSISTENT TURNS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THOSE SPACINGS CRUNCH UP AND IT GETS REALLY, REALLY TIGHT ON THEM."
The Deer Valley challange has been rendered, the stage set. Let the games begin.
Jill Atwood, Eyewitness To the Games, Up Close.
On Monday many of these athletes will participate in the Gold Cup Competition at Deer Valley, where they'll get a chance at a wildcard Olympic team birth.
