PARK CITY, UT (March 26) - Two-time Olympian Scott Macartney (Crystal Mountain, WA) announced his retirement from the U.S. Ski Team leaving a legacy of leadership at every level of the U.S. alpine program. In 12 years with the Team, 'Mac' amassed World Cup podiums, top-10 finishes at Olympics and World Championships and a record of World Cup points at every downhill venue he raced.
"There's a lot of things that I'm proud of in ski racing, but some of my greatest memories are fairly recent," said Macartney. "Our speed team's trip to Moab mountain biking last summer was pretty amazing for our group. It was cool to get together and be competitive in something else other than ski racing. There are bonds I've built with these guys I'll hold my entire life."
His most notable injury, both personally and across the ski racing community was at the 2008 Hahnenkamm downhill in Kitzbuehel, Austria. After finishing on the podium earlier that year in Val Gardena, Italy, Macartney was on laser point to what would have been a top 10 at ski racings biggest and most treacherous event when a crash off the finish jump sent him through the finish line unconscious. It was his 30th birthday.
In addition to his role as a racer, Macartney remains an active athlete member of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association Board of Directors. His role as part of the USSA Athletes' Council allowed him to work more closely with his fellow athletes and to learn more about the inner workings of the organization.
"It was really educational. If you have ideas or are complaining about something, it's good to be in a position where you change them or work on them from a global perspective," Macartney said. "It was really healthy for me to see the inside of a business that has a relationship like we do with trustees and sponsors. The support structure is so deep and interesting and it's important to see how it all comes together."
The knowledge is something he'll take with him into his next career. Macartney has begun the process of starting a database for coaching education and has also thought about helping bridge the link for athletes to the next step of their lives after ski racing.
Marco Sullivan and Macartney plan to meet early April in Alaska for the Arctic Man Ski and Sno-Go Classic, a unique event deep in the Hoodoo Mountains that opens with a downhill, before the skier is intersected by a snowmobile and towed at 90 mph through a canyon then whipped down to the finish line. From the start, the course drops 1,700 feet to "hook-up" then climbs 1,200 feet to "release" before dropping 1,200 feet to the finish line.
Both Macartney and Sullivan have Arctic Man victories on their resume, with Macartney, along with driver Tyler Johnson, holding the event record. On this line this year is a guaranteed purse of $25,000.
Two-time Olympian Kaylin Richardson (Edina, MN) also calls an end to her career. The winner of four U.S. Alpine Championships, is retiring after seven seasons of racing at the elite level with the U.S. Ski Team.
She capped her career in style by kicking out of the start for her final two runs at the 2010 Visa U.S. Alpine Championships wearing a red and purple circa 1980s one-piece ski suit. Her parents Steve and Linda made the trip from Minnesota to Lake Placid, NY just to see their daughter's final race.
Richardson won three consecutive NorAm slalom titles, a U.S. slalom and combined title, plus two downhill titles. She also went to the 2006 and 2010 Olympics, 2007 World Championships and scored World Cup points in slalom, super G and super combined including a career best slalom eighth in 2007 at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.
