Hadn't seen this around here yet.....good stuff....
Newest "Crossover Athlete" Comes to Rally Colorado for First Event.
[IMG]subaru.net/newsletter/2009/colorado/images/story1_1.jpg[/IMG]Meet Peter Olenick, the newest X Games athlete turned rally car driver. Peter is a decorated professional skier with multiple X Games medals and successful appearances in the inaugural Winter Dew Tour in 2008/2009. He is most famous for his invention of the Whiskey Flip trick, a double flip in the halfpipe that made waves across the freeskiing community, heavy airtime on ESPN, and multiple podium finishes. On top of his successful competition career, Peter has been featured in skiing's top movies from Poor Boyz Productions and Teton Gravity Research.
Feeding off years of success as a professional skier, Peter recently purchased a 2002 Subaru WRX, fitted with STI engine and components. He has been taken under the wing of the successful Salta Motorsports rally team (currently second place for Colorado Rally Cup), with driver Steve Bis and co-driver Brian Moody. Training has been short but successful, with a couple days of driving instruction at the Colorado Offroad Extreme track near Denver. With the fearless mind of an action sports athlete, Peter has quickly learned the ins and outs of driving, and is ready to compete in his first event, Rally Colorado (September 17-20).
[IMG]subaru.net/newsletter/2009/colorado/images/story1_2.jpg[/IMG]"I really just wanted to learn how to drive like rally drivers," Peter says, "So I bought a rally car, and I plan to compete as much as possible to gain experience and to have some fun. Brian and Steve have been pivotal in showing me the ropes and teaching me how to handle the car."
When asked how Peter thinks he's going to do in his first race, he responds, "As long as I go home with the car in one piece, I'll consider it a success."
Following on the heels of Travis Pastrana and Dave Mirra, Peter Olenick is the next X Games athlete to add rally to his repertoire of talents. Will Pastrana soon be looking in his rear-view mirror to see Olenick chasing him down the road? "Let's focus on staying on the track first," Peter says.
The freeskiing world will definitely be watching, cheering for the Aspen, Colorado-native at the finish line.
