Faces
Making a giant leap in competitive skiing world A
nyone who thinks of skiing as simply gliding down a moun- tainside has never seen Grete Eliassen do her thing.
From a world record 31-foot “hip jump,” to her gold medals in the X Games halfpipe competition and other major honors, Eliassen, a mem- ber of Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Salt Lake City, has been a fixture in the freestyle skiing world for about a decade.
Although she suffered an injury in 2012, she remains steadfast in her goal of competing in the 2014 Winter Olympics as a member of the U.S. Freeskiing Slopestyle Team. Her love of the slopes dates back to early childhood. “Actually, I can’t remember my first time on skis,” Eli- assen said. “I just remember always knowing how to ski. My mom and dad first put me on skis at Hyland Hills in Minnesota when I was about 2 years old. I played a lot of differ- ent sports growing up, but around 10 years old I decided I wanted to become one of the best skiers at my home mountain, and then the world would be next.”
Competitive skiing takes years of practice, and Eliassen said her family was always supportive, providing a foundation for her skills and taking her to practices. The work paid off in 2004 when
100 plus
Grete Eliassen thanks God for everything in her life, especially her skiing abilities.
she competed in the X Games for the first time. “I had just quit the Nor- wegian National Ski Rac- ing Team the year before (her father is Norwegian),” she said. “So I was doing exactly what I wanted to be doing. I wasn’t very nervous my first time at X Games because the competition was just a demo and us girls just needed to show ESPN we deserved to have a com- petition in the halfpipe too. “The next year we would be able to compete for med- als, and I ended up winning the first gold halfpipe medal at X Games for women ski-
ers. It was a really amazing moment for me, mainly because I did not expect it. I was just having a ton of fun that day, but I ended up landing a few tricks and walking away with a gold medal. The nerves would come the following year when I would have to defend my title.” And that’s exactly what Eliassen did. And she plans to add to her accolades. Eliassen also receives support from her congregation and pastor, Geoffrey Beebe, who is a skier as well.
“I thank God for everything I have been given in my life, especially my skiing abilities,” she said. “I put 100 percent trust into God’s plan, and I want people to see where my success comes from. For me, skiing has always come easy because I always trust my ability. And the same goes for life. Life is usu- ally easy for me because I trust God.”
Jeff Favre Favre is a contributing editor of The Lutheran.
106: Ruth Miller, Christ Our Redeemer, Temple Terrace, Fla.; Ruth Ulsh, St. John, Lewistown, Pa. 105: Eunice Kanne, Bethany, Grantsburg, Wis. 104: Millicent Johnston, First United, Dallas. 103: Marguerite Holt, Bethany, Central Bridge, N.Y. 102: Eve- lyn Broyer, Faith, Meadow Vista, Calif.; Mollie Kollo, Nativity, Allentown, Pa.; Viola Luckenbaugh, Christ, Spring Grove, Pa. 101: Agnes Ehrhardt, Atonement, Barrington, Ill.; Sylvia Thoni, Our Savior, Rice Lake, Wis. 100: Melba Anderson & Iona John- son, Stockholm, Cokato, Minn.; Eileen Carpenter, Emanuel, Marion, Ohio; Ardis Green, Zion, The Dalles, Ore.; Norah Hatling, Glendale, Burien, Wash.; Miranda Kalke, St. Paul, Monona, Iowa; Margaret Kennerly, St. Mark, Mooresville, N.C.; Helen Quello, St. John, Northfield, Minn.; Ada Ray, Our Savior, Beldenville, Wis.; Anne Lieske Renn, Bethel, North East, Md.; Elvera Serck, Bethlehem, Inwood, Iowa; Verdell Thomas, Epiphany, Winston-Salem, N.C.; Charlotte Vik, Decorah, Decorah, Iowa.
March 2013 43
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