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U.S. ski team looking to future after poor Oly showing
By Ray Grass
Deseret News Olympic specialist
After a disappointing performance, Bill Marolt, president of the U.S. Ski Team, has, on occasion, responded with: "You lay down, bleed a little and then get up and go on. . . . And we will go on."
Without the two medal performances by Bode Miller, the alpine program may have needed a blood transfusion before it could get up and go on.
Miller, a 25-year-old skier from Franconia, N.H., is the only one of 22 U.S. skiers entered in the Games who was able to turn in an "Olympic performance."
This, despite the fact that there were at least a half-dozen skiers poised to make their moves on a medal.
The U.S. women's team struggled the most. The best finish by an American in five events was a sixth by Lindsey Kildow of Vail, Colo.
Some of the best performances were turned in by the younger skiers. Kildow, for example, is only 17. This was her first Olympics. Jonna Mendes, 22, of Heavenly, Calif., had the best finish in the women's downhill — 11th. Marco Sullivan, 22, of Tahoe City, Calif., had the best finish in the men's downhill at ninth. Tom Rothrock of Cashmere, Wash., only in his second year on the team, jumped from 34th to 15th in the men's slalom, but fell on his second run.
There are certain to be some changes in the lineup for next season. Casey Puckett, 30, of Aspen, Colo., said he was seriously considering retiring. It was time, he suggested, "to start a family."
Erik Schlopy, 29, of Park City, who skied well last season but has struggled this year, said despite his disappointments in the Olympics that he would be back for four more years.
Picabo Street, 30, of Park City, one of the most recognized skiers in the world, announced her retirement after finishing 16th in the women's downhill. It was time, she said, to get on with her life, which she said she'd like to live in anonymity.
The future, however, will rest with the younger skiers, like Sullivan and Rothrock; Thomas Vonn, 26, of Newburgh, N.Y.; Sarah Schleper, 21, of Vail; Julia Mancuso, 17, of Squaw Valley, Calif.; Alex Shaffer, 25, of Park City; along with Kildow and Mancuso.
The future of Kristina Koznick, 26, of Burnsville, Minn., is in question. A medal, any medal, would have assured her independence. Now, she's expected to sit down with U.S. team officials and discuss a reconciliation.
She left the team two years ago, after her coach, Dan Shipp, was fired. Since then, she has been paying her own expenses, planning her own travel and scheduling her own training.
As her father, Jeff, said shortly after her fall in the slalom, "(A win) would have paid a lot of bills. She was ready."
Koznick, currently No. 2 in World Cup slalom standings, would bring experience to the team. It could also cause some problems. She said on Friday that if she returned, her coach would have to return with her.
Alan Ashley, vice president of athletics for the USST, said the subject of the return will be discussed "after the Games."
Before the games, Marolt set a goal of 10 medals for the ski and snowboard teams. Miller's win on Thursday in the men's giant slalom was the 10th. His two medals were also the only ones contributed by the alpine team.
Miller's medals also meant something else, said Marolt.
"What Bode has done here is important to the future of our team," Marolt said as he reflected back on the Games. "Here's a young man that everyone likes. He's a great athlete, a great competitor and a terrific personality. He's got it all. He's what Americans think about.
"When parents see this guy and how he handles himself, they become more interested in putting their kids in our ski programs, which we strongly encourage. Our winter sports programs are an awesome opportunity for young kids. This is going to be a tremendous help to our team in the future."
And, right now, that's where the U.S. team has got to look — the future. Looking back now can only cause more bleeding.
E-mail: grass@desnews.com
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February 25, 2002
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