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AROUND THE BULLWHEEL PAIN AND PLEASURE ON THE HAUTE ROUTE OF LIFE "Ah, but a man's
reach should exceed his grasp, CHALLENGING THE CELEBRITIES: At first glance, he seems an unlikely impresario to raise money on resort slopes for higher causes. He is neither an Olympic skier nor ski industry heavyweight. But Marjoe Gortner has just the right credentials and charisma to be a highly successful organizer for fund-raising events. The child evangelist and actor (Falcon Crest) combines friends and connections with scrupulous planning and 14-hour days to insure success. At the Resort At Squaw Creek Celebrity Sports Invitational, January 5-6, Gortner's efforts helped raise $520,000 to benefit the Water Keeper Alliance and Tahoe Forest Hospital. The event, hosted by Robert Kennedy Jr., featured such entertainers as Peter Fonda, Jennifer Tilly, Richard Dean Anderson, Julie Louis-Dreyfus, and others who competed in broomball, snowshoeing, and skiing. A gala dinner was highlighted by a special performance by Joe Walsh of the Eagles. Some people might be surprised by his transition from child evangelist to fund-raiser, but Marjoe sees it as a natural move. "I was a minister for 20 years promoting the Lord," Gortner says with his typical candor. "It's funny how close the two types of work are." SCENE AND HEARD: "Did you get a load of those Hawaiian Tropic girls? They make Baby Spice sound like Madeline Albright." - overheard at Exhibition race corral during Celebrity Sports Invitational. THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN TO PLAYMATE TWINS CASSIE AND MAILE MOORE: Aside from his Gold World Championship and silver Olympic medals, Celebrity Sports Invitational race competitor Steve Mahre won 9 World Cups. It should have been ten. In 1983, at Parpan, Switzerland, Steve and identical twin Phil accidentally switched bib numbers. Steve posted the overall best time only to have his victory stripped by a jury because he wore his brother's starting number. "I was to blame," recalls Squaw Valley Director of Skiing Tom Kelly who was a US coach at the time. "I handed Steve his starting number folded over, so just the 3 of 13 was showing. Phil was supposed to start 3. Phil Mahre remains disgusted over the actions of the FIS. "Steve won the race. He was the fastest," he said. VISUAL XANAX: "The film is well shot and has a lot of action without a single persuasive emotion. Mathematically, that equals pornography." - some of the conversation overheard at the Celebrity Gala Dinner. SQUAW VALLEY FORTUNE COOKIE: "Think positive, test negative." IF ALL ELSE FAILS IN THE NEW YEAR: www.kirknews.com This site tells you how to buy a book that in turn claims to tell you how to buy prescription drugs without a prescription. PIMPLY HYPERBOLE: He's rich. He's popular. He's good looking. He's talented. He's won a Gold Medal. And he's in trouble. Since nailing his huge-hanging heli-mute grab at the Nagano Olympics. Moseley's post-Olympic swirl has seen him navigate through a bump field of public appearances, Armani suits, dinner with Cindy Crawford, ABC'S Superstars, and a Teen Beat image. After two years of pandemonium (appearances on Oprah, Rosie, Today Show, Letterman, dating MTV vixen Serena Altschul, gaining then losing major money contracts with American Skiing Company and Sprint), the distractions and injuries are beginning to chink the armor of the once number one ranked mogul skier in the world. "Because of the attention, It's been a lot harder to get in training days," admitted Moseley while competing in a Far West Freestyle event over the holidays in Squaw Valley. "I now turn down most stuff. I'm training with the U.S. Team and only competing in World Cup events." Although the Squaw Valley athlete has won two overall World Cup freestyle titles, five combined junior and professional World Cup titles, and 14 World Cups, along with the Sprint Bumps and Jumps and his own Jonny Moseley Invitational, many insiders admit there is no guarantee Moseley will make next year's US squad in order to defend his gold medal. Though he placed second in a World Cup dual mogul event this season, overall results have been mediocre. He placed third at the local Squaw Valley freestyle event and the following week did not qualify at the Deer Valley World Cup. "My skills aren't back where I want them yet. I'm in a building process," says Moseley. "But growing up I was taught no matter what it is, no matter how screwed up, you can somehow fix it. You just gotta roll up the sleeves and get busy. I love the feeling of winning, and I know I can win the Olympic Gold in 2002." INTRAWESTING IN VILLAGES: "He was a village explainer, excellent if you were a village, but if you were not, not." - Gertrude Stein describing Ezra Pound. GOING DOWNHILL: The United States counted 4.4 million cross-country skiers in 1991; there are only 2.2 million today. AH,SWEET MYSTERY OF
LIFE, AT LAST I'VE FOUND YOU!: Deacon Chapin's smile was like a blazing fire on a cold night. It pulled you close, kept you warm. His personality reflected the undictated lifestyle he'd always pursued: slightly wacko, absolutely curious, and blessed with a delightful participating sense of adventure. One of North America's most well-known ski photographers, Deacon actually began his photo-journalistic career in music as a staff photographer for Rolling Stone Magazine where he documented such legendary bands as Aerosmith, Heart, and The Band. He worked for director Martin Scorsese during the filming of "The Last Waltz," The Band's farewell concert. He also worked for several record companies such as A&M Records and helped in designing album covers for such illustrious rockers as Steve Miller, Joe Cocker, and many others. When Rolling Stone moved its headquarters from the West Coast to Manhattan in the late 70s, Deacon made the decision to resign and stay West. He subsequently moved his family to the mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe and set up a photo workshop. He'd teach photography at Sierra Nevada College, work as a staff photographer for Alpine Meadows, Squaw Valley, and the Sierra Ski Times, and publish a diverse array of photographs in such publications as Powder, Ski, Skiing, People, and others. Deacon found life and energy in places most people would never think of looking. Alpine lakes, clouds, unusual stones, arrowheads, and secret desert campsites were all living spirits to him. Amazing phenomena surrounded us everywhere once you understood that anything was possible, he believed. In our last conversation, New Year's Eve, he spoke in great detail about the joys of mountain life and about his four children, Zack, Carsten, Kyle, and Ian. He felt he was approaching a new stage in his life, one filled with exciting possibilities. Unexpectedly, I asked Deacon what he thought his life's statement would be one day. After a pause, he answered, "I want to be remembered as a good son, a good brother, a good father, and good friend." Deacon Chapin will be remembered for much more. |