By Jean DePlacido
What a difference four years makes in the life of a Paralympic athlete.
Laurie Stephens was a rookie member of the US Alpine Ski Team competing in the winter Games at Torino, Italy in 2006. Her name wasn't well known going into the Games, but she was an immediate sensation and brought hom two gold medals and a silver.
Now a bit older — and wiser — the Wenham native is ready for Vancouver, site of the 2010 Paralympic Games that begin today and run through March 21.
There are 50 athletes from the United States competing in alpine skiing, biathlon, cross country skiing, curling and sled hockey.
"We've been gearing up for Vancouver all season," said Stephens, a mono-skier who uses a molded seat mounted on a metal frame. "I'm more focused this time around because now I know more to expect.
"In Torino, I don't think I realized what a big thing the Paralympic Games are. This time I'm not going to put any pressure on myself; I'm just trying to have fun when I ski."
The skiing events will be held at Whistler Mountain, and Stephens hopes there will be plenty of snow.
"I'm really looking forward to it," said Stephens, who turned 26 on March 5. "I had some problems with my equipment, but that's all straightened out now. I have new skis and I love them. Feeling comfortable with everything is so important because you want to make them do what you want on the turns.
"Being able to trust your equipment is huge. In the past I haven't always been comfortable with things, and it makes a big difference."
Stephens, who was a student at the University of New Hampshire when she competed in Torino, was overwhelmed by the pressure of competing on the big stage. Ski racing, something she began at age 16 after learning the sport four years earlier, had always been one of her favorite activities, but something changed. She decided it was best to leave the U.S. team and moved to Aspen, Colo. during the winter season so she could fully concentrate on her training.
"I put a lot of pressure on myself the last couple of years and wasn't enjoying it anymore," said Stephens, who was born with spina bifida. "I decided it was best for me to quit the U.S. Ski Team, and I'm now with the independent Challenge Aspen program. I do all the same things I would if I was on the U.S. team, but I'm doing it my way. And I'm having a lot more fun now."
Stephens is not the only skier to decide to take a different course. New Hampshire's Bode Miller, who has won more Olympic alpine ski medals than any other U.S. skier, also decided to train on his own before recently rejoining the U.S. team and enjoyed tremendous success at the recent Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Challenge Aspen expanded its competition program in 2006 and is now considered one of the top adaptive programs in the entire world. Kevin Jardine is the director of the competition program, and the main goal is empowering athletes with physical disabilities to reach their maximum potential.
In gearing up for the Paralympic Games, Stephens recently won the downhill race by almost three seconds and also took first in the Super G at the World Cup Finals in Aspen. She finished third in the downhill in World Cup races this year.
Prior to that, she had been racing in both Austria and Italy. She experienced some problems with her equipment in Austria, but still managed a third in the slalom and was on her game at Sestriere, Italy last month. She was on the podium in the slalom with a third place finish and took second in the downhill five days later.
The following day, Stephens crashed and experienced back pain, but three days later she was unbeatable in winning the Super G.
Two years ago Stephens made the decision to spend winters in Aspen, where the ski season is much longer. Come summer she heads back home to Wenham.
"Skiing is an expensive sport to begin with, and by being in Aspen I can get on the mountain earlier because it's a longer season," she said. "I come out early in the fall and train from the beginning of October right up until May."
