Anyone who watches alpine ski racing regularly — all three of us — has heard the deep booming voice of Pete Lavin. Whenever an American guy gets in the starting gate, he’s the voice in the background bellowing, “C’MON, JIMMY!” or “C’MON, MARCO!” until after they’ve pushed and skated out of the start.

“It turns into a blur of growling deep sounds,” joked Andrew Weibrecht. “You may as well have a bear behind you.”

So who is this guy?

Six or seven years ago, Daron Rahlves met Lavin in a gym in Truckee, California, explained USST spokesman Tom Kelly. Despite his bear-ish voice, Lavin is a friendly guy, and Rahlves asked him if he would help out on the World Cup tour. Over time, Lavin — aka, Baby Huey — gravitated toward his role in the start house.

“He’s now become an icon on the World Cup,” says Kelly.

“He’s always encouraging us and trying to get us pumped up,” says Weibrecht. “Not that we usually need any more of that. But it’s great to have him around.”

In the YouTube video that made Weibrecht famous — prior to his Olympic bronze medal fame — you can hear (and see) Lavin in action.

“Nice and relaxed, buddy,” Lavin said, rubbing Weibrecht’s right shoulder before he started the Beaver Creek World Cup downhill in 2007. “Deep breaths … nice and calm.” More shoulder rubbing. “Ski your plan.”

“Now it’s time to get after it,” Lavin adds, his voice revving up.

Then: “C’MON ANDREW! C’MON, ANDREW! C’MON!”

But Lavin sticks to helping out the guys.

“He’s never been with us,” says Julia Mancuso. “I think he might scare us.”

Then there are the bobsledders. Talk about bear noises.