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Looking Forward to London!

  By Alexis Brinkman, Staff Assistant, North Dakota Horizons

 

Well, the closing ceremony of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games wrapped up late Sunday night in a grand fashion.  The ceremony included performances from Canadians Avril Lavigne, Michael Buble and Neil Young and appearances from Michael J. Fox and William Shatner.  The Olympic flame was ceremoniously handed off to the mayor of Sochi, Russia, the host of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.  Viewers were treated to a sneak preview of what Sochi has in store for 2014, and I don’t think I have to tell you, I was left awfully excited!

But, before I get too excited about the 2012 Summer Games in London or the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, let’s recap what happened in Vancouver.  What started out as some of the most troublesome games in Olympic history – terrible weather, the death of a young Georgian luger, and mechanical malfunctions during the opening ceremony – ended as an overall success for both host country Canada and the United States.

Canada finally overcame its home-gold drought with Alexandre Bilodeau’s gold medal in moguls.  While Canada may have come in third in the overall medal count, they did in fact ‘own the podium’ with an Olympic-record 14 gold medals and the most at the 2010 Games.  My favorite Canadian success story is that of figure skater Joannie Rochette.  Rochette’s mother passed away unexpectedly just days before she was scheduled to compete.  She decided to skate anyway, knowing it was what her mother would have wanted.  All of Canada seemed to rally behind this impressive young lady as she somehow managed to earn the bronze medal before being completely overcome with emotion.  But perhaps the most exciting success for Canada was that of its national obsession, hockey.  Both the men’s and women’s teams skated to gold.

The Vancouver Games were the most successful winter games for the United States by far.  USA finished with 37 total medals, a Winter Olympic record.  We saw, among other things, the first U.S. gold medal in four-man bobsled since 1948, the first U.S. gold medal ever in the Nordic combined, an impressive performance by the U.S. Ski Team, a dominant, gold-medal-winning performance by snowboarder Shaun White, the comeback of Bode Miller, and speed skater Apolo Ohno win his eighth medal, a winter Olympic record.

  

All of our North Dakota athletes faired as well as or better than expected.  Both the men’s and women’s hockey teams earned silver medals, second only to Canada.  Monique and Jocelyn Lamoreaux both played great games in the women’s 2-0 loss to Canada.  Former University of North Dakota hockey player Zach Parise scored a heroic, last second goal to force the men’s gold medal game against Canada into overtime before losing 3-2.  Figure skater Mark Ladwig and his partner, Amanda Evora, placed 10th in the pairs competition, earning personal best scores.

Overall, the U.S. finished with nine gold medals, 15 silver medals, and 13 bronze medals.  While I'll be happy to return to my normal sleep schedule, I am sad to see these Olympics end.  Oh well, only 878 days until the opening ceremony in London!  Perhaps I'll catch a flight across the pond and make the 2012 Olympic Summer Games the first Olympics I see in person rather than from my couch. 

  

 

The Olympics, North Dakota Style

By Alexis Brinkman, Staff Assistant, North Dakota Horizons

   

I’m just going to come right out and say it:  I love the Olympics.  I’ve been anticipating the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada since the closing ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.  I started counting down the days until the opening ceremony sometime around the first snowfall last November. 

 

Immediately after learning Ralph Lauren was designing this year’s Team USA gear, I rushed online to see how much it would cost me to own the same hat speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno would be wearing during the parade of athletes.  I’ve completely cleared my schedule and plan to spend every possible minute of the next two weeks watching the world’s greatest athletes compete for those coveted gold medals.  Forget my normal viewing schedule of House and American Idol, I’ll be spending my time with Bob Costas and the rest of the NBC crew.

To be fair, even as an all-around fan of athletics, I know little to nothing about most of the sports involved in the winter Olympics.  A friend who enjoys the Olympics as much as I do recently said to me, “I’m amazed at how badly I can want someone who I just heard of five minutes ago to win some sport I didn’t even know existed!” 

 

My friend isn’t alone; the Olympics have that effect on a lot of people.  In a world where most of the day’s sports news is dominated by how many millions of dollars some basketball player is demanding to be paid and which famous baseball player has been accused of using performance enhancing drugs this time, it’s refreshing to see athletes competing for the love their sport again.  It’s the stories about the first female Olympian from Iran, a bobsled team from Jamaica, or the 50-something skier competing for Mexico that makes the Olympics so engrossing.  How can you not cheer for the 17-year old speed skater who was just happy to be there after having his own skate cut through three layers of muscle in his thigh mere months before the Olympics were scheduled to begin, but still managed to win a medal?

One of my favorite parts about the Olympics each year is the "hometown" story.  I love following local, North Dakota athletes as they compete for a spot on Team USA, and cheering for the ones who make it during the Olympics.  This year, multiple North Dakotans are representing the United States in Vancouver. 

Mark Ladwig, a figure skater, is originally from Moorhead, Minnesota, but got his start in figure skating at the Red River Valley Skating Club in Fargo in the sixth grade.  The now 29-year-old has trained and worked odd jobs for two decades to keep his Olympic dream alive.  He and partner Amanda Evora finished tenth in the pairs competition Monday night.  They scored personal bests on both of their routines and accomplished the goal they set for themselves: “to show the world what we can do.”

Twin sisters Monique and Jocelyn Lamoureux of Grand Forks are members of the U.S. women’s hockey team this year.  The pair grew up playing hockey with their older brothers on a pond in their neighborhood and has been dreaming of being Olympians since they were six years old.  The team is 2-0 in competition thus far, and Jocelyn scored an impressive goal in their 12-1 win over China.  Monique finished the same game with a record breaking four assists.  Sports Illustrated even featured the sisters and their family in an article earlier this month.

