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Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, December 30, 2017-January 2, 2018 The Park Record Lindsey Vonn: ‘Keep fighting, keep trying’ as 2018 Olympics draw closer JOHN LACONTE Vail Daily COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. — For most of her career, Lindsey Vonn was relatively injury free. After achieving her first World Cup win in December of 2004, she managed to go the next nine years without missing any major amount of time on the circuit, a rare feat in ski racing. In those nine years, Vonn racked up nearly 60 World Cup wins in downhill, super-G, slalom, giant slalom and the combined. She won gold and bronze at the 2010 Olympics, and also won a silver medal in the downhill at the 2011 World Alpine Ski Championships. Then in February of 2013, Vonn had a major crash, forcing her to miss the 2014 Olympics. After winning a giant slalom race in January of 2013, it would be more than 22 months before she tasted victory again. “I was obviously very disappointed and devastated, frustrated that I missed Sochi,” Vonn said. After tearing a ligament in her knee in that crash in 2013, Vonn returned in the 2014-15 season and won eight more World Cup races. But that injury would prove to be the first in a string of breaks and bruises that became hard to keep up with for her fans in Vail. Breaks and bruises Vonn began the 2015-16 season by breaking her ankle in preseason training in August, but was able to race most of the season, winning another nine World Cup races between December of 2015 and February of 2016. In late February of 2016, she crashed and fractured her knee in a few places, causing her to miss the rest of that CHRIS DILLMANN/VAIL DAILY Lindsey Vonn flies through a downhill training run on Nov. 15 at Copper Mountain, Colorado. Feeling healthy at long last, Vonn is reaching for Olympic gold as well as Ingemar Stenmark’s career World Cup win mark of 86. season. Getting back to racing in November of 2016, Vonn crashed in training and severely fractured her arm. Yet she still managed to race that season and even earned a win in January of 2017. “Once I got things going at the end of last season, I was right back where I left off,” Vonn said as the 2017-18 season was getting underway. But the season did not start strong for Vonn. She missed the podium in November of 2017, crashing in Lake Louise, the venue where she has found the most success in her career. She then crashed again at a race in December, suffering spinal joint dysfunction in her lower back. Things were not looking good. Yet, in a surprise to many, Vonn returned to the top of the podium the following weekend, winning a super-G in Val D’Isere, France, for her 78th career win. “The physical issues that I’ve had made it hard to have confidence in my body, so it was mentally challenging,” Vonn told The Associated Press following the race. “That’s been the biggest thing in the last few weeks – keep going, keep fighting, keep trying, keep picking yourself back up, especially after the crash in Lake Louise.” ‘It’s a dangerous sport’ The confidence boost will be exactly what she needs heading into the Olympics. “As long as I’m healthy and I’m confident, then I’ll be in a great position when I get to Pyongchang,” Vonn told the Vail Daily in November. “Everyone asks me if I’m afraid, after so many crashes do I take my foot off the gas pedal? And while I am smarter and I try to manage my risk better than I have in the past, it’s still ski racing … you can try to manage risk as much as you want, but at the end of the day it’s a dangerous sport.” Always positive, Vonn said she doesn’t plan on slowing down. “I’m 33, I’ve been injured quite a few times, but my passion for the sport has never changed,” she said. “Since I started skiing and started racing when I was 8 years old, I’ve loved what I do, and I don’t want to stop doing it. As long as I’m enjoying it and I don’t have to use too much duct tape to hold my body together, I’m good.” Along the way, Vonn is chasing another record, Ingemar Stenmark’s all time World Cup wins tally of 86. She does, however, admit her focus should be on Pyongchang rather than the regular World Cup circuit. “I’m focused on winning the World Cups, but just getting to February healthy is the only thing I should be really focused on,” Vonn said. And as a final goal, she wants to leave the sport of ski racing in a better place than in was before she started competing. “I try to ski like the men,” she said. “I try to be dynamic and powerful and really create speed where most people can’t. In that way, I hope to leave a positive impact on the sport, and really raise the level of women’s skiing.” Some of the petS at NuzzleS & Co. lookiNg for love These animals are available to be seen at the Nuzzles & Co. Adoption Center and Rescue Ranch. Our Adoption Center is open Monday through Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is located in the Tanger Outlets in Kimball Junction. Our Rescue Ranch is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Sunday. The