BIOGRAPHY
Vision4Gold is Danelle Umstead and her husband/guide Rob, and their "vision" to bring home gold for USA as they compete for the U.S. Adaptive Ski Team. Danelle is a visually impaired skier whose sight is continually degenerating due to a disease called Retinitis Pigmintosa (RP). After battling with the gradual loss of her sight, she took up skiing, which gave her a new perspective on life. "Skiing has given me new meaning and value to life, in more ways than the sport itself," she said. Rob, a long time ski coach, started guiding his wife full time in 2008 after watching her struggle to find a suitable guide for several years.
After an outstanding first World Cup season filled with podiums and wins and a successful Paralympics, bringing home some hardware, the Umstead's are ready for 2011. They have set their sights high, aiming for perfection at the 2011 World Championships in Sestriere, Italy.
DANELLE UMSTEAD SAYS
2010 was an incredible year for us. The World Cup overall title was a bit of a surprise. The night before the last race, Rob looked at the standings and knew we had a shot, but he did not tell me. After we crossed the finish he told me we just won the super G title and the overall. What a surprise!
Then the Paralympics was the most amazing experience. We were really happy with our two bronze medals and all we learned there. The vision is four gold and we will keep working hard to Sochi.
For 2011 we are focused on the World Championships. Winning gold there would be perfect. We really like the downhill at Sestriere and cannot wait to get back on that course. We are also working hard on our technical skiing in hopes of medals in GS and slalom too.
FIRST TRACKS
Umstead started skiing eight years ago in Northern New Mexico at Taos Ski Valley where she met Rob. He was offered a coaching job in Park City, and in 2006 the pair moved to Utah and Danelle began training with the National Ability Center. She competed in Slalom and Giant Slalom her first year of racing.
OFF THE SNOW
We spend a lot of time cross-training in the gym, tandem biking, doing yoga, kit surfing and paddling. We also spend time with our son, family and friends.
PARALYMPICS
2010 Bronze in downhill
2010 Bronze in super combined
WORLD CUP
2010 overall champion
2010 super G champion
2009 World Cup finals bronze in downhill and slalom
OTHER
2009 NSCD Athlete of the Year
6 U.S. Championships in downhill, super G, super combined, GS and slalom
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