2 Madison teenagers vie for 2014 Olympics skiing

MADISON, Conn. (AP) - Two local teens with Olympic dreams are flying high — in more ways than one.

Residents Mac Bohonnon, 16, and Kiley McKinnon, 16, are aerialist skiers who are elated that they are one step closer to accomplishing their goal of competing in the 2014 Winter Olympics. The two skiers recently got bids to compete in the World Cup Freestyle Aerial Skiing Competition this weekend in Lake Placid, N.Y. — the first international competition they have participated in.

Bohonnon learned to ski shortly after he learned to walk and he was sliding off jumps and flying through the air on skis by the age of six.

"I grew up in the West and my husband grew up in the East, but we were both skiers," said his mother, Libby Bohonnon. "We made a pact that none of our children would play hockey or basketball — we would teach our kids to ski. Mac is the youngest of three and when he came along, there was no question he was going to learn."

When Bohonnon was 13, he went to train at a camp in Lake Placid and the former coach of the U.S. Ski Team's Development Program, Dmitriy Kavunov, spotted him and recognized his talent.

"He approached me and said 'I really like the way you jump' and that he wanted me to train with him full time," said Bohonnon. "It was surreal. I was left speechless for a minute, but obviously, I didn't have any hesitation."

He jumped at the chance. He left school in Madison, with his parent's permission, and moved to Lake Placid to attain his Olympic dreams.

"Obviously, we are very excited to have our kid achieve goals he set for himself," said Libby. "I think this will only make Mac a better person in life because of the people he meets and the experiences he has."

His mother said the next step is for Mac to get named to the full U.S. team and if that happens, he will have a chance at getting selected for the competing Olympic team.

Bohonnon recruited McKinnon, an avid skier and gymnast, about two years ago to join him at his new home and train in the Development Program in Lake Placid. The two are now faced with the challenge of living the life of a 16 year old, taking online classes to continue their education and possibly being the youngest Americans competing in the upcoming World Cup. Continued...

The two teenagers said they work hard in both education and training and they don't ever pine for an average high school student's life.

"This is what I'm focused on. I love every minute of it. I never look back and think I'd rather be in school with my friends," said Bohonnon.

His parents are focused on education, too. So much so that they played a major part in creating a tutoring program for high school students at the training facility, which didn't exist when Bohonnon first moved to Lake Placid.

"We worked with the United States Ski Association to do that and put into place a high school academy in Utah (where they spend time training)," said Libby.

Bohonnon and McKinnon are still attending study hall and focusing on their school work despite the "extreme" excitement they described feeling days before the World Cup competition.

And in addition to going for the gold, the two said they are also just eager to gain experience at a new level this weekend.

"Whether you become an Olympic champion or you don't, you gain so many experiences along the way and you have to make the best of those experiences," said Bohonnon.