STEAMBOAT SPRINGS,CO — Ann Battelle, World Champion and now four-time Olympic athlete; Shannon Dunn, 1998 Olympic Bronze Medalist; Caroline Lalive, 1998 Olympian; Todd Lodwick, 1998 Olympian; along with 12 other Steamboat Springs' Olympians will make the commute down the road from Ski Town USA to the 2002 Winter Games.

"Steamboat has a rich tradition in the skiing disciplines‹Alpine, Nordic, Jumping, Freestyle and Snowboarding—and an Olympic heritage that dates back 70 years," said Andy Wirth, vice president of marketing for the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation. "Sixteen Steamboat Olympians, along with several Olympic coaches and more than 75 Olympic volunteers and former Olympians, will carry on an Olympic spirit and community heritage that spans 14 Winter Games."

The following 2002 Olympians will represent Steamboat Springs in the upcoming Winter Games.

Alan Alborn, Jumping (98 Olympian)
Ann Battelle, Freestyle (92, 94, 98 Olympian)
Matt Dayton, Nordic Combined
Bill Demong, Nordic Combined (98 Olympian)
Brendan Doran, Jumping (98 Olympian)
Shannon Dunn, Snowboarding (98 Olympian)
Kris Erichsen, Nordic Combined (98 Olympian)
Jed Hinkley, Nordic Combined
Clint Jones, Jumping
Caroline Lalive, Alpine (98 Olympian)
Todd Lodwick, Nordic Combined (98 Olympian)
Travis Mayer, Freestyle
Tommy Schwall, Jumping
Johnny Spillane, Nordic Combined (98 Olympian)
Carl Van Loan, Nordic Combined
Maria Despas, Freestyle (98 Olympian-Australia)

In addition to the above athletes, the following coaches will lead their respective teams during the 2002 Winter Games: Tom Steitz, USA Nordic Combined Olympic Coach; Jan Erik Aalbu, USA Nordic Combined Olympic Coach; Donnie St. Pierre, USA Mogul Olympic Coach; and Rob Power, USA Nordic/Nordic Combined Technician.

Steamboat is known as Ski Town USA® because it has produced more Winter Olympians than any other town in North America, a record 54 and counting. Steamboat's tradition dates back to the 1932 Olympics in Lake Placid, NY, at which the Valley's first Olympian, John Steele, placed 15th in nordic jumping. Nelson Carmichael became the first Steamboat Olympian to win an Olympic medal, a bronze in moguls at the 1992 Games. During the 1998 Nagano Games, Steamboat Olympian Shannon Dunn became the first American woman to win a medal in snowboarding.

Steamboat is also home to the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, one of the country's oldest and most successful, as well as Howelsen Hill, which dates back to 1914 and is the oldest continuous operating ski area in Colorado and the birthplace of nordic jumping in northwest Colorado.

SHANNON DUNN-US OLYMPIC SNOWBOARD TEAM:
Shannon Dunn will be making her second trip to the Winter Games. Dunn, a 29-year-old from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, became the first American female to win an Olympic medal in snowboarding (a bronze in the halfpipe) at the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. She is considered one of the favorites in the women's halfpipe event.

CAROLINE LALIVE-US ALPINE OLYMPIC TEAM:
Caroline Lalive will be making her second trip to the Olympic Games in 2002. Lalive has three World Cup podiums and is the 1999 World Junior Champion. She competes in all four alpine disciplines—Downhill, Super-G, Giant Slalom and Slalom.

ANN BATTELLE-US FREESTYLE OLYMPIC TEAM:
Ann Battelle, secured her fourth trip to the Winter Games in 2002. Battelle is a two-time World Cup Champion, World Champion and six-time US National Champion in mogul skiing.

TRAVIS MAYER-US FREESTYLE OLYMPIC TEAM:
Steamboat Springs resident, Travis Mayer, secured his spot on the Olympic Freestyle Team by winning the US Ski Team's Gold Cup competition. This is Travis' first trip to the Olympics.

ALAN ALBORN-US OLYMPIC JUMPING TEAM:
Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club member, Alan Alborn secured his spot on the Olympic Jumping Team by winning the US Ski Team's Gold Cup competition in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Alborn, making his second trip to the Game, is considered to be the leading American jumper.

CLINT JONES-US OLYMPIC JUMPING TEAM:
Clint Jones secured his first trip to the Winter Games on the US Olympic Jumping Team. Clint became the youngest US champion in any US ski discipline when he captured the US Large Hill title in 2000. This 17-year-old Steamboat Springs native started jumping at the age of 5.

BRENDAN DORAN- US OLYMPIC JUMPING TEAM:
Making his second trip to the Winter Games, Brendan Doran will be competing as a member of the US Olympic Jumping team. Doran has been a member of the US Team for five years, is a resident of Steamboat Springs and was the 2000 US Champion in the 90-meter jump competition.

TOMMY SCHWALL-US OLYMPIC JUMPING TEAM:
Making his first trip to the Winter Games, Tommy Schwall will be competing as a member of the US Jumping Olympic Team as a result several top finishes during the 2002 season.

TODD LODWICK-NORDIC COMBINED GOLD CUP WINNER & US OLYMPIC NORDIC COMBINED TEAM:
Todd Lodwick secured his spot on the Olympic Nordic Combined Team by winning the US Ski Team's Gold Cup competition. Lodwick will be making his third trip to the Games and is considered by many a leading contender for an Olympic medal. He is currently ranked 4th in the world.

BILL DEMONG-US OLYMPIC NORDIC COMBINED TEAM:
Bill Demong will be making his second trip to the Winter Games in 2002. Demong won a 2002 world cup competition in January 2002 and is currently ranked 9th in the world.

JOHNNY SPLLANE-US OLYMPIC NORDIC COMBINED TEAM:
Making his second trip to the Winter Games, Johnny Spillane will be competing as a member of the US Nordic Combined Olympic Team. Spillane has enjoyed several top-15 finishes and currently is ranked 46th in the world.

MATT DAYTON-US OLYMPIC NORDIC COMBINED TEAM:
Making his first trip to the Winter Games, Matt Dayton will be competing as a member of the US Nordic Combined Olympic Team. Dayton has enjoyed several top-15 finishes and currently is ranked 27th in the world.

KRIS ERICHSEN-US OLYMPIC NORDIC COMBINED TEAM:
Making his second trip to the Winter Games, Kris Erichsen will be competing as a member of the US Nordic Combined Olympic Team. Erichsen has enjoyed several top-15 finishes and currently is ranked 52nd in the world.

CARL VAN LOAN-US OLYMPIC NORDIC COMBINED TEAM:
Making his first trip to the Winter Games, Carl Van Loan will be competing as a member of the US Nordic Combined Olympic Team. Van Loan has enjoyed several top-15 finishes on the World Cup-B.

JED HINKLEY-US OLYMPIC NORDIC COMBINED TEAM:
Making his first trip to the Winter Games, Jed Hinkley will be competing as a member of the US Nordic Combined Olympic Team.

MARIA (MAZ) DESPAS-AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC FREESTYLE TEAM:
Making her second trip to the Winter Games for Australia, Maria "Maz" Despes will be competing in the freestyle-mogul events. She is the first Australian to win a world championship medal in skiing, a silver medal.

— Posted by Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Staff