USA Curling 2004-05 Athlete Biography

CURLING HIGHLIGHTS

• USA Curling Junior Men's National Championship: 2004, 1971
• U.S. Olympic Team Trials -- Curling: 2005, 1987

OTHER CURLING HIGHLIGHTS

• Olson was a member of a group that set the World Curling Marathon record of 45 hours, 50 minutes at the St. Paul Curling Club in March 1975.
• He also wrote a series of articles on sweeping for the North American Curling News
• He currently serves as president of the Twin Cities Curling Association

PERSONAL FILE

Curls out of: St. Paul Curling Club

Curling start: "My father curled in High School in Bemidji , Minn., and continued after completing his military service. He played at the St. Paul Curling Club. I followed him and watched until 1971 (9^th grade) when I joined his team of Don Sault, Bud Krueger and Duaine Olson. At that time we played two nights a week."

What he enjoys most about sport: "At the competitive level it is a physical sport that requires concentration for up to three hours per game which is different from many other sports where your concentration level can come and go. Also, curling is a sport where one can play a defending national or world champion. I have had the opportunity to play Bruce Roberts, Al Hackner and Russ Howard the year after they won the World Championship. What is the chance I could play Andre Agassi in tennis? Finally, the social aspect of the game has allowed me to meet people from all over the U.S. and Canada and have the opportunity to sit and chat about anything we like."

Curling family: "Three years ago we formed a team composed of my father (currently 72 yrs old), my brother, me and my son Derek (currently 16). My wife has curled in two mixed bonspiels with me over the years and has amassed a better record than me (she is 7-3 in bonspiel play – 70 percent win ratio). My daughter (13) and younger son (8) join me to 'mess around' on the ice when other sports commitments don’t interfere."

Other sports: "Like most curlers, I play golf (not as much as I would like). I also play soccer in a recreational league with my wife. I also enjoy skiing, baseball, biking, and tennis. With football, baseball, basketball and soccer playing children in the household, I also get my share of throw-around, shoot-around."

Curling Goals: "One goal has been to reach the Men’s Nationals, which I accomplished for the first time in many years of trying. This year we set team goals of getting a bye from the first round of the Olympic Trials playoffs (which we did) and to get a spot at the Olympic Trials from either the second round or the Challenge Round of playoffs (which we also accomplished). I am also part of a group attempting to establish another club in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., area to accommodate the rapid increase in interest in curling. Finally, I truly enjoy instructing at clinics and working with shooting and sweeping mechanics of beginner and experienced curlers to hopefully help them become more proficient at the sport."

Training: "I stay active with other sports, in particular soccer during the winter months, which helps keep my fitness up. I work out with my oldest son and hit our treadmill or bike at home when I can all year long."

Curling strengths: "My best position is lead. I have always had good weight control and a very good eye for rock weight and sweeping. While I skip in league, I know my best position for the teams I have played on over the years is lead, and that is where I generally play."

Hobbies: "Other that sports noted above and my work on getting another club in Minneapolis-St. Paul area, I spend most of the rest of the time with family activities (following/driving children to various sports activities primarily). In my spare time I enjoy watching movies and am particularly interested in old black and white science fiction movies." 

Career goals: "Have pretty much achieved those. I am a partner with a Minneapolis environmental consulting firm and enjoy my work."