G R E AT L A K E S SU R F E R S • SWA M P B U G GY R AC I N G • SOUL O F AT H E N S

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PEAK
SEASON
For athletes like
Lindsey Vonn, the
Rocky Mountains
of Colorado are the
ultimate Olympic
training ground.

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UH L AE NDER

56
GR
ET
CH
ENBLEILER

KAT E UHLAENDER:
KATI D STEVE
STE E BOYLE
LE
E/NE
EWWSPOR
SPORT/CO
T/CORBIS
RBIS ; GRETC
GRETCHEN
H BLEI
LEILER:
ER:
R DAN
R: D IEL DAL
D ZENN
Z A
ARO/ EPA/
A/CORB
CORBIS

16/12/2009 13:40
 STE
VE
FI

SH
ER
Peak Performers
WHEN THEY’RE LOOKING TO BUCKLE DOWN—OR REST UP—BEFORE
THEY GO TO THE WINTER OLYMPICS, MANY MEMBERS OF TEAM
U.S.A. HEAD TO COLORADO. LUCKILY FOR THESE FOUR HOPEFULS,
THAT MEANT STAYING HOME.
BY ALEX MILLER

COLORADO IS USUALLY WELL REPRE-

sented in the Winter Olympic Games, and this
year should prove to be no exception. With
its 26 ski and snowboard areas, incomparably
active population and long, sunny winters, LI N
the state is home to dozens of athletes doing DS
EY
their best to make the cut for the U.S. team VO
in their respective sports. We caught up with

NN
four veterans, each of whom has a pretty good
possibility of bringing home a medal, to ask
what they think of their chances—and to find
out what they love about living in the Rocky
IS

Mountain state.
WITZ/CORB
Z//CORB
CO
C

What we discovered is that no one takes

ITZ/

anything for granted in the world of Olympic

JJONATHAN SELKOW
KOW

competition—especially the support they get

from their hometowns.
SHER: AARON DODDS; LINDSEY VONN:
T VE FISHER
STEV
STE
TE ONN:
O

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 LINDSEY VONN
HOME: VAIL
SPORT: ALPINE SKIING
AGE: 25

A FEARLESS ALPINE SKIER WITH

two World Cup championship titles
(2008, 2009) under her belt but a
disappointing finish at the 2006 Winter
Games in Turin, Vonn will likely be one
of the top athletes to watch at Whistler
this year. She competes in all five
alpine skiing disciplines—downhill,
super G, slalom, giant slalom and super
combined—and the faster the event,
the better.
“Downhill and super G are the ones
I’ll be looking for medals in, and I’ll try
to do my best in the others,” Vonn says.
As for how she’s preparing for the
Olympics, Vonn cites the standard
mantra—focus, discipline and hard
work—but adds that the encouragement
she gets from the Vail community is
an important motivating factor. Last
September, the city even held a pep rally
in her honor.
“The community is so supportive,
and it’s something I can draw confidence
from,” she says. “Seeing the kids’ excite-
ment and knowing they’ll watch me in
the Olympics makes me really happy. It
also gives me the extra motivation to do
well for them.”
Because of the hype and excitement
surrounding the Olympics, for Vonn,
there’s no competition quite like it. “It’s
a world stage where everyone is watch-
ing you,” she says, “and I feel a great deal
of pride being an American representing
my country. It’s special.”

LINDSEY ’S VAIL PICKS

HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES SPORT

Vonn says downtime is hard to come

by, but she takes advantage of Vail’s
offerings as much as she can. “I like to
go shopping on Bridge Street,” she says,
“and my husband and I enjoy eating at
Pazzo’s Pizzeria (970-476-9026; itsblank
.com/pazzos).”

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 KATIE UHLAENDER
HOME: SUMMIT COUNTY
(BRECKENRIDGE, KEYSTONE,
COPPER, ARAPAHOE BASIN)
SPORT: SKELETON
AGE: 25

P 
icture hurling yourself down a bobsled track on a Flexible Flyer
and you’re not too far from the sport of skeleton racing. It’s not
for the faint-of-heart, and Summit County’s Katie Uhlaender is
anything but. The daughter of Major League outfielder Ted Uh-
laender, she inherited her father’s competitive spirit and athletic
determination. But 2009 was a tough year for Uhlaender: Ted
died in February and she shattered her kneecap while snowmo-
biling later that winter. With much of the year spent in various surgeries and
rehab activities while mourning the loss of her father, the two-time World Cup
champ is still pushing hard for her spot on the Olympic team.
Uhlaender jokingly states that she is “officially homeless,” but because of
the boost she gets from the community, she always considers Summit County
to be her home.
“That local support is crucial,” she says. KATIE’S FRISCO PICKS
“I didn’t realize the last time [at the 2006 When it comes to kick-
Winter Games, where she placed sixth] how ing back, Uhlaender
much my hometowns were supporting me. gravitates toward Frisco,
I want to feel that and take it with me to a central location be-
[this year’s] Games.” tween Summit County’s
Experience will also play an important four ski areas. She en-
role in Uhlaender’s performance. “I am joys going to Kemosabe
really thankful I’ve been through the Olym- Sushi Bar (970-668-
2100; kemosabesushi
pics before,” she says. “You can’t ever know
.com) and Pika Bagel
or plan what you’re going to see there. It’s
(970-668-0902). After
bigger than yourself. But I’m not a rookie hours, she hangs out
anymore—I know how to be prepared.” with friends at Upstairs
When you’re hurtling headfirst down at Jonny-G’s (970-668-
an icy track faster than anybody else in the 5442; jonnygs.com), a
world, a little preparation can go a long way. bar in Frisco Mall.

