At the 2002 Olympics, Scott Macartney, wearer of bib #1, was the very first skier to tackle “Grizzly,” the Olympic downhill course at Snowbasin. His 29th place in that Olympic downhill has firmly established him as one of the skiers to watch on the US Ski Team, as have his many successes since.

Now ranked 8th in the US, Macartney got a very early start in skiing. His parents, weekend ski-patrol members at Crystal Mountain near his hometown of Redmond, WA, introduced him to skiing when he was just three years old. At only age seven, he started racing, and quickly progressed up the racing ranks. In 1993, at fourteen, he was the Western J3 level Slalom gold medalist. Four years later, in 1997, he was the US Junior Super G champion and skied in the World Junior Championships.

The following year, juggling skiing and his freshman year studies at Dartmouth, Macartney once again competed at the World Junior Championships. This time he took home the bronze in the slalom and placed tenth in the Super G. Following his medal winning performance at the World Junior Championships, Macartney moved up to senior level racing. Training intensively, he skied in events across North America and Europe. In 1999 he placed sixth at the National Championships in SuperG and was the North American Circuit Super G champion.

Late in 1999 he competed in his first World Cup, skiing on home-snow in Vail-Beaver Creek, Colorado. Unfortunately, his season was cut short by patellar tendonitis, which eventually required surgery. Returning to the slopes nearly a year later, he continued to ski in international events in preparation for the Olympic season. In 2002, he competed for the US Olympic Alpine Skiing team in both downhill and Super G, finishing 29th and 25th, respectively.

This spring, Macartney returns to Dartmouth to complete his last two courses. As a member of the US National “B” team, he has set his sights on the 2006 Olympics in Italy.

The ski team must venture south of the equator to find snow during the summer, and winter competition schedules take skiers across Europe and North America. So Macartney’s expenses pile up quickly. He gets some money from sponsors, but funding from DHAC will be vital in keeping Macartney on his skis, with his tips pointed down the mountain and towards Torino!

People often ask what it was like to stand in the starting gate of the Olympic downhill with bib number one on my chest. At the team meeting the night before the race I was waiting to receive my starting bib, picturing a start number in the early thirties. When my coach threw me the number one bib I was simply shocked.
Many single events and situations in the days leading up to the games reminded me what a huge opportunity this was. Finally our sport was in the limelight with constant media coverage and the attention of the nation and world. It would have been enough that it was my first Olympics. That was clear motivation. Then it was in my home country, where the food is edible and the language familiar and comforting. The “Grizzly” course at Snowbasin was one that I had been victorious on just a year before. Thousands would watch live. Millions would watch on TV.
And I got to go first.
Each of these situations stacked a little more pressure which kind of felt like someone talking trash to you from the sidelines. “I bet you can’t. I bet you won’t.” It was a feeling I embrace. It brought a smile to my face. I had a chance to perform under tremendous opportunity.
The start of the downhill was surreal. There was so much security at Snowbasin and on the downhill course that no one besides racers, reporters and coaches were at the start. I remember walking a few steps from the start house and looking off the backside of the mountain and seeing no one, hearing no noise. Just a beautiful view of the backside of the mountain and downtown Ogden. I was told there were several snipers in white guerilla suits, but I did not spot them.
When it was time to race it turned out that fate was not done adding suspense and pressure to my chance at glory. One of the forerunners crashed and hit the nets, causing a course hold.
What happened next was truly a test of my mental preparation- I got iced. I had to be ready to go whenever the fence was repaired so I stayed in my skis and tried to focus. I was told to go in a few minutes, then they weren’t quite done repairing the fence, hold for 2 minutes–I stand ready, another 2 minutes, another 2 minutes. This was all happening with me going through my pre-race prep and then being told around 30 seconds before I was to go that they were still working on the netting. 12 minutes later I got to go.
I ended up with a decent run with a few mistakes from being aggressive that cost me time. I was smiling in the finish because I took hold of all the pressure and distractions and still performed. I finished knowing I wouldn’t medal with the run I had, but threw my hands in the air just the same. After all, I had 30,000 people in the finish area to entertain.