GUESS WHO HIT THE WATER?
The U. S. Ski and Snowboard Association has an annual staff outing. Like many office parties, some memorable antics went on, and we've got photos to prove it.
First, some background: according to long time VP of Communications Tom Kelly, each outing is given to one USSA department to plan and organize. This year, it was the Events department. They chose to have the USSA staff go ski jumping at the Olympic Park. Of course, there's no snow yet, so everyone had to go off the jumps into the water of the pool, where the U. S. freestyle team is currently training.
Staffers could choose to be a jumper or a fan. Jumpers, of course, would go off the "kickers," the freestyle ramps that launch skiers into the bubbly blue water of the pool. Fans were each assigned a jumper, and helped to cheer on their "athlete." And, jumpers had to wear costumes. For example, there was platinum-haired Tina Turner, Madonna, and even Superman; who was actually head athletic director Jesse Hunt.
USSA Athletic Director Jesse Hunt puts on a man thong to
prepare for his role as Superman.
Tom Kelly's "fan" was CEO of USSA, Bill Marolt, who helped Kelly dress as a not very convincing Easy Rider, complete with a giant um---smoking implement---taped to his mouth, though not seen in this photo.
Bill Marolt readies Tom "Easy Rider" Kelly for his plunge into the pool.
There were about 15 jumpers. Among them was Nick Alexakos, a part time snowboarding events press manager, and press corrdinator for both the summer and winter X Games. Dressed as "Rocky," he won the entire competition (yes, it was judged) with a near flawless flip, an amazing feat when you consider that he had never in his life before put on a pair of skis.
"Easy Rider" Kelly, complete with his smoke, which stayed on
even as he flip-flopped into the pool.
Kelly, however was in pain. He had tweaked his back while getting some pre-freestyle training on the trampoline. "I was in agony," he said. The pain in his back is just now getting better, two weeks after the event. "You get a much better concept of how difficult this is (freestyle skiing) when you actually try it," he said, adding, "I was not a contender."
However, Superman was.
Athletic Director Jesse Hunt shows good water form after going
off one of the big kickers at Olympic Park. He came in third in
the contest.
Jeret "Speedy" Peterson was one of the judges, and legendary Trace Worthington was the announcer, hiding his laughter well.
After the water party, it was back to business. Most of the teams are still in the southern hemisphere, where it's winter.
But Kelly warns the world to watch the Americans when ski cross is introduced in the 2010 Olympics.
"We are paying quite a bit of attention to ski cross. We will be naming a team this year, and baring the unforseen, Daron Rahlves and Casey Puckett will both be on that team, Daron is (already) part of the freestyle team. Daron and Casey will be contenders in the first ski cross in the Olympics."
Even before being officially named, the new U. S. ski cross team will be going to Colorado to practice starts, because they are so critical. Those who get out first usually end up first at the finish.