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Show Page B14 D Thursday, April 28,1994 The Park Record Section B Park City's other Olympian: Melissa Madden of the USDST 1 'A ' j A j - ' ' - " . i s photo courtesy of Roumiller Photography Melissa Madden competing in this year's Huntsman Cup slalom at the Park City Ski Area. In the slalom at the nationals, Madden won by a whopping 26 seconds. by LUKE SMITH Record staff writer Lost amidst the hoopla surrounding this past winter's Olympics, and the Park City athletes who turned in exemplary performances at the Games in Norway, was another Olympic-caliber Olympic-caliber athlete who calls Park City home. However, in Melissa Madden's case, the Olympics for her were called off due to insufficient numbers of other competitors. Madden is 22 years old and a member of the United States Disabled Ski Team and a resident of Park City. She competes in the blind skier class, and as an indication of her capabilities, she competed in the U. S. Disabled Alpine Championships at Breckenridge, Colo, in March. In four races Madden took three seconds and one first. Her second-place finishes came in two super Gs and one giant slalom. She was nipped for the top spot in those races by New Zealander Joanne Duffy, but in the slalom race it was Madden who came out on top. By almost 26 seconds. That's a lifetime in a ski race, even in a slalom where margins are typically wider than in speed events. "It was OK," understated Madden when asked about the nationals. As for the slalom, Madden said, "I had a very good day. I was psyched. I just went for it" Madden is sponsored by Rossmiller Photography, Colespoit, Old Town Gallery, Dolly's and The Shirt Off My Back. She also gets help from her family and friends. In the Paralympics, the so-called Disabled Olympics, which take place just after the Winter Games in the same venue, Madden's class was cut due to FIS rules. The international governing body of skiing requires at least six competitors from at least four countries and at least two continents. In Madden's B-3 class there were only four competitors. Duffy, as a B-2, B-2, went to Lillehammer. Madden has yet to venture forth from her home shores, but potential training trips this summer and fall may take her to either New Zealand or Australia with the U.S. team during the summer and then possibly to Austria for a camp with the Austrian Ski Team in October. She is also planning on the next Paralympics in 1998 in Nagano, Japan. "I have riot raced overseas. I really am looking forward to it It gives you a chance to learn about other cultures. "I've already ventured from one end of the United States to the other. It's like 'OK, I'm ready for something else'." The road trips for Madden began when she was nine years old and moved from her native Illinois to Colorado. She and her family lived in Denver and Melissa took up skiing. She skied in Winter Park's handicapped program for two years before it was time to move on. This time the Maddens landed in Steamboat Springs. In Steamboat, Madden was a fixture on the junior racing scene. For five years she competed against other kids solely on the basis of age. "I usually placed in the top five," she said. "I also participated in ski jumping and freestyle." In her first year of such pursuits, she competed in all three disciplines: moguls, ballet and upright aerials. An ankle injury in the bumps prompted a doctor to suggest she stay out of the bump contests, so she settled for just the other two pursuits afterwards. To this day the freedog in her is strong. "I'd really like to go out to Bear Hollow and try out their jumps." Her schedule with the U.S. team, and the wishes of the U.S. team coaches, usually prevent her from fulfilling that wish. For now. In the freshman year of her high school days, Melissa and family again moved west, settling in Salt Lake City where Melissa attended .Brighton High School. Skiing was limited to periodic free skiing. "I didn't really participate a lot during my high school years because I wanted to concentrate on academics." During her senior year, things began to change. "My senior year we heard about Park City Handicapped Sports. We met Meeche and I helped out a bit We moved to Park City the summer of '90, after my senior year. "I ' ve been involved in the program ever since." That is, when she's not busy with another program the U.S. Ski Team's program. When she gets time off from the national team, Melissa is home in Park City doing, what else?, skiing. "When I'm here at home I try to train with them the National Ability Center, formerly Park City Handicapped Sports. I also train with the Masters." As for non-training, time is the major factor. "It's really hard to get free skiing in," says Melissa. "When I do I head up to Jupiter the fun stuff. : "I got up there twice this year. Cool days!" , Park City Profile Off the hill, Madden works toward her life after ski racing. She's currently taking classes at Salt Lake Community College. Tm in my fourth year but I'm only a junior credit-wise." But it must be added that Madden attends classes only in the summer and fall, when ski racing is in its off-season. "I just switched my major. It was computer science. I switched to early child development and I'm getting my certification in American Sign Language. ' Jimmy Ludlow, who works with the NAC and trains with Melissa when she's home, says Madden has all the tools to excel. "She's got the talent to do it With a little more j work, she would dominate. She ! would totally dominate." ! That spark to dominate may date ! back to Steamboat Springs when the ! Maddens opened their home to some! foreign skiers in town for NorAm ! races. The skiers: Anita Wachter andj Ulrike Maicr. Maier, a ( winner here in Park City (GS in 1992) was the skier who died tragically in a j fall during a race this; winter at Garmisch- Partenkirchen, Germany and Wachter is well-known to ski racing j fans as a multiple winner on the World Cup tour. Up-close exposure to such world class athletes definitely played a part in Madden's j development . ' "It inspired me. I saw that skiing j doesn t just end after the J-Os Junior Olympics. If you have the willpower you can continue and go to the Olympics some day." Does Madden have that willpower? "I think so. I've stuck with it this long. I think I'll make it" A n v-jtf . sI . 1 " ..... i' ' '" ' A ' V-T . ' . V.:.. - - :' ' j ' . '. photo by Luke Smith j -f World-class ski racer Melissa Madden of Park City. Canyon Meadows Estates Near Sundance 1 ' '-. I ' - ! ! ... 4 ' . -.1 - . fciMMiMliw.iwa(iHm Mmtmammmt -&J; a A. --". 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