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Rob Kingwill
Tom Lyman
Shannon Melhuse
Manuel Mendoza
Thomas O'Brien
Steve Persons
Ross Powers
Jimi Scott
Dan Smith
Women
Griselda Gonzalez
Stacia Hookom
Lynn Ott
Cammy Potter
Sabrina Sadeghi
Listle Stokstad
Annemarie Uliasz
Sondra Van Ert

Height:6-0
Weight: 170
Birthday: June 29, 1967
School: COCC/Salem Comm. Coll.
Hometown: Salem, OR
Home Mtn: Mt. Hood/Mt. Bachelor

Gate-runner Shannon Melhuse was skiing, mostly recreationally, for about a decade before he lurched into snowboarding in the mid-'80s because friends in Oregon were trying the sport.

From that innocent start, Melhuse built a solid career with the World Pro Team on the ISF and other pro tours before joining the U.S. Snowboard Team this winter.

Comment: "The Olympics are a big draw. I'm like everybody. I want to be there."

Start-up: Like so many, he tried both alpine and freestyle riding when he began but, stronger in racing, he reduced his halfpipe competition. He'll occasionally try the 'pipe now but it's mostly gate-running for Melhuse.

Coachsez: "We rode together years ago. Shannon knows what he's doing on a 'board." - Peter Foley

Spouse: Married to women's pro champion Michelle Taggart since mid-1994.

Offseason fun: Enjoys surfing on the Oregon coast - "or anywhere there are good waves."

Other fun: Camping, rock climbing, occasional bird or deer hunting

Green thumb: Also gets a kick out of gardening, both vegetable and flower gardening.

Flicks: Melhuse likes a variety of movies, starting with the "Star Trek." As he notes, "I'm easily amused sometimes.

Favorite soup: Chicken noodle

Reading: An infrequent reader, he's likely to reach for a self-help tome or perhaps an adventure tale.

Tunes?: "Just about anything but country & western." Michelle plays acoustic and an electric guitars.