Be sure to check out Bryon Friedman's music while meeting future and past Olympics Sunday in Ketchum.
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) has invited many of the Wood River Valley's former and future Olympic athletes for a "Sun Valley Olympicfest" on Sunday, Aug. 16.
Those attending can meet and speak with current Olympic Development Team members and former Olympians such as Chuck Ferries, Dick Fosbury, Greg Randolph, David Currier, Jon Engen, Reggie Crist, David Currier, Terry Palmer, Tyler Palmer, Maria Maricich, Linda Fratianne, Judy Blumberg, Laura Todd and Dates Fryberger.
According to an Aug. 3 SVSEF press release, the Olympic Development Team was started five years ago to fund and coach athletes as they worked towards their goals of becoming Olympians.
In 2010, the valley has 12 athletes with a chance of qualifying for the Winter Games at Vancouver, B.C., Canada. The promising athletes identified by their coaches are these:
Kaitlyn Farrington, snowboard halfpipe; Graham Watanabe, snowboardcross; Langely McNeal, first time Olympic sport skier cross; Biche Rudigoz, skier cross; Shane Cordeau, freestyle moguls; and, from cross country skiing, Morgan Arritola, Nicole DeYong, Reid Pletcher, Colin Rodgers, Mike Sinnott, Morgan Smyth and Kate Whitcomb.
Sun Valley Olympic Fest is Sunday, Aug. 16th from 5-9 p.m. at the Forest Service Park in Ketchum. The Ski Heritage Museum will be open for viewing of its Olympic display.
Musical guest Bryon Friedman (bryonfriedmanmusic.com) will be accompanied by his band for acoustic and folk rock sounds. For dinner, noted chef and SVSEF alpine ski coach Ruben Macaya will serve an authentic Argentinean Lamb Asado.
Raised in Park City, Utah, Friedman, 29, was a highly-ranked U.S. Ski Team alpine racer and national champion before his career was cut short by a severe leg injury during a World Cup downhill at Chamonix, France in Jan. 2005.
Tickets are available in Ketchum at The Elephant's Perch, Backwoods Mountain Sports, PK's Ski & Sports and Atkinsons' (look for the athletes), and also at the door. Cost is $25 adults or $15 ages 6-17. Kids under five are free.
