Todd Lodwick: The Hunter Behind the US Olympic Nordic Skier
John E. Phillips 02.04.14
Todd Lodwick of Steamboat Springs, Colorado loves to hunt and holds three world skiing titles in Nordic combined skiing. He won the silver medal in Nordic combined skiing in the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada, and is the only person to qualify six times for the US Winter Olympic team. Lodwick’s passion for the outdoors also includes hunting, and he is a member of Mossy Oak’s Pro Staff. OutdoorHub’s John Phillips will be profiling this exceptional athlete over the next several days in the lead-up to the 2014 Winter Olympics. The following is an excerpt from an interview with Lodwick.
I was fortunate enough to be born and live in a town that had a ski club. This provided an opportunity for me to compete in Nordic skiing. I say I was born into the opportunity to become an Olympic skier. I will be skiing in this year’s 2014 Olympic Games for the United States. I really have a passion for Nordic skiing. I know I am fortunate to still be competitive with the top Nordic skiers in the world—I have been training in this sport for over 25 years. By going to this year’s Olympic Games, I will be the first skier to ever qualify for six consecutive Olympic Games.
My other passion is hunting. Because I grew up in Colorado, I was always encouraged to be outside and follow in my father’s footsteps, who was an outdoorsman. My dad allowed me to explore hunting, fishing, hiking, skiing, and all the outdoor recreation that Colorado had to offer.
I particularly love to bowhunt and shoot the new PSE DNA. I have been shooting a bow since I was 15 years old—for 22 years now. in all. I hunt as often as the seasons allow. I mainly hunt big game in Colorado, but I have also hunted in New Mexico and Utah. Elk are my passion, but I like to hunt antelope, mule deer, and black bear also. I have been fortunate to take more than 20 elk with my bow.
You can learn more at http://www.toddlodwick.pro and http://nordic.usskiteam.com/athletes/todd-lodwick.
Check back tomorrow for more on Todd Lodwick and his best elk hunt.
John, the 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the year and the 2007 Legendary Communicator chosen for induction into the National Fresh Water Hall of Fame, is a freelance writer (over 6,000 magazine articles for about 100 magazines and several thousand newspaper columns published), magazine editor, photographer for print media as well as industry catalogues (over 25,000 photos published), lecturer, outdoor consultant, marketing consultant, book author and daily internet content provider with an overview of the outdoors.
Phillips has been a contributor to many national magazines, has been affiliated with 27 radio stations across Alabama serving as their outdoor editor and wrote for a weekly syndicated column, "Alabama Outdoors," for 38-Alabama newspapers for more than 13 years. Phillips was Outdoor Editor for the "Birmingham Post-Herald" for 24 years. Phillips was also the executive editor for "Great Days Outdoors" magazine for 3 years.
The author of almost 30 books on the outdoors, Phillips is a founding member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and an active member of the Southeastern Outdoors Press Association (SEOPA). Phillips also is the owner of Night Hawk Publications, a marketing and publishing firm, and president of Creative Concepts, an outdoor consulting group.
Phillips conducts seminars across the nation at colleges in freelance writing, photography and outdoor education besides teaching courses in how to sell what you write to writers' groups. Phillips received his photography training as a still-lab photo specialist for six years in the Air Force. He was the chief photographer for Mannequins, Inc., a Birmingham modeling agency, for 11 years.
While serving as 2nd Vice President of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, Phillips was in charge of all press releases for the organization as well as serving as Chairman of Alabama's Big Buck Contest, which he founded more than 30 years ago. He also was president of the Alabama Sportsman's Association for three years.
Phillips is the recipient of a Certificate of Merit from the Governor of Alabama and the Department of Conservation for his work in the outdoor field. Phillips is vitally interested in the outdoors and travels the nation collecting personalities, stories and how-to information for his articles and features.
EDUCATION: B.S. degree from the University of West Alabama with a physical education major and a history minor.
EXPERIENCE: 10 years parttime and fulltime physical director for YMCAs and 34 years as a freelance writer, photographer, editor, book author, lecturer and daily-content provider for websites. Currently, Phillips is a field editor for Game and Fish Publications; serves on the editorial board of Grandview Media; is a regular contributor to 12 internet magazines and a daily content provider for 8 websites.
WRITING AWARDS: Runnerup - Best Outdoor Magazine Feature - 1981 - SEOPA; Certificate of Merit - Awarded by Alabama's Governor for writings on conservation; Most Outstanding Sports Writer in Southeast - 1983 & 1984; Best Outdoor Feature in Alabama, 1987 - Alabama Sportswriters' Association 3rd Place; Best Book of the Year - 1989 - SEOPA; 2007 - inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Communicator; 2008 - received award naming him 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the Year from the Crossbow Manufacturers' Association; 2009 - GAMMA Honorable Mention for Consumer/Paid Best Essay for July/August 2008 in "Southern Sporting Journal."
