SPORTS&OUTDOORS■ Scores, P. 34■ Rodeo, P. 36■ Rock climbing, P. 37 Sports Editor Jon Mentzer ❖ 788-3444, ext. 18 ❖ sports@woodriverjournal.com

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BY JON MENTZERWood River Journal

If Valley residents didn’t al-ready have a good reason to watchthe 2008 Olympics in Beijing, theydo now.

They have Debbie McDonald.The Hailey

resident and localequestrian riderDebbie McDonaldis competing inthe individualdressage compe-tition in HongKong.

She’ll be rid-ing Brentina, a15-year-old Hanoverian mare.

The journey to China hasn’tbeen easy.

In 2004, McDonald set hersights on bringing home a teammedal in the Athens Olympics andwas an integral part of the U.S.A.Olympic bronze medal effort.

She’s glad to have a chance atthe gold in China.

“It is such a tough road to gethere and such a sacrifice for yourfamily and friends,” McDonaldsaid.

This year will be one of themost hyped and anticipatedgames in recent memory becauseof the media frenzy surroundingthe Beijing Olympics.

But McDonald is focused onbringing home a medal.

“To be able to have that feelingof standing on that podium wouldbe more than satisfying,” she said.

McDonald comes by dressagenaturally. She’s a formerhunter/jumper rider who switchedto dressage about 15 years ago.

McDonald has held the title ofWorld Cup Dressage Champion in2003. Her 78.89 percent in the

Grand Prix Freestyle earned herthe combination of WorldChampion.

She was also an important partof the U.S. team finishing secondin the team competition at CDIOAachen, where she also finishedthird individually.

During Olympic competition,McDonald said she will be watch-ing the Germans and the Dutch

because they’re always the ones tobeat.

The road to China has beenphysically demanding and emo-tionally draining, she said.

McDonald has been inGermany training so she hasn’thad the pleasure of seeing herclose friends and family from theWood River Valley since January.

“You train constantly to be-

come better and better and hopethat you have also a little luckalong the way,” said McDonald.“My biggest challenge, though, isbeing away from my family.”

McDonald’s husband, who shesaid is there for her at all times, istraveling with her.

McDonald would like to thankRoger Wilkinson, her shoer whotravels to Europe and Californiawith her, her groom RubenPalomera, Juan Ruiz, AdrienneLyle who is McDonald’s assistantand all of the veterinarians fromSawtooth Equine.

“Without amazing sponsorslike the Thomas family, none ofthis would be possible,” she said. “Iam just a small part of the wholepackage. It takes so many peopleto make dreams come true.”

McDonald’s admiration of theGames is clear and her apprecia-tion of the Wood River Valley is ev-ident.

“Whether we come home with amedal or not, I can still say that Irepresented the U.S.A. and that issomething that I will never forgetor can be taken away. I just hopethat no matter how all of this playsout, everyone knows how much Iappreciate their support,” saidMcDonald.

*1999 Equestrian of the Year by theUSEF (formerly the American HorseShows Association)

*1999 United States OlympicCommittee Female EquestrianAthlete of the Year.

*Individual and Team Gold medalsin the 1999 Pan-American Games.

*2002 Team Silver medal in WorldEquestrian Games in Spain.

*2003 World Cup Champion.*Wins at the 2004 and 2005 U.S.

Grand Prix Freestyle/Champion-ship/U.S. League Finals.

McDonald rides into OlympicsLocal equestrian rider competes inHong Kong

ELMA GARCIA/COURTESY PHOTO

Debbie McDonald and her horse Brentina.

BY SUSAN BAILEYWood River Journal

KETCHUM—Dick Barrymore,74, famed ski film producer, died ofbrain cancer at his mother’s homein Ketchum Friday, Aug. 1, withhis mother and family present.

Inducted into the U.S. NationalSki Hall of Fame in 2000,Barrymore was known for person-ally narrated ski films that startedwith the 1960 Winter Olympics inSquaw Valley, Calif., and contin-ued through many exotic loca-tions with an assortment of localskiers in the frame.

Blaine County residents DaveWoodham, Alan Rickers, ScottCurtis and his son BlakeBarrymore,owner ofN o r t h w e s tDoor andMill in Carey,are amongthose appear-ing inBarrymoreski filmsthroughoutthe years.

