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Show Hill AFB employees jo Dim Olympic by Mary Gatbralth Hilltop Turn staff Safe and soft landings are a priority for two Hill workers and it's has nothing to do with aircraft. While Jeanette Bonnell and Rose Rees will be on the "hill" during most of the Olympic Games, they won't be near the base. They're volunteer members of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games On Hill Aerials Team (nicknamed the that will be working at Deer Valley. During aerial competitions athletes ski down to a steep ramp called a kicker, which an launches skiers into the air. Athletes acrobatically twist and turn as they drop from a height equivalent to a three or four story building. After performing a variety of maneuvers, they land on a hill covered with soft, churned snow to absorb the impact of the landing. comes in. Using That's where the straight-edgeshovels, in-ru- n m d team members stand shoulder to shoulder chopping at least 18 inches deep into the snow and ice creating air pockets. "It's similar to a chain gang," Rees said of the line of volunteers. "Once the hill has been chopped, we side step down on skies to break up the "The way the schedule is set up youH work almost the whole time, but then youH get a because it's hard day or two of reprieve work," Bonnell said. "Even just gripping shovels you don't think about it but when you're chopping and holding it, your hands get really tired." to be It won't be unusual for the on the job under the stars at 5 a.m. They anticipate seeing a lot of early hours during the Olympics so they can accommodate the athletes' training schedules. "It may be five in the morning, with freezing conditions, but you're down to a because of the physical effort involved," Rees said. "It may be tiring, but you never think for a second that you don't want the job or it's too hard, you just push yourself to the limit to stay with the team." A-Tea- m g ; m tf f A AAA T-sh- Bonnell said seeing the event from a few feet away is a completely different feeling than watching athletes from the stands or on a TV set. "You see the best athletes in the world performing right in front of you and the feeling of incredible pride goes SALT LAKE 2002 Jeanette Bonnell and Rose Rees were part of Aerials Team volunteer workforce the at last year's Gateway competition at Deer Valley Resort. The team chops snow and ice to keep Jumps and landing areas safe for On-Hi- ll through you," Rees said. "We're not even slightly near the caliber of the athletes performing, but it's great just to be remaining large chunks preparing their venue of snow created by chopsite. They're amazed that someone would actually ping." After the chop team finwant to volunteer to do what we do. The athishes, they help the team TM 1991 SLOC 3t USC 220504 letes are so gracious and leader with shoveling, raking and hauling snow appreciative of our help. all over the hill I think that, combined depend or conditions. on of with Once camaraderie our team mates makes the weather training ing events begin, the ladies drive snow buggies the experience worthwhile." Bonnell said everybody on the team skis pushing "the greatest" white stuff on Earth over the landing hill's side. Coaches and other and some are former competitive athletes. on hill team members catch it and fill in divShe added keeping up the hard physical labor will be challenging, but she doesn't want to ots to give athletes the safest conditions possible. be anywhere else during the games. "We'll also throw green pine needles down "These are the premier athletes of the world the hill so when the aerialists are doing their and you're just in awe. The actual aerial jumps acrobatic maneuvers in the air) they have a that they do may be 3 to 4 seconds at the most. better depth of perception," Bonnell said. If you're not looking right then, you can miss Both volunteers have worked aerial events it," she said. "And you just can't get beyond similar to those scheduled during the Olympics. that it's a once in a lifetime opportunity." Bonnell has volunteered at Park City and Deer Valley about four years, and Rees has volunteered about nine at Deer Valley. Both women worked at the test event held in January 2001 and were selected for their -i"A Team" positions. They'll again help dur- 999 ft ing the holidays when the U.S. Olympic men and women aerial teams are selected. The Olympic trials will serve as practice sessions for the volunteers. Because working on V, i I I r ' kf? ' j 1 .HW,.-i the hill requires team synchronicity, it's important for them to work together as much as possible. "You get a feel for what team members can do and it becomes routine work," Bonnell said. do it enough so I know what Rose is going "You to do, and she knows what I'm going to do. It becomes almost second nature." Because they anticipate working long hours over several days during the Olympics, both women are working out and training. - " A. w In Every member of the volunteer team Is an avid skier. During the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, they'll put in long hours keeping the venue addition to shoveling and grooming jumps, Youth Center director to carry Olympic torch by Mary Galbraith Hilltop Times staff When a certified letter arrived at Linda Ambard's home a few weeks ago, she hesitantly opened it Little did the Hill Youth Activities Center Director realize it would be the best birthday present she ever got "I didn't know (my husband) submitted me until I got a registered letter," she said. "And when the registered letter showed up ... well, registered letters are usually bad. I opened it and was so surprised. As one of my 40th birthday presents, my husband submitted me to be a torch-beare- r. It was the best birthday present I could have had." Second Lt Phil Ambard said the decision to nominate his wife to carry the Olympic torch came easily. "I told them that she was the finest person I'd ever known and my best friend," Phil said of the nomination packet he filled out "I'm really happy she was picked. She really does deserve it" He summed Linda's strong points into categories like her strong faith; being a great mom and wife; and the energy she invests in work and exercise. Linda will need that energy to keep warm when she runs in February's cold temperatures. She said shell run about the distance of a football field while one of her five children videotapes her leg and the other kids cheer. "We're going to make a family event of it," she said. Her son Tiger is looking forward to watching. "I get to get out of school. But I also think it's exciting because the Olympics are pretty fun to watch on TV. You get to see a bunch of Olympic people do cool tricks," Tiger said. He's following in his mom's footsteps literally. "I like to run too. I did the mile run today," he said. Alex is also eager to see his mom in action as well as winter athletes. "It's exciting because you get to see them do all sorts of stuff and Eleven-year-ol- d members use pine needles to mark the landing area so Jumpers have better depth perception as they twist in the air. then win medals," he said. "Everyone will get to see them. It makes me feel excited because you get to see (people from our country) winning." Linda's route is somewhere between Tooele and Salt Lake City. She said besides inviting some of her former Dugway Proving Ground she hopes her parents and children's class mates have a chance to see her run. "It's an honor being selected," she said. "My children think it's really cool too. It's probably a once in a lifetime opportunity to do this. I actually got to carry the torch for the Special Olympics and I got to carry it in Idaho in the early 80s. I feel very fortunate that I'm going to get to carry it now for the United States Olympics, especially this year." Linda has had plenty of practice running. She's been running since high school. The Idaho native then ran during college while attending Idaho State University in Pocatello. "Running is my passion it's something I really like to do," she said. That's my relaxation and my mental sanity." Linda said having five children and running through all of her pregnancies is part of what may have set her apart from others who were nominated. "I would say being a military spouse probably had something to do with it too, and I'm civil service. I bring a face to the U.S. Air Force and civil service," she said. Linda is dedicating her section of the run to military members defending the United States. "I love this country and the Olympics stand for the freedom of expression that we have. Somebody is trying to take it away from us. Just the fact that we have somebody willing to defend our country (makes me proud)," she said. Linda said having a husband, son and brother that are all active-dut- y military has made the situation very real for her. She also has a daughter who wants to join her brother at the Air Force Academy and a son who plans to attend West Point "(The military) is definitely something that we all believe in and IH be proud to (represent them)," she said. Linda Ambard |