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 GRETCHEN
BLEILER
HOME: ASPEN
SPORT: SNOWBOARDING
HALF-PIPE
AGE: 28
VETERAN SNOWBOARDER
Gretchen Bleiler attracts a lot of
attention wherever she goes. Whether
it’s because of her all-American good
looks or long list of awards, Bleiler
takes it in stride, and this year, her
focus is on beating her performance
STEVE FISHER in the ‘06 games, where she won the
HOME: BRECKENRIDGE silver medal in the women’s half-pipe.
SPORT: SNOWBOARDING “When winter hits, I’m 100
HALF-PIPE
percent focused on my riding,” Bleiler
AGE: 27
says. And she has a great place to
practice—when asked about Aspen,
which has been her home since she
was 10 years old, she gushes.
“I have been fortunate enough to

I 
n a sport where many of the top athletes
are too young to legally drink, Brecken-
ridge’s Steve Fisher is an old hand. At 27,
he’s been snowboarding for 20 years, and
he’s a favorite to compete in the snow-
board half-pipe at Whistler this year.
According to Fisher, experience, as
well as knowing better than to listen to the
naysayers, will play important roles.
that came from just enjoying the place where
he lives.
High up at 9,600 feet above sea level,
Breckenridge is a picture-postcard mountain
travel to some of the most beautiful
locations in the world because of what
I do, and I always find myself compar-
ing them to Aspen. I still haven’t found
a place that I love more,” she says.
Bleiler cites Aspen’s natural
attributes—which make it a perfect
place for outdoor activities year
round—as the reason for her dotage,

STEVE FISHER: ERICH SCHLEGEL/CORBIS; GRETCHEN BLEILER: HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES SPORT
“Maturity plays into it,” he says. “I’m over town with a popular ski resort. It may be a and also appreciates that it is “a small
the petty stuff; I don’t care what people say. tourist mecca, but Fisher says that it also has town with big culture.”
I’m at peace with my career.” a base of locals that gives the area a real com- Though it means being away
In true snowboarder fashion, Fisher’s munity feel. from the place she loves, Bleiler can’t
training regimen sounds somewhat casual. “I “The residents in town are absolutely in wait to hit the slopes at Whistler. Like
jog to stay in shape and do some light weight love with outdoor activities, and they’re also her compatriots on Team U.S.A.,
training and injury-prevention stuff,” he says. really warm and caring to tourists,” he says. she sees the Olympic Games as an
That said, he’s very focused when it Thinking of the Olympics, Fisher says he’s opportunity to be a part of a different
comes to mental preparation. In the last excited—but also looking at the big picture. kind of community.
Winter Games, Fisher just missed getting on “It’s great to do well, but I don’t think “The Olympics are special
the team and admits that at the time, he was winning is what defines you as an athlete,” he because they bring people together.
a little burned out. But this year is different. says. “Snowboarding is not about winning or When you’re competing in the Olym-
“I’ve got my feet back, and I’m finding the being the best, but about just having fun with pics, it’s no longer an individual thing.
love for competition again,” he says. Part of people you enjoy riding with.” You’re representing your country,
your community and your family.”
STEVE FISHER’S BRECKENRIDGE PICKS Exploring the many shops and eateries along
Breckenridge’s Main Street is an activity in and of itself. Fisher recommends “a nice, MIDWEST AIRLINES offers daily flights to
and from Denver, as well as other Colorado
healthy, light lunch” at Amazing Grace (970-453-1445)—an intimate cafe that serves cities through a codeshare arrangement
sandwiches, soup and baked goods—and happy hour at the Blue River Bistro (970-453- with Frontier Airlines. Details can be found
6974; blueriverbistro.com). Later in the day, he suggests Relish (970-453-0989; relish at midwestairlines.com.
breckenridge.com) for a dinner of hearty, Colorado-inspired cuisine.

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 GRETCHEN’S ASPEN PICKS
“I love getting a tune-up with
acupuncture and chiropractic
treatments at The WIN Health
Institute (970-384-8484; winheal
thinstitute.com),” she says. “I also
like having a nice meal with my
friends and family members. For a
quick, easy, delicious and organic
dinner, head to Toppers (970-
920-0069; toppersaspen.com).”
Another favorite dinner spot is
Matsuhisa (970-544-6628; mat-
suhisaaspen.com), a Japanese sushi
and seafood restaurant. “Eating
there is always a nice way to end
the day,” she says.

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