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Sunday, March 11, 2001 LEX HEMPHILL WINTER ROUNDUP Penalty-Killer Uses His Skills Bergoust, Offthe Ice Rink Pack Finish Season 1-2 peal galehon co won the freestyle aerials World Cup theSaturday, the day offinishing in Oth place in Himes, Minland, ‘This was the first season-ending title for Bergoust, who was an Olympic champion in 1988 and a world champion in 1980, U.S, teammate Joe Pack,alsoof Park City, was runner Salt LakeCity last week. He was. USA Hockey’s representative at the talks between the U.S. Olympic Committee and the National : x Robert Johneoa/The Provo Daily Herald Hockey Teena over: drug-testing procedures NHL players partic- American skier Wendy Kay Wagner reaches the top of a hill during a women’s 5-kilometer race at Soldier Hollow in January. iene ae He was functioning more or less as the core ofhis U.S. teams in the world championships and in the Park City’s Wagner hopes to be homefor Olympics Olympics. On the other hand, he must maintain relations with the USOC,which he does by meeting regularly with USOC officials assigned to his sport partnership team. Whicheverwayhe is pulled, ‘BY!BRIAN MAFELY he isa USA Hockey man atheart. “My father was the original coaching-program person for USA Hockey,” said Johannson, who grewup in Rochester, Minn.“As 8 and 10-year-old kids, my brother THE SALv LAKETRIBUNE LAHTI, Finland Wendy Wagneris looking to take her cross country skiing career full circle, from the Wasatch Citizen Series she raced as a child back to the Wasatch :Mountainsfor the 2002 and I and a few others from our hometown wentaround and did Olympics. Although Wagneris a good bet to make the U.S. Olympic squad,her breakinto international coachingclinics for USA Hockey. SoI've been around it a long time. . . [grew upas a product of a lot ofthe programstheyran.” racing has been a battle, After five seasons since leaving college racing, the 27-year-old skier from ParkCity believes she's winningit. And,after a collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin, his involvementwith those programs led to the Olympic Games. Johannson Was a memberofboth the 1988 At the Nordic World Ski Championships last month in Finland, she cracked top-30 results in middle-distance classic races no mean feat in vivid memories of both, nameontheresults boardatthe finish of the 10kilometer race, pegging herat 26th in 29 minutes, 29.4 seconds, .9 behind winnerBente Skari of Thehighlightof the ’88 Games wasa gamefor which he didn't even dress the Americans’ 7-5 loss to the Russians. Trailing 6-2 af- Norway. The week before she was 29th in the 15K classic, ter two periods,the U.S. scored “I wantedto be in the top 30 andI did it twice,” she said, “I didit strong,it wasn't like it was a threegoalsin the third and nearly tied the gamelate in the period ashot by Brian Leetchhitthe post pfore giving up goalin the fluke.” In the championship relay twodayslater, Wagnerskied the opening 5K leg in 14;10,7, the eighth fastest time. But theU.S. slippedback, and anchor Kikkan Randall, an 18-year-old Alaskan, ing seconds. Coach DavePeter- 's attackingstyle, vindicated in this game, was generally vilified by the U.S. media, but Johannson “The crossedthefinish13th in the15-team fleld, Wagner is well suitedfor classic-technique races thanks to a powerful upper body that propels her throughthe flats, while her skating re- thelate coach, reality is, we had a stand- up coach who would notcriticize Sultstendtosuffer. Sheleft the Lahti games early torace the Tjei Vasanlast week, a women’s 30Kclassic-technique his players; the media wanted him to and he wouldn't, so they turned it on the coach,”he said. “God rest him, he’s not with us now, but version of the famed Vasaloppet in Mora, Sweden, whereshetookfifth, 1:48 behind winner Anita Moen of Norway, According to Wagner's mother, respect from the guys who played for him. Hestood up and said, ‘It's Debbie, shecould havetakensecond comfortably, butsheattackedfor the winandtired in theclos myteam;I'm responsible,’ " ing kilometer, This is not the same Wendy Wagnerwho debutedat the world championships two years ago in