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U.S. ski and snowboard goal :10 medals
By Ray Grass
Deseret News outdoor editor
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team has set a high goal for 2002: 10 medals and nothing less. Its previous best was six medals in 1998.
Consensus is that including all the disciplines — alpine, cross country, jumping and freestyle — it's attainable.
There are, within the alpine division, three strong candidates for podium positions: Daron Rahlves, Erik Schlopy and Picabo Street. Then, of course, there are several more skiers who could medal on a given day. The talent, said one coach, "is there."
There will be 10 events for the men and women, so 30 opportunities to medal. Since 1948, when Gretchen Fraser won America's first alpine medal, the United States has won a total of 14 gold, 15 silver and eight bronze. Now the pressure is on to perform in Utah in America's own back yard.
Rahlves, Schlopy and Street are poised to do just that.
Bill Marolt, president/CEO of the ski team, considers this to be one of the strongest teams ever.
But, then, a number of other countries are in a position to say the same.
As skiers get better and equipment gets faster, each of the world's top teams gets stronger.
The country with the most muscle is Austria, as has been the case for the past few years. Italy, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland always have a few at the top, but Austria always brings out a stellar group.
The Austrian team suffered a major setback this summer, however, when a car hit Hermann Maier, considered one of the greatest skiers ever, as he passed on a motorcycle. His injuries were serious enough to prevent him from training all summer. Even though he's trying for a miraculous comeback, few believe it's possible.
The Austrians are not without backup talent. Among the top 20 in the overall World Cup standings for last season, 11 were from Austria, including Maier at No. 1, and Stephan Eberharter at No. 2.
Next in line were Switzerland and Norway with three each.
The United States, by comparison, had one skier listed — Schlopy at No. 15.
One thing that could play in the favor of the U.S. team is the "unknown." Unusual weather patterns the past two years have kept all but a few international skiers from familiarizing themselves with the courses.
Nowhere is this more important than the downhill at Snowbasin. Both the men's and women's courses are steep and challenging, with a range of continually changing conditions. Because of the technical difficulty of the course, knowing when to tuck and when to glide will be of the utmost importance.
Of the nine downhill races scheduled at Snowbasin the past two years, only one was held. First, too little snow prevented the races and then too much snow.
The same is true of Deer Valley. Two years ago the women's World Cup slalom was canceled. No men's World Cup slalom was scheduled.
The one exception is Park City. America's Opening World Cup, held in mid-November, has enabled world-class skiers to become very familiar with the giant slalom run.
Between now and the end of January, skiers from all countries will be vying for one of the four openings each team has for each of the five disciplines — the first hurdle they all must face in the race for the gold.
• For those who wish to follow the careers of the world's elite skiers and review past results, the FIS World Cup Guide 2002 is available through Biorama & Sport.Com AG, Postfach, CH 4011 Basel, Switzerland, or on the Internet at bioramaski@hotmail.com. Cost is $12 plus shipping.
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