Outdoorsman and Olympian Todd Lodwick Gives Back
John E. Phillips 02.07.14
Todd Lodwick of Steamboat Springs, Colorado loves to hunt and holds three world skiing titles in Nordic combined skiing. He won the silver medal in Nordic combined skiing in the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada, and is the only person to qualify six times for the US Winter Olympic team. Lodwick’s passion for the outdoors also includes hunting, and he is a member of Mossy Oak’s Pro Staff. OutdoorHub’s John Phillips has profiled this exceptional athlete in the lead-up to the 2014 Winter Olympics. The following is the final part of this five-piece series.
Lodwick is passionate about our armed forces and his charitable work with American300 Foundation. According to Lodwick, “One of the privileges of being an Olympic skier is I have the opportunity to raise awareness and help a variety of charities. I’ve always felt the need to give back in one way or another, and I’ve had the chance to in a big way. Helping these charities and more importantly, the families involved, can be more rewarding than my winning a World Cup. This American300 Foundation maintains a charitable giving arm, which is currently dedicated to the fallen members of Task Force 300, and is a non-profit organization operating under the status of IRS 501(c).”
The American300 Warrior Tours are an opportunity for the men and women who sacrifice so much for our peace of mind to enjoy some of their own. We take some of America’s best motivational speakers and entertainment, including sports figures, Olympians, Harlem Globetrotters, NFL alumni, comedians, and musicians to perform for the US Armed Forces, giving them a chance to connect with home while they enjoy a change of pace from the tensions of active duty. American300 Warrior Tours were created to support the Department of Defense Armed Forces Entertainment Office and MWR Offices and features all volunteers.”
Lodwick connected with Robi Powers, the founder, who also lives in Steamboat Springs and has served in the US Army and also been an Olympic team coach.
You can learn more at http://www.toddlodwick.pro and http://nordic.usskiteam.com/athletes/todd-lodwick.
John, the 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the year and the 2007 Legendary Communicator chosen for induction into the National Fresh Water Hall of Fame, is a freelance writer (over 6,000 magazine articles for about 100 magazines and several thousand newspaper columns published), magazine editor, photographer for print media as well as industry catalogues (over 25,000 photos published), lecturer, outdoor consultant, marketing consultant, book author and daily internet content provider with an overview of the outdoors.
Phillips has been a contributor to many national magazines, has been affiliated with 27 radio stations across Alabama serving as their outdoor editor and wrote for a weekly syndicated column, "Alabama Outdoors," for 38-Alabama newspapers for more than 13 years. Phillips was Outdoor Editor for the "Birmingham Post-Herald" for 24 years. Phillips was also the executive editor for "Great Days Outdoors" magazine for 3 years.
The author of almost 30 books on the outdoors, Phillips is a founding member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and an active member of the Southeastern Outdoors Press Association (SEOPA). Phillips also is the owner of Night Hawk Publications, a marketing and publishing firm, and president of Creative Concepts, an outdoor consulting group.
Phillips conducts seminars across the nation at colleges in freelance writing, photography and outdoor education besides teaching courses in how to sell what you write to writers' groups. Phillips received his photography training as a still-lab photo specialist for six years in the Air Force. He was the chief photographer for Mannequins, Inc., a Birmingham modeling agency, for 11 years.
While serving as 2nd Vice President of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, Phillips was in charge of all press releases for the organization as well as serving as Chairman of Alabama's Big Buck Contest, which he founded more than 30 years ago. He also was president of the Alabama Sportsman's Association for three years.
Phillips is the recipient of a Certificate of Merit from the Governor of Alabama and the Department of Conservation for his work in the outdoor field. Phillips is vitally interested in the outdoors and travels the nation collecting personalities, stories and how-to information for his articles and features.
EDUCATION: B.S. degree from the University of West Alabama with a physical education major and a history minor.
EXPERIENCE: 10 years parttime and fulltime physical director for YMCAs and 34 years as a freelance writer, photographer, editor, book author, lecturer and daily-content provider for websites. Currently, Phillips is a field editor for Game and Fish Publications; serves on the editorial board of Grandview Media; is a regular contributor to 12 internet magazines and a daily content provider for 8 websites.
WRITING AWARDS: Runnerup - Best Outdoor Magazine Feature - 1981 - SEOPA; Certificate of Merit - Awarded by Alabama's Governor for writings on conservation; Most Outstanding Sports Writer in Southeast - 1983 & 1984; Best Outdoor Feature in Alabama, 1987 - Alabama Sportswriters' Association 3rd Place; Best Book of the Year - 1989 - SEOPA; 2007 - inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Communicator; 2008 - received award naming him 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the Year from the Crossbow Manufacturers' Association; 2009 - GAMMA Honorable Mention for Consumer/Paid Best Essay for July/August 2008 in "Southern Sporting Journal."