Ramsau, Austria, whereherbest result was a 46th in the 30Kclassic. “Tlearneda Jot from Ramsau,about being more relaxed. I'm fitter now. Thatin itselfis a confidencebooster,”shesaid, ing of Johannson's [HL teammate in Indianapolis, Ray LeBlanc, toa fourth-place finish (the '88 team was seventh), But what Johannson remembers aboutthe '92 Games “Tcame inkind of afraid to hope tobe in the top30,” Wagner said, “I Just went out in the 15K, wasthe setting a cozy arenain Meribel, as opposed to the NHLdledomein Calgary in ‘88, nks the E Center,site of the 2002 Games, conveys the MeribelWinter Olympics. “Part of mestill feels it [the Olympics] belongs in a small ski BYJIM HALLEY townora small town surrounded by the mountains,” said Johann- THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE son. “I think even Salt Lakehas a small-townfeelto it. The skiers in While Olympus madeit tothefinals of the high school basketball tournament, one of the top athletes from that school doesn't play basket ball, football or soccer. He's a luger, Salt Lake City’s Yukio Griffall Park City, they're goingto feel like they'rein a small town.” Johannson's brief playing ca- reer here began after his first Olympics. Hearrived in time to helpthe Eagles to the 1987-88 doesn't havethe build of an athlete, Turner Cup championship. He played all of the next season here andtotaled 75points, the most productive of his nine [HL seasons. He son andthen served five years as | the general manager of a junior team,the TwinCities Vulcans, befor taking his USA Hockey job. ‘The only negative about the moveto Colorado Springs was that Johannson couldn't bring his wife, Debra, with him; she stayed behindin Minneapolis to continue law school. Giveuhis relocation ‘Theideais to buildaU.S, team thatwill con: Aftor collegeracing, Wagner improvedher ak! ing, but then plateauedfor three years, she sald, ‘This year, however, shetook abig atop, ralaing aerobicfitness, Whileher prospects improvo, few bay atten: tion outside Utah's Nordic community, Her bank account Is often zeroedout, and she works harder than moat professional athletes training ap- since the heydayof Bill Koch inthe early 1980s, In the meantime,there js little financial sup. tend for the World Cup podium forthefirat time ae 'y 650 hours a year, Her career would bofinished wore it not for her family's support, tho parents of hor college teammate, Amy Craw: port for Wagner,the nation's second-best woman Nordicskier after Nina Kemppel, a 12-year U,8. ford, whoput her up in Anchorage, anda grant ski teamveteran who holds a record15 national titles, Wagner now spends muchof the off-season in Kemppel's hometown of Anchorago, Alaska, wherethetwo train in the Gold 2000 programun: derthe direction ofU.S, ski legend Jim Galanes, “It's been great training with Wendy,” said the 40-year-old Kemppel at January's national cham: plonships in McCall,Idaho. “She's a great double poler, WhenI was training with her, | was always theonechasing.” “WhenSalt Lake City was bidding for the Winter Olympics, they had venues set up with Sign ups for lessons, 60 I signed up,” Griffall said, His first lugerun was ona ski bill in Park City becausethetrack at the Utah Olympic Park wo" notbuilt yet. “They had a hill by where the ski jumps except maybethat of a cross country runner. The Salt Lake City 16-year: oldis 80 small, the rules allow himto are now, with traMe cones on the snow to wear a show 154-pound weight belt to ner, Dan Joye of Carmel, N.Y,, ted | | most twice their age. In January, Griffal won the US. for fourth in the selection while competing against athletes al with Joye tofinish fourth in doubles at the world junior loge championships. in Poland last month with a U.S. “All he needs right now is to have a few morecheeseburgers and malts | and mold that into muscle,” sald USA | Luge Jon Lundin. Seihallintroduced to luge 10 years ago. the course,” Griffall said, “It was really weird, It ms was alot differ. ent than if expected,” Despite his lack of size, at the U.S. nationals at the Utah Olympic Park last week, he and his doubles part | Junior nationals singles and teamed and his job-related travels (he was —a kill skied my