Rescue Ranch is located at 6466 N. Highview Road in Peoa. Frenchie Golden Woody Peppy Frenchie is a 4-year-old calico Domestic Shorthair. She’s sweet, friendly, loves people, and gets along with other cats. Frenchie loves to be the center of attention and will be a loving companion for years to come. Golden is a sweet, mellow Siamese mix who’s about 5 years old. He’s gentle, easygoing, and gets along well with people and other cats. If you’re looking for a loving companion to curl up with you on the couch, Golden is your guy! Woody’s an outgoing 4-year-old grey and white Domestic Shorthair. He’s friendly with people, but can be bossy with other cats. But once he makes a connection with a fellow feline,they’re best buds for life! This handsome boy is Peppy. He’s a 5-year-old Domestic Shorthair with unique black and white markings. He’s friendly and social, loves people, and gets along with other cats. Peppy’s a sweet cat who’d love a forever home. Princess Latte Ava Liesl Princess is a beautiful, quirky 5-year-old Pit Bull Terrier. She knows her basic obedience commands and is very smart. She needs to be an only pet. She loves cuddling up with human friends, going for walks, and car rides. Latte’s a 7-month-old Rottweiler mix. She’s a little shy at first, but warms up quickly and loves attention. She’s good with cats and dogs if introduced properly. She’s got lots of energy and will be a great addition to an active family. Ava’s a 9-month-old Lab mix. She’s very energetic and loves to play. She plays with other dogs and seems to ignore cats. Ava is learning some basic manners and is smart! She’s a happy, sweet girl who loves people! Liesl’s a friendly 3-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix who’s looking for an active home where she can let loose and have fun. She’s young, energetic, and smart.Liesl needs a confident owner who is willing to continue training her. Wanted: Volunteers These Organizations are looking for volunteers. If you would like to include your group in this section, please email information to copyeditor@parkrecord.com. Please limit your entry to no more than 75 words Big Brothers Big Sisters Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah is seeking volunteers to become mentors to youth in Park City. Mentors meet two to four times per month with their “littles” to do fun activities and develop a lasting relationship. This little bit of time can make a big difference in the life of a child. For information, please contact Emily Medlock at 435-649-9366 or emily.medlock@bbbsu.org. Canines with a Cause Canines with a Cause is looking for volunteers interested in learning dog training and assessment skills. Volunteers will foster and train prospective service and companion dogs to be placed with veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. For information, please contact Cathy King at 435-640-9095. The Christian Center of Park City The Christian Center is looking for volunteers with a passion for helping the community. Open six days a week, the center needs volunteers (ages 16 and older) to help in the food pantry, boutique store and thrift store, and with seasonal events throughout the year. Fill out an online volunteer application at www.ccofpc.org or contact the center’s volunteer coordinator at 435-649-2260, ext. 15. Girl Scouts As a volunteer with a Girl Scout troop, you’ll introduce girls to new experiences that make every day feel like the best day. At every turn you’ll be their cheerleader, guide, and mentor, helping them develop skills that will last long after meetings are over. For information, visit http://www.gsutah.org/en/volunteer-role-model.html or call Heather Smith at 801-716-5109. Guide Dogs for the Blind Guide Dogs for the Blind needs puppy raisers. Volunteers provide a nurturing, well-rounded environment for puppies 8 weeks old to 15 months. The organization supports sitters with weekly meetings and training. Basic equipment and veterinary care is provided. Meetings are Mondays at 7 p.m. in the Park City/Heber areas. Contact Stefanie at 435-657-0760, or visit Facebook/SummitGuideDogs or www.guidedogs.com. Habitat for Humanity of Summit and Wasatch Counties Habitat for Humanity invites you to build sustainable, healthy, affordable housing as a ReStore volunteer. Do you love to tinker and fix things? Are you looking for a regular volunteer opportunity that’s fun and makes a lasting difference for local families? Immediate opportunities include cashier, merchandising and customer ambassador roles. For information, call 435-658-1400 or visit habitat-utah.org. Help Eliminate Alzheimer’s The Alzheimer’s Association’s Utah Chapter has many opportunities for volunteers to raise awareness and promote community events. Areas of particular need are community education, outreach, research, social media, public policy, communications and development. Positions can also be created depending on interest and passion. Many positions are virtual. Please contact Ronnie Daniel, executive director: rdaniel@alz.org. B-7 |