Sisters youth to ski in 2003 Deaflympics

Nicolas Yopp is a stand-out member of the Sisters High School Ski Team. He is headed to Sweden for the Deaflympics. Photo provided

Skiing sensation Nicolas Yopp hopes to dazzle audiences at the 2003 Deaflympics in Sundsvall, Sweden, this month.

Yopp is a senior at Sisters High School and has been a standout member of the ski team for four years. He is hearing impaired.

Yopp started skiing early in life, hitting the snow at the tender age of 18 months.

Yopp and his family caught wind of the Deaflympics a little over a year ago. They inquired about qualifying for the U.S. team, and Yopp was invited to attend and tryout.

In March of 2002, Yopp traveled to Heavenly Valley, Lake Tahoe and won two out of his three events. He was then asked to participate in the upcoming Deaflympics games.

The Deaflympics will feature approximately 60 international teams.

Just as in any Olympic games, Yopp will be invited back every four years until he can no longer qualify.

Although Yopp has done extremely well on the domestic level, in Sweden he will be into a whole new ball game. He will compete against elite deaf skiers from around the world.

In addition to his skill on the slopes, Yopp is also a good student at Sisters High School and is involved in other activities.

"Nic is a wonderful student even with a disability. He does such a great job overcoming it and living a normal life," said Ski Coach Todd Williver. "Most people don't even realize that he is deaf because he is so functional."

Yopp is the only deaf student on the Sisters ski team, so communication is sometimes hard.

"It takes a lot more time making sure we're on the same page," said Williver. "It takes more time just trying to communicate, but that is the only pitfall."

Yopp is looking into furthering his education at Portland State University. PSU doesn't have a great ski program, so Yopp will probably race as an individual.

His father, Ken Yopp, said, "I'll support Nic 100 percent if the desire is there."

Yopp will depart for Lake Placid on February 17, to train with the rest of the U.S. team. From there he will fly to Sweden to begin the games.