The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“My goal is to make finals and hopefully get a medal”
Homegrown halfpipe skier Aaron Blunck is in the midst of the biggest sporting event in the world, the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Blunck enters the Olympics as one of the top halfpipe skiers in the world at the age of 17 and is currently having the best season of his young career. While sightseeing and, of course, skiing, he took some time to respond to a quick Q&A with the Sports Barrel.
The men’s halfpipe competition is on Tuesday, February 18. To find out when live coverage begins check out nbcolympics.com.
When did you arrive in Sochi, what were your first impressions?
I arrived in Sochi on February 6th! Right when I arrived was like the first time that I was like, oh my gosh, I’m actually at the Olympics! It was the coolest feeling I have ever had in my life!
What have you been doing since being there? (your dad told me you had a pow day on a closed ski resort)
Since we got here I have been spectating a lot of sports like hockey, downhill, snowboard slopestyle, and snowboard pipe! We have also done a few days of freeskiing which has been so fun! The mountain is closed for us so it is just a bunch of athletes shredding around which is so fun!
How were the opening ceremonies?
Opening ceremonies were the craziest moment of my life. When we walked out in front of every body I could not stop smiling! It was so amazing!
Have you had any encounters with Olympic legends?
I have not gotten to meet any Olympic legends yet but I’m on the look out!
Have you been training? How are you feeling? How’s the halfpipe?
We have not started training yet but I am feeling so good and so ready to start competing and training!
What’s your goal at Sochi, bringing home some hardware?
My goal is to make finals and hopefully get a medal! Also to be the most patriotic fan out there at every event I go to!
