02/10/06 An Olympic pearing

As the Olympic flame is lighted today to signal the start of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino Italy, keep an eye out for one Northwest athlete representing our nation. Leavenworth Washington native Torin Koos will compete in alpine ski races scheduled for February 14th and 22st. KOOS: I've raced their before in two pre-Olympic races two years ago, and then last year, so I've skies the courses, so I have a pretty good feeling of what the venue has to offer. But what some might be watching when they see Torin on television is not his performance necessarily, although Gold is the standard in this event, but his attire. MOFFITT: Torin will be wearing the U.S.A. Pear logo on his headgear. That means helmet or, if he's doing an interview, on his ski cap or hat that he's wearing. He is also going to be very well outfitted with U.S.A. Pear logo sweaters and shirts and things that he can also wear during media events or when he's just wandering around the Olympic Village, so that's pretty fun and that gets our logo and message out. That's Kevin Moffitt of U.S.A. Pears. And considering that Torin lives in one of the prime pear growing areas in the U.S., and fits the message U.S.A. Pears tries to convey, Moffitt knew a partnership between the two was a natural fit. MOFFITT: Actually, we were put in touch with Torin through one of our pear growers who grew up skiing with Torin, and suggested that we might want to talk to him about a sponsorship. He fits exactly our message. He really lives his lifestyle and he loves pears, and he's just a natural. His education actually has something to do with communications too, so he's a great speaker. And a very entertaining writer as well. Torin's duties for U.S.A. Pears includes speaking at various secondary and college settings and health and consumer shows, about healthy living and the connection between that and eating pears. However, Torin does double duty making regular entries about his experiences at www.usapears.com. KOOS: I get it probably the most when I'm back in the Northwest, when I'm aback home in Leavenworth and stuff, is people tell me, "Hey, I read that story or like man, that sounds crazy, tell me a little bit more". So that's probably the most special time for me when I get that interaction, one-on-one. And according to Moffitt, Torin is expected to find himself as a regular spokesperson for U.S.A. Pears, regardless of where he places in the medals this Winter Olympics, when his current contract expires next month.