World’s biggest stage for Novato Skier

By Bruce Meadows
Contributor
Novato Advance

Published: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 2:04 PM PST

Ani Serebrakian, a 20-year-old from Novato, will be marching in the
Opening Ceremonies Friday night at the 2010 Winter Olympics in
Vancouver, B.C.

But if you plan on watching them on ABC, you may have to look quickly
. . . Serebrakian, an athletic standout at Marin Catholic and now
attending USF, is not part of the 216-member U.S. team, but will be in
the comparatively tiny four-person ski team from Armenia.

Serebrakian, who earned a reputation for excellence among the top
American juniors, could have tried to make the U.S. team, but opted to
ski for Armenia. Her parents, Armen and Anita Serebrakian, are
Armenian and were born in neighboring Iran.

`I feel honored to be on the Armenian team,’ said Serebrakian, who
will compete in women’s slalom and giant slalom events Feb. 24 and
26. `I’ve been to Armenia and it really hits home to ski for that
country.’

Serebrakian, majoring in exercise and sports science at USF, started
skiing at age 2, racing when she was 5. Calling herself and her
22-year-old brother Arman `weekend skiers,’ she spends most winter
weekends at Squaw Valley.

She has competed in numerous national and international ski events,
including one a few years ago at the Whistler Cup, where Olympic
Alpine skiing will be contested. She has been ranked as high as ninth
in Junior World Cup.

Ani excelled as a tennis player, earning All-MCAL honors her junior
and senior years at Marin Catholic and was named Marin Grand Prix
Player of the Year.

She could have tried to qualify for the American team, although it
would have been more difficult. Ani explained, `there’s a point system
and not all U.S. team members qualify for the Olympics . . . I really
don’t know if I could have qualified for the American team.’

While she had expressed an interest in skiing for Armenia, it was her
brother and father who initially contacted the Armenian Ski Federation
and found out what was needed for Ani to qualify.

`It’s kind of complicated, but they have a point system based on
competition,’ she explained, adding that besides herself, there is one
other male Alpine skier and a male and female cross-country skier.

She left for Canada last Friday, with a knowledge of Whistler, where
competition will be held, but not much else.

`I know we will be close to the start (of Opening Ceremonies, behind
Albania, Algeria, Andorra and Argentina) and we will be one of the
smallest groups,’ said Serebrakian before leaving for the Olympics. `I
don’t know what the uniforms look like or who will be carrying our
flag.’

She does know she will be going up against the best skiers in the
world, something she enjoys.

`I’m not going with the mentality that I will place or not place,’ she
said. `I just want to perform my best.`

Ani said `it hasn’t hit me yet,’ as far as competing in the Winter
Games, `but I am really looking forward to the experience.’

She was traveled north with her parents and brother for the Opening
Ceremonies, and her mother was planning on staying with her while her
father and brother were expected to return to California then return
for the slalom competition.

The first and second rounds of the Women’s Giant Slalom are Feb. 24,
while the Women’s Slalom will be contested Feb. 26.

`It’s a long wait,’ she said. `But that’s OK because I plan on skiing
every day.’

She’s proud to be competing for Armenia in the Winter Games,
explaining, `I traveled to Armenia a few years ago, in the summer, and
I fell in love with the culture and the history . . . I decided I
wanted to represent the country.’

She’s competed in several competitions this winter, including Utah,
Mammoth Mountain and Lake Tahoe, but knows this will be much
different.’

`I am racing against the best in the world,’ she said, adding that `I
will place where I place . . . I’m not worried about that part of it.’

Ani said she might be encouraged to try and qualify for the 2014
Armenian team, as is her brother, who competes for University of
Colorado and will be racing in the NCAA Championships at Steamboat
Springs, Colo., in March. The 2014 Winter Games are in Russia.

When she graduates, she is uncertain what she wants to do, although
she has expressed an interest in her father’s work . . . Armen is a
head and neck reconstructive surgeon.

`This (the Winter Games) might bring me some experience that could
lead me into something related to skiing,’ she said.

But for now, her mind is focused on practicing, Friday’s Opening
Ceremony and the competition later this month.

`I think it (Opening Ceremonies) will be emotional,’ she said. `Just
marching in, hearing the country’s name announced . . . I can hardly
wait.’

Olympic Postcard

Novato’s Ani Serebrakian, 20,is a member of the Armenian ski team
competing in the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C. While her events
– the slalom and giant slalom – are scheduled for Feb. 24 and 26, she
arrived last weekend, and will periodically be sending reports that
will be posted online at the Novato Advance web site,
novatoadvance.com.