Utahns take one of two approaches to winter: They either bundle up and dream of balmy early spring weather OR they embrace the snow and create adventures. Here are eight locals we’d like to spend an afternoon with out in the winter wonderland.
1. Noelle Pikus-Pace and Shauna Rohbock
Prepare for Noelle Pikus-Pace and Shauna Rohbock to come sliding into your living room this February when the 2014 Sochi Winter Games pipe into your living room via NBC, CNBC and other sister networks. Noelle, a UVU graduate, finished fourth in the skeleton during the 2010 Vancouver Games. She’s taking one more shot at an Olympic medal at the 2014 Sochi Games in Russia. Shauna, an Orem native and BYU graduate, will compete in the two-woman bobsled. She’s hoping to take home her first Olympic medal since earning a silver in the 2006 Torino Winter Games in Italy.
2.Tyler Dixon and Jeremy Warner
Lehi’s Tyler Dixon is hoping to become a finalist for the Doritos Crash the Super Bowl 30-second commercial competition for the fourth consecutive year with “Mants!” For this year’s YouTube video, this BYU grad called on BYUtv’s Studio C star Jeremy Warner (known for his bristly mustache) to play the part of a mant, a cross between an ant and a man. Tyler himself plays the husband in the commercial and Erin Chambers (Sister Taylor from “The Errand of Angels”) plays the frustrated wife.
3. Ted Ligety and Steven Nyman
While Noelle Pikus-Pace and Shauna Rohbock are sliding down iced tunnels, Park City’s Ted Ligety and Sundance’s Steven Nyman will be sliding down a Russian mountainside during the 2014 Sochi Games. Both skiers started racing in Utah at age 2 and both are members of the U.S. Olympic Alpine Skiing team. Ted, who won Olympic gold in the 2006 Torino giant slalom, is at the top of his game having already won six giant slalom competitions in 2013 — most by wide margins. Although Orem High’s Steven has never been on an Olympic medal stand, he has medaled four times in World Cup competition (two gold, one silver, one bronze).
4. Tyson Apostol and Rachel Foulger
The tribe has spoken, and Lindon’s Tyson Apostol took home the million-dollar prize on the latest installment of “Survivor.” Tyler’s girlfriend, Rachel Foulger of Orem, also represented Utah Valley during the season — although Rachel was voted off the island early in the filming. Tyson, who was best known for his dry wit and snarky personality, found out he won the million-dollar prize on the Survivor finale, which was televised Dec. 15.