race, forgot about ovorything else and hada good result. My whole mind-set has flipped,” Notlong after the 1999 Ramsau champion: ships, the U.S, ski team cut Wagner, who got the short end of a team restructuring that focusos resources on thenation's top juniors, make him slidefaster. quit playing after the 1994-95 sea. team at the World University Photo courtesy the Wagner family Wendy Wagner,training this past summerin Park City, has increased herstock as a skier. In horfirst European World Cup appearance at the storied Norwegianvonue of Holmenkollen on Saturday, Wagnor earned hor flrat World oe points, finishing 22ndin a 80K classic race won by arisea Laxutinaof Rusala in 1:27,60.2, ‘The Utahngot horstart in sports through gymnastica, but hor parents, Dave and Debbie Wagner of Park City, are full-blownNordicaflelonados andgot hor intorosted In skting. By 12, ‘Wagner was compotingin big races lke the AmericanBirkenbioner, “Sho got ona pe of skiing skis sho had such balance and strongth shecould juat go," Debbie said, from the Wasatch Sports Fund, Manypromising American women leavethe sport early to start familios and careers, but Wagner atuck withit after graduating from Colo: rado's Weatorn State College with a math degree in 1906, “Unless they truly lovethesport, there's noin contivein it,” Wagnersald, “here's no money in it, there's no famein it, you can't make the U,8, #ki team, There's not a whole lot out there unless youreally want to aki raceinside, and I do,” Luger Griffall’s Career Likely Headed Up Hill type intimacythatbest suits the Games), it has been difficult for —_ peed ene But, spviying ‘The sole womanonthe U.S, World Cup team, ce pel wouldlike some panneny during the Jong Ruropean racing seaso “Wendy gets my award to someone who has worked the hardest and overcome a lot obsta: cles,” shesaid. “Shehas moretalent than people in the community giveher credit for, She clawed her way up. I hopethey perceiveit and put her on the teamnext year.” Komppel's wish fora racing partnor came true a yoar carly thankstoaneffort by the Interna: tional Ski Federationto get more North Ameri cans on the World Cup, The organization has. agreed to pay the way for the winners of the Nor Am sorios to competein the remaining seven races of the season. Wagnorclaimedthat honor by winning three outof six Nor-Amsoarlior this winter, Carl Swen: son,a skate apecialiat from Boulder, Colo,, won tho mon’s Nor-Amtitle and will likewise remain in Scandinaviato race this month, along with national team members Kemppol and Justin Wad- aworth, oneof the world’s most competitiveindividual sports. “I'm psyched,”sheyelled after seeing her and1992 U.S. teams, and he has defends rr Yukio Griffall Vor a while, Griffall contin ued to play other sports: football, baseball, skting and snowboarding. ‘These days, he’s pretty much a full time slider, D the season, trains with the U.S, junior Inge team at the U.S, OlympicTraining Center in Lake Placid, N.Y., where he rooms with Joye. In his spare time, he takes high-school level classes through the University of Nebraska, Bven last week, back on nis bome rach he had to stay with the U.S, team Inatead of his family. ‘That separation hasn't booneasy, Appropriately, Yukiois enaa “Iitte snow boy” and he youngest of Faith and Keith ‘rita: three children, “My mom has a pretty hard time with my being away,” he sald, “She is getting used to it. Sho's learning I'm going to be all right.” When he comes back home, his poers at Olympus don't quite under: stand whathe does, #o he often gives up and tells him he's a bobsledder. Lagers ride foetfirst, supine, down an icy track at nearly 60 mph on a tiny sled, using their feet to steer’, In doubles luge, the front luger, Griffall, jumps on the sled first but the back luger, Joye, does most ofthe steering. While Oriffall claims the danger of the sport is overrated, he has had firsthand experience that the ice is not always nice, “My second year sliding, | had an peana when there was a track worker in the track fat the Utah StymiePkwho didn’t hear . Oriffall said, pA. reassoe him until 1 i right on top of him between turns 0 and 10. 