CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN GRAD LIVES ON EDGE

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jun 8, 2008 | by BETHANY RHODES

There are those who come to Colorado to enjoy a nice ski vacation at a resort, and then there are those who take it to the next level. Kent Hyden, a 1997 Cheyenne Mountain High graduate, is one of the latter.

In April in Alyeska, Alaska, Hyden became the freeskiing world champion.

"You never really know how you do until they announce it," Hyden said. "People started talking about it and when they announced it, my emotions were running and it was one of the best feelings ever."

The win was bittersweet for Hyden, who witnessed fellow competitor John Nicoletta lose his life during a run in the world championships.

"I saw the fall and a bunch of us prayed for him because we knew it was really bad," he said.

"We all have love for each other and when something like that happens, it really hurts a lot."

For a group of athletes who put their lives on the line with every run, fatalities are sometimes inevitable, and Hyden has lost a few friends in the past couple of years. He considers himself lucky having only suffered a couple of blown-out knees, some herniated disks and bumps and bruises while taking part in the sport he loves.

"We always remind each other to be safe when we're lining up because safety is always a top priority," Hyden said. "People ask me why I don't retire and do something else and I've thought about it, but I just can't see myself do anything else."

Hyden, 29, lives in Alta, Utah, and has been a bigmountain skier for about nine years. He is sponsored by a number of companies, including Fatypus, Scott and Egoscue, and has been featured in ski films shot in locations worldwide.

Born in California, Hyden began skiing at age 5 in Minnesota.

When his family moved to Colorado Springs in 1995, Hyden gladly came along, becoming a dual student. He spent part of the school year at Cheyenne Mountain High School and part at Snowmass Ski Academy in Aspen so that he could focus on skiing.

He made the switch from racing during his time in Aspen, where he was coached by former world champion and renowned skier Chris Davenport. His parents, who live in Colorado Springs, also have been supportive during his career, although not without some concern.

"It's always in the back of my mind that something could happen, but I am really proud of all that he has done," his mom, Dorothy, said.

Dorothy Hyden, who normally doesn't watch his runs, watched her son's world champion run over the Internet after a phone call from dad Howard.

With a world championship under his belt, Hyden is still going strong and doesn't see an end to his skiing career anytime soon.

"It's hard to say that I've had my career highlight because I don't even think that I've even reached my peak yet," Hyden said. "When I'm at the top, I like to let out a big yell and then let it rip."

Simone Kalhorn,

Pine Creek 2007

It didn't take long for Pine Creek graduate Simone Kalhorn to settle into athletics at a Division I level. As a No. 2 singles tennis player for Syracuse University, Kalhorn won six of her first nine matches and had two three-match win streaks during the year.

She finished the season with a 9-15 singles record and went 6-19 playing doubles, where she and two partners played at the No. 1 position.

Kalhorn has done well in the classroom as well, making the Athletic Director's Honor Roll during the 2007 fall semester at Syracuse, where she is majoring in biochemistry.

While playing for the Eagles, Kalhorn was the 4A state champion in 2006, posting a 23-0 record, and was a 5A state runner-up in No. 1 singles in 2007.