Ellefson '09 and Bamford '15, The Trail to Sochi 2014
Andrew Byrnes '05 was a rower for the Canadian team and the first former Bates athlete to win an Olympic medal. Justin Freeman '98 was a U.S. Nordic skier in the 2006 Olympics. Nancy Ingersoll Fiddler '78 competed in the 1988 Olympics in Nordic skiing. And those are just the recent games! Batesies approach their interests with Amore ac Studio "with ardor and devotion" not only at Bates, but after graduation as well. See more on Andrew Byrnes '05 and the other Olympiads in this Bates article.
Among all of the people that we've seen pass through our iron gates, Bates has a strong representation of Olympiads. Adding to the list of Olympic hopefuls for the 2014 Winter Olympics at Sochi are All American athlete Sylvan Ellefson '09 of Vail, Colorado, and Emily Bamford '15 of Melbourne, Australia. They are on the hopeful list right now, but after Olympic trials happen later this month, we hope they will also be on the list of Batesies who have competed and medaled at the Olympics.
Representing the two sides of Bates Skiing, Alpine and Nordic, Ellefson and Bamford have already made waves in the skiing world. Right now, they are training among the the world's best athletes to hopefully make a spot on their respective Olympic teams. The games will be held in the resort town of Sochi, Russia and has proven to be the most expensive Olympic event yet costing Russia, wait for it, 51 billion dollars! (Business Insider)
So in the honor of the looming Olympics, I present to you Sylvan Ellefson '09 and Emily Bamford '15, two athletes and Batesies who we should be looking out for this year.
Always a big name on the national circuit, Ellefson was a member of the U.S Ski Team for the 2012-2013 season, made his debut to the World Cup circuit in the early winter of 2012, and began to make a name for himself internationally. Currently training out of Vail, Colorado, Ellefson has stepped up the plate as an 'Olympic Hopeful' and frequently makes Vlogs (video logs) of his training with his younger brother, and professional freestyle skier Kjell Ellefson.
-Sylvan after a team 'city sprint' race in Quebec City, Quebec at a World Cup.-
(Photo, Peter Cowan '14)
-Sylvan making a second lap during the team 'city sprint' world cup held inside the old city walls of Quebec City, Quebec.- (photo: Peter Cowan '14)
To give support and follow Sylvan Ellefson on his journey to Sochi click here.
To check out Sylvan's web series 'Trail to Sochi', click here.
Hailing from down under in Melbourne, Bamford assisted the Womens Bates Alpine team to a successful 2012-2013 season, and is a current member of the Australian National Alpine Team. Before attending Bates, Bamford made Mt. Buller in Victoria her home and then attended the Stratton Mountain School in Vermont. Currently training with her team in Colorado, (mind you it is now summer in Australia) Bamford hopes to make a splash at Sochi this winter.
Bamford training at Echo Mountain. (photo: emilybamford.com)
Bamford training GS at Echo mountain. (photo: emilybamford.com)
To like Emily Bamford's page on Facebook click here!
Follow Bamford as she gears up for Sochi. Click here!
Check out Bamford's 'Olympic Hopeful' page here!
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Peter Cowan '14 Social Media Intern
Office of College Advancement, Student Programs
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