That feeling is exactly what drives Lyndsie Peterson (Taylorsville, Utah), a new face on the USA Women’s Skeleton World Cup Team, to opt for a sport that could potentially take her on a ride to the 2006 Olympic Winter Games.

“The speed is incredible,” said Peterson. “It’s the coolest feeling when you put your head up just a little bit, and you know you’re flying—it’s the greatest thing.”

Although this will be Peterson’s debut on the World Cup circuit, the 5-foot-10-inch 20 year old is no stranger to the icy environment. She was a bobsled driver for two years before going solo on a skeleton sled. She is now in her fifth year of competing, assembling an impressive resume along the way.

Peterson was blessed with the athletic genes of the family. This ex-softball, ex-track and field athlete made a decision early in her career to focus on skeleton.

“My coaches were really upset with me on the softball field because I was missing so much time to come to the park [Utah Olympic Park],” remembers Peterson. “They said ‘well, it’s one or the other,’ and I thought about it and compared the two—possibly the Olympics or high school softball.”

With a berth on the World Cup circuit and well on her way to earning a spot on the 2006 U.S. Olympic Team, one would agree that her decision was a smart one.

Peterson first introduced herself to the skeleton spotlight by dominating the 2002 America’s Cup in front of a hometown crowd in Park City, Utah. She boasted a first-place finish and a distinctive smile, knowing that this was her initial trip to the medal stand—and definitely not her last.

Now older and wiser, Peterson is familiar with ice tracks across the globe after competing as one of the top athletes on the Europa Cup circuit last season. The then happy teenager finished third at stops in Konigssee and Altenberg, Germany.

“I have a lot of faith in myself going over to the European tracks,” said Peterson. “I know what to expect.”

Experience and skill have brought this Olympic hopeful to the headlines of winter sports news. Peterson finished first and ahead of three-time national champion Katie Uhlaender in race four of the 2006 Verizon National Team Trials in Calgary, Canada.

“She [Uhlaender] is a tough competitor,” Peterson said. “She’s solid—she’s a brick. There were a lot of factors that went into the race—the weather really played a part in my winning there. I wouldn’t take anything away from the way she races.”

Uhlaender and Peterson are now responsible for leading the star-studded group of women after top U.S. slider Noelle Pikus-Pace suffered a major injury in a devastating accident at the Calgary Olympic Park in Canada. Pace’s left leg was broken when she was hit by an American four-man bobsled in the out run of the track.

“When Noelle got hurt, it was a very somber time,” said Peterson. “Everyone was quiet. That’s our World Champion—that’s our USA number one. That’s who everyone is trying to beat. To have her fall to such a freak accident was devastating. I was talking to Katie Uhlaender—we know that we have to step it up. There’s a big hole on the team, but we can fill it.”

Peterson is preparing to upset the competition and take a lead at the first World Cup stop Nov. 5-12 in Calgary. Peterson has been training on the Canadian track for about a month, focusing her effort on conquering “corner nine”—an obstacle that could add excessive seconds to any experienced slider’s time.

“Corner nine is hurting me right now,” reflects Peterson. “That’s my biggest obstacle on this track.”

The venue at Calgary Olympic Park burns a daunting memory in Peterson’s mind—the last time she competed internationally at the site was December 2003. Peterson crashed on the Canadian track and tore open her ankle.

Twenty-five stitches later, she was up and running.

While the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Italy are just around the corner, USA’s skeleton athletes have a lot of racing to do before they can pack their bags for Torino. Peterson acknowledges this fact, and admits that her road to the Games is the light at the end of a tunnel she hasn’t entered yet.

“The Olympics are still a long way away for me,” said Peterson. “I can touch it, but I can’t grab it. I’ll take it one race at a time.”