When the 2014 Winter Games open on February 7, the northwest will be well represented. Athletes from around the northwest will compete on the short speed skate track, in snowboard and free-style events and on the cross-country ski course.
Cross country ski tracks in the snow
Leavenworth Washington native, Torin Koos, was named to the US Olympic Ski Team in January after winning the US Sprint championship. Koos is an Olympic veteran, having competed in the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, where he finished 26th in the individual sprint classic.
Torin lists his hometown as Leavenworth WA. He was a member of Leavenworth Sports Club (still listed as his home club in some press sites) and began competing at the age of 12. He’s still active in the Washington State nordic ski scene. You can view a an instructional video filmed by Icicle TV, wherein Koos demonstrates his signature double polling technique known as a kangaroo hop with local youth athletes. Torin has also been involved with the Icicle Middle School running program as a volunteer coach.
Koos is active with the community outreach program In the Arena which has a vision “to leverage the uplifting power of sport to effect lasting and meaningful change in today’s youth, with the aim of giving all young Americans equal access to the highest caliber role models and the best chance at success in the long-term.”
You can read Torin Koos’ blog here.
Check out some video from Icicle TV featuring Torin.
You can find out more about Torin Koos at these links:
Video US Sprint Championship from Jan 6, 2014
Joining Torin Koos on the USA Ski Team are siblings Erik Bjornsen and Sadie Bjornsen from Winthrop in the Methow Valley.
You can meet the entire USA Olympic Cross-Country Team and follow their progress at the NBC Olympics website.
Congratulations, Torin!
Go Team USA!
