01/25/06 Pears on the podium?

One reason Northwest viewers spend time watching Olympic competition is to see if they know, or at least can relate to, the athletes. One U.S. team member that our region can identify with is Torin Koos. The Leavenworth Washington native is currently with the U.S. Ski Team in Europe, training for next month's Winter Games in Torino Italy. Koos is one of the world's premiere Nordic ski racers. But his connection with the Northwest is amplified through one of his primary sponsors  U.S.A. Pears. KOOS: I've talk to some of the pear growers from the Wenatchee Valley, up in Leavenworth and stuff, and they've tried to help me get this set up because this is just a perfect fit. It's great because I have such so much support from back home. And to have my head gear sponsor intimately involved in the economy there, is a great thing. Koos is among the latest line of athletes sponsored by U.S.A. Pears to promote a healthy and active lifestyle with Northwest pears. He has visited schools and facilities for U.S.A. Pears during his off-season. Currently, Koos is posting a regular journal of his preparation for Torino and his adventures on U.S.A. Pears' website. KOOS: I get to go to some pretty interesting places and I get to meet some very interesting characters along the way. It's just a way I can hopefully tell a couple of stories that people like to hear about just chasing the Olympic dream. Koos' journal and his interview with U.S.A. Pears' nutrition spokes-pear "Auntie Oxidant" can be found at www.usapears.com.