LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk | Athletes "Before, I just wanted to compete, to be there at my first Olympics, but I've skipped that," says Cook "Now I want to do well at the World Cup level. If it happens at the Olympics, that's great!" Cook believes living in the Adirondacks will help her achieve her goals. HANNAH KEARNEY Sport: Mogul Skiing Age: 27 "I am a total Adirondacker," says Cook, "I go lots of places all over the world, but the Adirondacks are home. It's unique. The water, the mountains, the awesome people to do physical activities with. I've given up a lot. I'm gone over six months per year to train and compete, but when I'm here, I have family and good friends." "I missed the first two World Cups in December because I couldn't fly," recalls Kearney, "When I was cleared to compete again, at the World Cup in Lake Placid, I had only five days of training. I won! It was a mental victory." Residence: Norwich, Vermont Favorite Place in the Adirondacks: Summit of Catamount How sweet would it be for Hannah Kearney to celebrate her 28th birthday with a second Olympic gold medal? The defending Olympic and World Cup Overall Champion in mogul skiing, Kearney may claim Vermont as her residence, but she is as much at home in Lake Placid. She comes to the Adirondacks to do the bulk of her off-snow conditioning, despite the fact that the United States Ski and Snowboard Association is based in Park City, Utah, and applies substantial pressure on skiing athletes to train at its facilities. "The Olympic Training Center offers unique resources that I can't find anywhere else," say Kearney, "On top of the free food, lodging, medical staff, yoga classes, and gym access, I can practice my acrobatic tricks into the pool at the Olympic Jumping Complex, and it's only a few hours from Vermont." Kearney joined the World Cup mogul circuit at age 17, winning two competitions her rookie year. She has been winning on the world stage ever since. Whiteface Mountain has always been a comfortable place for her to compete, but her victory there last winter was particularly memorable. While training in Switzerland, she suffered two broken ribs, a liver contusion and a pneumothorax (air bubble in her lungs), but came back to win the World Cup at Whiteface, her first of seven for the season, which also earned her a fourth overall mogul title. 46 LOCALadk Magazine Fall into Winter 2013 Though she comes into the 2014 season as the top female mogul skier in the world, she is not guaranteed a second Olympic medal. She's not even guaranteed the chance to compete in Sochi, which is why Kearney took literally ten thousand jumps into the pool at the Olympic Jumping Complex and ran up mountains throughout the Adirondack Park last summer. "I use the Adirondack Mountains for aerobic and anaerobic workouts," says Kearney, "Trying to beat my time up Cascade Mountain is a great way to whip myself into shape. The beauty of the region makes me happy as I pursue my goals." While Kearney spends hours training each day, Sunday is her day off. On that day, one can usually find her enjoying a leisurely breakfast at Chair 6 in Lake Placid. Later, she might play a round of golf at the Lake Placid Club. "I feel very comfortable, yet endlessly impressed by the mountains, lakes and trails," says Kearney, "I appreciate the emphasis on outdoor activities and the respect for nature in the Adirondacks."

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