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Daron Rahlves: World Champ Speed Skiier
When you look at the American male speed skiers, two names are at the top of the list. Shelley Osterloh tells who they are.
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(Feb. 2, 2002)------ In the downhill, this was supposed to be Chad Fleischer's year, but a nasty fall on January 10th and knee surgery means Fleisher will be on crutches for the downhill.
Still, he plans to be at Snowbasin, cheering on his
teammates.
And he plans to make his third Olympics in Italy in 2006.
In the Super G, American Daron Rahlves is the World Champion.
Daron Rahlves the type of skier who comes through when the pressure is on in the biggest race.
He had a stunning victory in the 2002 World Championships in Austria over home country favorites Hermann Maier and Stephan Eberharter.
The super G world champion says it was an enormous boost to his confidence.
Daron Rahlves/Alpine Skier: FOR ME I DON'T THINK I HAVE POTENTIAL, OR I'M A HOPEFUL FOR THE OLYMPICS OR NOTHING. I FEEL LIKE I AM A CONTENDER.
After nine years on the U.S. Ski team, Rahlves says he is putting it all together-- skill, speed and attitude.
Daron Rahlves/Alpine Skier: I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES. IT'S A FINE LINE. YOU HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVE, YOU HAVE TO BE SMART IN WHAT YOU DO. EXPERIENCE AND MATURITY HELPS YOU AS AN ATHLETE.
Speed is something Rahlves thrives on. Rahlves is a California boy who learned to ski on snow and water at Lake Tahoe. In 1993 he was the World Jet Ski champion. He likes to play hard and fast, and that's just how he skis.
Daron Rahlves/Alpine Skier: IT'S AWESOME YOU KNOW. AND IT'S ALL OUT THERE FOR YOU. AND NO ONE IS GOING TO GET IN YOUR WAY TO GO AS FAST AS YOU CAN. SO I LOVE IT.
The Snowbasin Olympic run, named Grizzly, is a relentless challenge-- just the kind Rahlves likes.
Daron Rahlves/Alpine Skier: IT FAVORS SOMEONE WHO IS WILLING TO PUT IT ALL ON THE LINE, AND NOT HOLD BACK AND ALSO HAS GREAT TECHNICAL SKILLS.
Shelley Osterloh/Reporter: SKIERS PRACTICALLY DROP OUT OF THE STARING GATE HERE, ON A 70% HILL AND ARE GOING ABOUT 80 TO 85 MILES AN HOUR BEFORE THEY HIT THE FIRST TRAVERSE.
Rahlves has proven to himself and the rest of the world that he can beat the Austrians on their own hill.
He's ready to take then on again, in a fight for the gold.
Daron Rahlves/Alpine Skier: I WANT TO WIN THE GOLD IN THE SUPER G AND THE DOWNHILL. I'M UP FOR THE CHALLENGE, I'M READY TO GO.
Rahlves has had kind of a sluggish start this season, but he did the same thing last year and still won the World Championships.
Maybe he is just laying low and gearing up for the super G race on February 16th.
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