For three years he paid for his own training while seeking the equivalent of an Argentine social security number, a passport and admittance to that country's ski federation. As a man in his mid-30's doing database consulting on a laptop computer in between double and triple flip combinations, Getty was already an anomaly on the world cup circuit. Jumping in the Salt Lake City Olympics, he will be the only representative of a South American country in a big air event. I got through college, started my business, and then I decided I wanted to compete. Frank Bare, who has coached Getty since 1998, said he's never seen an athlete so successfully balance a business and competition, and he's impressed with Getty's longevity in the sport.
Aerial skiing is a high impact sport with a high attrition rate.
Getty has employees run operations while he's competing and says he's up front with clients about his erratic schedule. Foreseeing that he would not make the 1998 U.S. Olympic squad, Getty quit the national team after an argument with a coach in 1997. Getty said he could not excel in what he viewed as a hostile environment centered on negative reinforcement. I wanted to exit the sport with dignity and a plan. I wanted to say goodbye when I was ready to say goodbye.