Ketchum resident Morgan Arritola, a member of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Olympic Development Team races this afternoon. Her race starts at 2pm Mountain Time. The pursuit format is one where the skiers race half the race using the classic technique, switch skis and then finish the race in freestyle/skate technique. Morgan is one of the feature athletes in the Sun Valley Champions program run by the Sun Valley/Ketchum Chamber and Visitor's Bureau.
Update: Arritola was the top finishing American in 38th place 3:27.8 behind the Norwegian Gold Medalist, Marit Bjoeren, who trained in Sun Valley prior to the Olympics.
Below there are some videos of her send-off, training and her bio.
Diamond Sun Productions put together a video from the good luck send-off for Morgan at the Sun Valley Club. Her coach, Rick Kapala comments on Morgan's work ethic in the first video below including her habit of running 6 miles home after workouts.
Morgan shown at the Canmore World Cup ascending a steep hill
Training 6 months ago in New Zealand. Morgan discusses & demonstrates her technique with Andy Newell
Just to show it's not all fun & games, the following clips are from strength training at High Altitude Fitness
Bio courtesy of NBC (read more Q&A, results and more here )
Birthdate: May 13, 1986
Birthplace: Bend, OR
Hometown: Ketchum, ID
Residence: Ketchum, ID
Ht: / Wt: 5'4" / 108 lbs
One World Cup supplants another Before Morgan Arritola began planning her calendar around FIS World Cup stops and the Olympic Winter Games, she dreamt of competing for the United States at the FIFA Women's World Cup of soccer. When the avid soccer player moved to the Sun Valley, Idaho area as a high school freshman, some of her new soccer teammates introduced her to cross-country skiing. Her focus shifted to skiing after excellent early race results, but she still plays soccer occasionally and worships Spain and Liverpool FC star Fernando Torres.
Second, but still smiling In two dozen races over four years at the U.S. National Championships, Arritola has been unable to come out on top. The Sun Valley Ski Education skier has been the runner-up on five occasions, however. Even in her best international finishes - fifth and eighth-place at the 2009 Under-23 World Championships and 22nd in the 30km at the 2009 World Championships - she finished behind another American. Win or lose, she is recognized by her teammates for having a great attitude and a contagious, loud laugh.
Off-the-trail favorites During a typical offseason, Arritola works part-time at a local sports shop and animal-sits for friends. She loves animals, and a post-career goal of hers could be to pursue a university degree in biology or similar field. Her favorite hobbies include drawing, water-skiing and playing mini-golf.
Town of transients The resort town of Sun Valley has been temporary home to many Olympians, past and current, particularly Alpine skiers. Gretchen Fraser, Christin Cooper and Picabo Street all made their ways through the slopes of central Idaho before on their paths to Olympic greatness. Arritola came to town after those three made their marks, and considers mountaineer Ed Viesturs, a local resident since 2008, the most famous inhabitant that she has met. Snowboarder and aspiring U.S. Olympian Graham Watanabe also hails from Sun Valley.