EDITORS NOTE: Each month, The News Tribune updates the status of local and top American athletes as they prepare for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C.

CHICAGO – Maybe you think of snowboarders as the Jeff Spicolis of sports. Guys who’d look as natural in a tux as Seth Rogen in a preacher’s robe.

Louie Vito might agree with you. The floppy-haired, 21-year-old snowboarding champ will be one of 16 competitors when the ninth season of “Dancing with the Stars” kicks off at 8 p.m. today on ABC.

Vito sums up his chances like this: “I don’t really dance.”

Maybe you need two right feet and hips like butter to win the popular ballroom dancing competition, but Vito has something most of the other competitors are missing.

He’s a lock to make the U.S. Olympic halfpipe team when the roster is announced in January – he is seen by some as a medal favorite in Vancouver – and Olympians dominate “Dancing with the Stars.”

Speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno, figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi and gymnast Shawn Johnson have all won the contest. Olympic sprinter Maurice Greene and boxer Evander Holyfield also had strong showings.

This year’s field also includes Olympic gold medal swimmer Natalie Coughlin.

Vito thinks he knows why Olympians do so well on the show.

“We know how to read our bodies and we also all have the drive,” Vito said. “Deep down inside you are a competitive athlete. We all know you want to win whether you say it or not.

“You know what it takes to win and you are willing to do that.”

What Vito likes most about the experience is what it says about his counterculture-darling sport.

“Who would have thought that ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ a show about ballroom dancing with all the celebrities they’ve had on, would want a snowboarder?” Vito said. “But I think it is really cool that snowboarding is heading to the mainstream and getting the recognition it deserves. It’s such ... a creative sport and it’s about time we kind of hit the mainstream hard.”

Vito has never watched a full episode of the show that pairs celebrities with professional dancers and lets viewers call in to pick the winner.

He has been partnered with 20-year-old Chelsea Hightower, who made the semifinals last year with rodeo star Ty Murray.

Vito says he’s practicing as much as six hours per day during a period he usually takes off from snowboarding. He says dancing is keeping him in shape and he’ll be ready when the halfpipe season starts in November.

Celebrities are voted off the show each week, and if Vito makes a deep run, the show’s November finale would leave just a short amount of time to get ready for the Olympic season.

But he says the benefits of being on the dance show are worth the potential hassles.

He thinks the show will prepare him for performing on the Olympic stage in Vancouver.

“If I can get on stage and do something I’m not comfortable with in front of about 22 million viewers per week, then snowboarding, something I’m comfortable doing, should be a breeze,” Vito said.

Vito’s mom has already started trying to motivate him by comparing him to Ohno.

“I hope I can follow in his footsteps,” Vito said.

Ohno’s advice: “Enjoy it. It’s like nothing else.”

No matter how well he does, Vito knows he’ll have to endure relentless ribbing in the tight-knit snowboarding community.

He’s cool with that.

“Laugh all you want,” Vito said. “I just need your vote.”

Economic pains

Most athletes at the Olympic Media Summit earlier this month in Chicago insisted that the sputtering economy has had minimal impact on their training and sponsorships.

Debbie McCormick, skip of the women’s curling team, wasn’t so fortunate.

McCormick was a member of the Home Depot athlete job program. The hardware chain ended the program in March.

She was one of 98 Olympic athletes who worked part-time at the Home Depot but earned full-time pay and benefits.

“That’s been hard on my husband and me financially,” McCormick said.

McCormick, whose Olympic team includes 1999 Kentridge High graduate Nicole Joraanstad, still works part time at a Wisconsin Home Depot.

Locals make team

Two Washington snowboarders were named to the U.S. National B Team on Sept. 15. Marni Yamada, 21, made the women’s Snowboard Cross Team. She is based at Stevens Pass.

Vic Wild, a 23-year-old White Salmon native, made the alpine snowboard team.

Craig Hill: 253-597-8497

craig.hill@thenewstribune.com

blogs.thenewstribune.com/olympics