 

So, North Dakota Horizons readers, do you enjoy the Olympics as much as I do?  What is your favorite part and what do you look forward to most each Olympics?  We’d love to hear from you in the comments section!

North Dakota Cowboys at the WNFR

By Annika Nelson, Staff Assistant, North Dakota Horizons

The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo – a grueling test of endurance, ten straight days of rodeo action – features the nation’s best rodeo cowboys competing for the coveted world title. The top fifteen cowboys in each event earn a ticket to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) in Las Vegas, Nevada. This year marks 50 years of the world’s most prestigious rodeo. There are seven events at the WNFR: bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding.

Two North Dakota cowboys are represented at this year’s rodeo, both of whom are bronc riders. Dusty Hausauer and Shaun Stroh are showing the world their determination and grit at this year’s WNFR and both cowboys call Dickinson home. Hausauer is 26 years old and recently won the Canadian Finals Rodeo. He came into the WNFR sitting in the eighth slot. Stroh will turn 36 on Day 7 of the rodeo. He entered the rodeo in the 11th position.

North Dakota has always had a strong history in rodeo. Wayne Herman won the world bareback riding title in 1992. Alvin Nelson earned the world bronc riding title in 1957, and Brad Gjermundson won titles in the same event in 1981, 1983, 1984 and 1985. You can bet your boots these cowboys will be rooting for Hausauer and Stroh at the 2008 contest!

Hausauer and Stroh have done well during the first four nights of rodeo.

• Round 1: Hausauer placed 12th with a 75.0 and Stroh third with an 85.0
• Round 2: Hauser placed first with an 88.5 ride and Stroh placed ninth with a 77.0
• Round 3: Hausauer bucked off and Stroh placed sixth with an 81.0
• Round 4: Both cowboys had tough luck and neither received a score

Hausauer’s first place finish in round two gained him the distinction of being the first rookie in the 2008 WNFR to win a round. First place earns the rider more than $16,500!

North Dakota Horizons readers - show your support for these great cowboys and cheer them on! There are still six nights of rodeo action remaining! Visit the WNFR website to view a television schedule, round results, world standings and more.

Rodeos are a North Dakota Tradition

By Annika Nelson, Staff Assistant, North Dakota Horizons

Rodeo has long been a North Dakota tradition. Names of North Dakotans have made national headlines many times. Ask any cowboy or cowgirl in North Dakota and the names of Tom Tescher, Alvin Nelson, Duane Howard, Brad Gjermundson and many others will be named as North Dakota legends. The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame in Medora honors these rodeo greats.

Last weekend, I was able to attend the Killdeer Mountain Memorial Rodeo in Killdeer. Killdeer is cowboy country. The rodeo was the last opportunity for contestants to secure a berth to the state championship rodeo.

Watford Cit y hosts the State Championship Finals Rodeo for the North Dakota Rodeo Association. The top 12 contestants in nine events (ladies breakaway roping, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, senior men’s breakaway roping, team roping, barrel racing and bull riding) vie for the coveted title of state champion September 12 and 13. The race is often highly contested for the top position; the rodeo should be a good one.

Rodeo is a sport both young and old enjoy. Many North Dakota Horizons readers might enjoy it, too. Although this season is nearly over, there are always opportunities to watch next summer!

I took the photos at the Killdeer Mountain Memorial Rodeo. The tie-down roper is Jason Lawrence of Washburn. The second photo is of an unidentified saddle bronc rider.

North Dakota Athletes: Olympians and Aspiring Olympians

By Annika Nelson, Staff Assistant, North Dakota Horizons

The summer Olympics: the world’s most talented athletes competing in track and field, swimming, gymnastics, wrestling and a host of other events for coveted gold medals. The Olympics are exciting – filled with fierce competition, close races, disappointments, triumphs and stories.

North Dakota Horizons readers may be surprised to know there have been several Olympians from North Dakota. Cliff Cushman of Grand Forks won a silver medal in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1960 Olympics. John Bennett, also of Grand Forks, earned a silver medal in the long jump at the 1956 Olympics. Virgil Hill of Williston punched his way to a silver medal in the middleweight category in boxing at the 1984 Olympics. And Casper Oimoen of Minot was a captain of the 1932 and 1936 Olympic ski teams.

Quite impressive, isn’t it? That doesn’t include other stellar non-Olympic athletes from North Dakota, including standouts in basketball (Phil Jackson), baseball (Darin Erstad), rodeo (Brad Gjermundson), football (Jim Kleinsasser), snowmobiling (Janelle Bakken), and golf (Shane McMenamy), among many others.

In 2008, some young North Dakota athletes have been headlining news stories for their efforts at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Laura Roesler, a 16-year-old track standout from Fargo, competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials in track and field in Eugene, Oregon. She made the semifinals in the 800-meter race and wowed the crowd once they found out she was only a 10th grader. Sports Illustrated wrote a nice story on Laura - check out www.si.com and type in Laura Roesler into its search feature to read the article.

Another standout is Dagny Knutson of Minot. Dagny is also only 16 years old, a budding talent in swimming. Dagny holds the junior world record tim e of 4 minutes, 43.49 seconds in the 400 IM (individual medley, where a swimmer has to perform all f our strokes). She competed in the 400 IM at the U.S. Olympic Trials and finished 14th.

North Dakota is proud of its Olympians – and aspiring Olympians. The success of these young athletes is inspiring. Wouldn’t it be fun to cheer for Laura and Dagne in 2012 in London?

Photo of Laura Roesler courtesy of http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/more/06/30/laura.roesler/index.html. Photo of Dagny Knutson courtesy of www.kxmd.com/t/minot-high-school.