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John Russell

John Russell's sports column appears Sundays in Steamboat Today. Contact him at 871-4209 or e-mail jrussell@SteamboatToday.com.

Steamboat Springs — Next winter, fans from across the globe will travel to Canada for a chance to watch some of the best athletes in the world compete for gold, silver and bronze.

But when you live in a place like Steamboat Springs, there is no reason to wait.

There's no reason to battle the crowds, no reason to sit in cold, snow-covered stadiums hoping to catch a glimpse of athletes such as Todd Lodwick, Bill Demong and Johnny Spillane.

In Steamboat Springs, we've discovered that we don't have to wait for the Olympics to see America's top stars in action. There is no reason to spend thousands for plane tickets or hotel rooms.

Thanks to the plastic-covered ski jump at Howelsen Hill, and the hard work and dedication of the local coaches to host a Fourth of July meet every year, we all got a chance to see America's Olympic prospects in action this weekend. I know it wasn't the Olympics, but it was a preview of what we all have to look forward to in 2010.

Current and future stars jumped on Howelsen's plastic and used in-line skis to race down Lincoln Avenue in front of thousands waiting for our holiday parade.

I've been asked in the past why Steamboat Springs produces so many winter Olympic athletes.

The running joke is that there is something in the water. But I give credit to the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, which continues to produce and attract top athletes with quality programs, quality coaches and quality events just like the one so many enjoyed during the weekend.

This is a community that embraces its athletes, and the athletes return the favor by supporting events.

On Wednesday, Lodwick, Spillane and Demong were standing in the parking lot along with a dozen future stars for an informal training competition. But they also planned on competing in Friday and Saturday's events, as well.

The events were an opportunity for those promising athletes to sharpen their skills before the snow starts to fly, but for the rest of us, it was a chance to ignite the Olympic spirit that will continue to grow in the next several months.

Most people will watch those events on television thousands of miles from the Olympic venues and the excitement of the games. But to really enjoy the magic of ski jumping you need to see it live.

We've been spoiled in our mountain valley. We are used to seeing Olympic athletes at the store, or just walking down the street. We expect to see them every winter, and we expect to see them at Howelsen.

But in a few short months, these same athletes will be the center of the world's interest far from Steamboat Springs.

But those of us that live in Steamboat Springs are lucky. We didn't have to wait, or even bundle up, to watch them compete last weekend.

- to reach John F. Russell call 871-4209 or e-mail jrussell@steamboatpilot.com