Ford

Two more athletes with Bend ties have received confirmation that they will be competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics next month in Pyeonchang, South Korea.

Bend alpine skier Tommy Ford, 28, was officially named to the U.S. Olympic ski team Wednesday, and snowboarder Kent Callister, 22, will represent Australia in the halfpipe. It is the second Olympic nod for both athletes.

Ford finished 26th in the giant slalom at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, but he broke his leg in 2013 and missed the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia. The eight-time national champion had three top-15 World Cup giant slalom finishes last season, and he has one top-10 finish and one top-25 performance in giant slalom this World Cup season.

Callister, who grew up in Bend and is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Australia, was announced as a member of the Australian Olympic contingent Wednesday. He finished ninth in the halfpipe competition in Sochi. He was the top Australian finisher in halfpipe and beat all his American competitors except for Shaun White, who was fourth.

Callister placed in the top eight at two World Cup events last season, including an Olympic test event held in Pyeongchang. This season, Callister has finished 23rd, 13th and 19th in World Cup halfpipe events.

Ford and Callister join Bend residents Laurenne Ross, a 29-year-old alpine skier, and Ben Ferguson, a 22-year-old snowboarder who competes in the halfpipe, who had both previously been named to the U.S. ski and snowboard team.

The 2018 Winter Games are set for Feb. 9-25.