Lake Tahoe Cheers on Local Olympians in Vancouver

Lake Tahoe Locals are making their presence known at the Olympics this year being held in Vancouver.  Many of the Olympians competing this year grew up here and call Lake Tahoe home. With world renowned ski resorts such as Squaw Valley, Kirkwood, Heavenly it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why Lake Tahoe is a breeding spot when it comes to fierce Olympic competitors.

One of the bigger names that calls Lake Tahoe home would have to be Hannah Teter.  Hannah resides locally here in South Lake Tahoe and can often be seen riding the pipe at Sierra at Tahoe, her home mountain.  In 2006, Teter made her Olympic debut as a 19-year-old and snatched the Gold medal in the half pipe competition in Tornio, Italy.  Hannah is no stranger to competition having been the World Half Pipe Junior champion at age 15.  Hannah realizes how lucky she is to be a professional snowboarder and gives back by focusing on humanitarian causes.  Hannah donates much of her prize to help support an under privileged village in Kenya.  She is hoping to bring home another win and has already pledged prize money to earthquake victims of Haiti.

Another popular name in the Olympics is Marco Sullivan.  Sullivan was born and raised here in Tahoe City on the west shore of Lake Tahoe.  At the age of three, Marco put on his first pair of skis and began to tear up what would become his home mountain, Squaw Valley.  Sullivan can keep up with anyone on the slopes, but he’s ready to give it his all and finally bring home some prestigious Olympic medals.  He has hinted that this might be his last Olympic competition, so the pressure is on. Sullivan has had many accomplishments throughout his career, including a 2001 win at the NorAm over all, a World cup win in 2008 and a third place finish at the legendary Lauberhorn downhill in Wengen Switzerland.

Giving Hannah Teter a run for her money would be Elena Hight. Elena is yet another South Lake Tahoe native and began as a member of the U.S Junior National Snowboard team at age 15.  She continued from there and won her first pro competition in 2005, where she swept the Australian Open by winning both half pipe and slopestyle competitions. In 2006 she made the Olympic team and was named the sports rookie of the year. Elena is only twenty and still at the beginning of her highly anticipated career. 

These are just a few of the approximately nine Olympians set to compete in the upcoming Winter Olympics this year. Lake Tahoe wishes all Olympians the best of luck….but bring the Gold to Tahoe!

For more information on Lake Tahoe Olympians competing in the Winter Olympics, check out the official website at Vancouver2010.com