In 1986,Bar rymoreleft filmmaking for BajaCalifornia, Mexico, where he de-veloped a rustic resort in CaboPulmo. After its coral reefs weremade into a national marine park,Barrymore’s resort, developed inpart with his son Cole, became adestination for divers and snorkel-ers.

The Cabo Pulmo Dive Centerhas become a vacation destinationof renown in the Baja Peninsula ofMexico.

Barrymore moved to Ketchumwith his wife Betsy in 1972 andwas a local figure for many yearsbefore moving to Mexico. Hewrote two biographies of his lifeas a ski film producer, including“Breaking Even.” His ski actionfilms included “Last of the SkiBums” and “Wild Skis.”

When hot dog freestyle skiingwas the rage in the 1970s, hebrought it international attentionthrough his footage. He capturedpowder skiing and mogul skiingin their early days as well.

The family has set a privateburial service for Thursday

A public celebration ofBarrymore’s life is planned onOct. 21 for Barrymore’s 75thbirthday with details to be an-nounced later.

Well knownfilmmakerBarrymoredies at 74

COUTESY PHOTO

Dick Barrymore in the 1960s with amovie camera in hand.

BY KAREN BOSSICKWood River Journal

Sun Valley — Sun Valley’sGeneral Manager Wally Huffmanwas finishing up the groundbreak-ing ceremony last summer for theSun Valley Pavilion, when hepaused, a big grin on his face.

“If I don’t show up (for theopening), you know where I’m at,”he quipped, nodding his head tothe golf greens that had just beenseeded across the road.

A funny thing happened on theway to the golf links, though.Huffman has been so busy over-seeing the construction of the newentertainment Pavilion and a58,000-square-foot golf clubhouse— not to mention Sun Valley’sgondola, which starts construc-tion in less than a month—that heforgot to make a tee time.

And the new White CloudsGolf Course opens Monday.

“I wanted to be the first to playit, but I forgot to make a tee time.I might know somebody, though,”he winked.

The White Clouds Golf Courseis the first significant improve-ment Sun Valley has made to its

golf game in 30 years. But it cer-tainly won’t be its last.

The resort plans to open a new58,756-square foot clubhouse onAug. 20 — just in time for thecelebrity Danny ThompsonMemorial Golf Tournament.

True to its name, the new golflinks would be set in the clouds—if Sun Valley entertained many

clouds, that is.From its perch overlooking

Sun Valley Resort, the WhiteClouds Golf Course offers abreathtaking 360-degree panora-ma that encompasses DollarMountain, Sun Valley’s famedBald Mountain, the town of

Got tee time? New course set to openCLUBHOUSE NEXT

Sun Valley’s new golf clubhouse,which will also double as the SunValley Nordic Center in the winter,resembles Sun Valley’s massive skilodges.

It incorporates 700 tons of lavarock quarried from nearby Triumph,as well as Italian and Indian stoneand various species of walnut.

The three-level facility will includea grand entry, restaurant, bar, proshop and a virtual driving range andindoor putting. It’ll also include a10,000-square-foot terrace, outdoorfireplace and terrace bar.

Outside will be a 12-acre drivingrange and a 52,000-square-foot,18-hole putting course named“Sawtooths.” The course, patternedafter the Himalayas putting course atScotland’s St. Andrews, includesmounds designed to reflect thejagged Sawtooth Mountains to thenorth.

Sun Valley’s Marketing DirectorJack Sibbach said the resort willprobably hold a grand opening forthe clubhouse this fall, after all thework is completed.

TRAVIS GARNER/WRJThe view from Sun Valley’s new White Cloud Nine golf course looking in thedirection of the Trail Creek canyon, showing a lower section of the courseand Sun Valley’s new club house.

See GOLF, Page 2

INSIDE

■ Valley’s hometo Olympians,Page 36

Ski films put him into the ski hall offame in 2000

MCDONALD ANDHORSE BRETINA’S

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

■ For a list localOlympians, Page 36

FOR MORE

INFORMATION

SEE SERVICE

NOTICE ON

PAGE 14.