1 just went right into him and broke my log. He flipped out of the ae got a couple of bruises,” 1 yoar, the first time Griffall wid ith Joye, he crashed again in Salt Lake City, wo wore rainingin onesa as pretty warm," one “some ofthe ice at eee melted and we wenttoohigh outtid % and smashed into the wall, I fe knocked out and my log flew into wall and melted my luge sult to the back of my seu 3 bre Sommeprecy bee burns and a ton of bruises, Fortunately, Griffall has the right temperament for recover, from mishaps, “He's very mellow I've never hada iy00 #0 eany to work with,” said U.S. junior coach Miro Zayone, “ik eee Sear a ihe fnatent, now, that's von the future te him, [Ortffall followed by Steve Omisehi ofCanada and Kenia mn RijaveeofAustria, women, Australia’s Jacqui On ono amathe title with — a second-placefinish Saturday, Nannan Xu ofChina won the event, with Alla Teuper of Belarus third, Cooper finished with 492 points ahead of ‘Teuper (458) and Nannan (444), Bergoust made a mistake in his first jump andwas seventh after the first round, Pack had a chance to overtake his teammate and win the overall World Cup title, but he failed on his second jump in the second round and dropped toeighth, Hays Wins Bronze Rene Spies, piloting Germany 1, and brakeman Frans Sagmeister slid to victory in the Lake Placid, N.Y, World Cup two-man bobsled season fina, easily beating Sandis Prusis of Latvia by 0.45 seconds, Spies, who hadthe twofastest runs of the day, completed his twotrips down the 20turn course in 1 minute, 63.33 seconds, Todd Haysof Del Rio, Texas, made the first World Cupon on Mount Van Hoevenberg’s new track memorable by winning bronze with brakeman Pavle Jovanovic, Elofeson Addeto Lead Sweden's Per Blofason won the S0-kilometer —classic-style cross country event in Oslo, Norway, im: provinghis leadin the overall World Cupatandings, ‘Thetwo-time champion at the recent Nordic world championships has wonfive of eight World Cup events this seauon, In the women's 30-kilometer clas ale atylo event, Larisea Lagutina of Russia was a clear winner, finishing one minute ahead of Norway's Bente Skari, Skarilends the women's over: all standings with 648 points, Gottwald Repeats World Cup champion Felix Got: twald of Austria won his second Nordic combined event in as many days in Oslo, Norway, winning @ sprint competition by nearly a half: minute over Hannu Manninen of Finland, Bill Demong of Vermont ville, N.Y,, was 16th and Todd Lod: wick of Steamboat Springs, Colo,, was 16th, Gottwald was sixth in the one-jump compotition and skied well during the 7.6K race to win by 98.6 soconds, Malyez Dominates Pollah aki jumpor Adam Malyas's victory Mriday in the large hill event at Trondheim, Norway, gave him an Unasaailablo 460-point lead over Ger: many's Martin Schmitt in the World Cupstandings, Flag Flap AnIntornational Bobsled Federa tion jury removedthe Braxilian bob: lod team's national flag from the track at a World Cupin Lake Placid, N.Y. 'The toam had boon training at thosite, “They suid it was because we weren't officially in the race, but there are no signe saying the flags are strictly for competitors,” sald Joo Zammikiol, the team's manager, Good Idea Paralympian Candace Cable, who has won nine Paralympic gold mod- ls andis the top U.8, women's Nor. dic disabled skier, surveyed the mushy snow at the disabled Nordic World Cupat Soldier Hollow and had A suggestion; Hold the Paralympics beforethe Olymplea, “By the time the Olympics are over, everybody is burned out,” said the Truckoe, Callf,, resident. “(The Paralympics} would be be a great way to got poople up for the Olympica, plus the weather would be more conducive to skiing if it wasn't in March,” and Joye) are doing muchbetter than expected from the beginning, but it looks like that they have many years to learn aboutthe sport. 7 findingFaw — afo bit with that Ro compremioes ti ‘The Salt Lake Organizing Com. mittee parsed out out do's and don'ts for the media at the Varalymple Nor. die World Cup, reminding journal. tate not to pat athlotos in wheelchairs on their heads, Next week, Maybe the dare will advine not to ame Kari Mal. one “How's the weather up there?" + all, wire reports |
