ORRINGTON, Maine (NEWS CENTER)-- Two-time Olympian Karl Anderson thinks he skied in the hey day of his sport. With his trademark enthusiasm, he has closely followed this year's Olympic games. "These kids get it," he says.
Anderson grew up in Greene and skied at Sugarloaf. By 1971, he had won everything in Maine and the Eastern Giant Slalom championship.
The next step was to ski on the European tour, but he was the last one cut from the Nor-Am team.
He pooled all his money so he could at least go. "I had my ticket and I knew where the first race was. That was about it," smiled Karl from his home in Eddington.
He eventually worked his way to the World Cup and two Olympics.
"We had a ball!" he said in reminiscing about his nine years on the U. S. Ski Team.
A member of the Maine Ski Hall of Fame, Anderson was often America's top finisher on the World Cup tour. Hew had seven top 15 World Cup finishes in 1975 alone.
A devastating back injury hampered his career in 1978. He still won the U. S. Downhill Championship that year. He was also the runner up in 1976, 1977 and 1979.
After leaving the team as a skier in 1981, he went to work for it as an administrator. He rose to be the Chief Financial Officer.
He returned to Maine to work in banking.
His body feels the effects of his long ski career. He recently had both hips replaced and says, "My shoulders are shot and I have arthritis in both hands."
He hopes to be remembered as the consummate sportsman. He says, "I miss those guys more than I miss the skiing."
