Aspen junior lines up golf tourney's biggest celebrity

Aspen junior lines up golf tourney’s biggest celebrityA 12-year-old ski racer didn’t hesitate once he got hold of Bode Miller’s phone number. Rather than fishing for training tips, an autograph or bragging rights from a conversation with his idol, Bobby Moyer wanted to do something for his mother, who had just finished treatment for breast cancer. He thought his hero might be able to help.

“My mom has breast cancer. I wanted to give something to her,” said Moyer, who skis for Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club. “I felt like the best way to do it was at the cancer survivor center. I got Bode’s number. I knew he played golf. I thought I’d give him a call to see if he’d like to come play in a tournament. He said, ‘That sounds really cool. Just send me the information.’”

Such was the foundation for the Bode Miller and Olympic Friends Golf Classic, scheduled for Sept. 16 at the Snowmass Club Golf Course and benefiting the Cancer Survivor Center for Health and Wellbeing in Aspen.

Mary Moyer was one of the first patients at the center when it opened earlier this year.

Bobby’s first ski coach, Dr. Riggs Klicka, launched the center with the mission of providing nutrition and exercise programming and resources to individuals recovering from cancer.

“Bode has been just amazing,” said Kathleen Callahan, clinical director for the center. “He didn’t hesitate at all. Bobby is a brave boy, and his mother has set a good example.”

Bobby joined his mother in Race for the Cure, a 35-mile cycling event in Aspen last year, shortly after she finished treatment.

Bobby began ski racing at age 8 and took fourth and fifth last season in the J4 Junior Olympics giant slalom events, as well as 10th and 12th in slalom and 15th in super G. His coaches, knowing that he is something of a Miller fan, call him Bode Junior.

“Because I love Bode, they call me that,” Moyer said. “I like him because he’s not afraid of anything. He just goes with it.”

An experienced golfer, Moyer took his first swing at a tee at age 3, and feels his golfing prowess has helped him with his ski racing.

“Golf and ski racing both take a lot of focus,” Moyer said. “My dad always says he’s happy I play golf because it helps my ski racing a lot. You have to focus on the gates. You have to focus on how to make the best turns and be the fastest. In both sports, you can’t just go down the course not thinking.”

Moyer has Miller’s movie “Flying Downhill” at home, and has also read his book, “Go Fast, Be Good, Have Fun,” for a school project.

Admitting that he “was not nervous at all” when he rang up America’s most famous skier, it was not the first conversation Moyer has had with Miller.

“I rode up the chair with him at the World Cup slalom at Beaver Creek,” Moyer said. “One of my ski coaches got a pass for all the races and I was working the course. I saw him at the lift in the morning and asked if I could ride up with him and he said, ‘Yeah sure.’”

The Sept. 16 tournament will be a scramble format with four-person teams, each containing an Olympic athlete. Moyer and Callahan said that in addition to Miller, Steve Nyman, Kristina Koznick, Marco Sullivan and Joe Pack are lined up to play.

Moyer said he hopes he gets the opportunity to play a round with his favorite racer, but that when he spoke with Miller on the phone, he didn’t mention their conversation or the lift ride at Beaver Creek.

“I didn’t want to make him feel like he had to remember all that,” Moyer said. “I’m just excited for the tournament … to meet him and play with him.”

For more information on the Bode Miller Golf Classic, go to www.csc.golfreg.com.