Members of the U.S. Ski Team made some ripples in World Cup racing last season, and even a couple of splashes now and then.
But the "big one," the three-step climb to the top of the podium, never happened.If it comes this year, it will likely be on the men's side, where the athletes are healthy and experienced. The women's team lacks experience and has a number of its most experienced currently hobbling around on crutches.
Last season "was a big breakthrough on the tech side, and we're looking to do better this season," said Bill Egan, head coach of the men's national team. "We've been working on the basics . . . . To ski better, you have to have good fundamentals; you work on them, and you don't let up until you master them."
As for the women, "We're starting to make steps," said Marjan Cernigoj, head coach of the women's team. . . . But we also can't forget the experience is not there. They're willing to learn everything we give them, but they're still learning."
But the women's team is also hurting. Picabo Street will be going through a slow recovery program this season in anticipation of racing the 2001-02 season. Megan Gerety is working her way back following a knee injury. Katie Monahan is out for the season with a knee injury suffered in training. And Park City's own Alex Shaffer is sidelined with a knee injury.
Those on the men's A team expected to do well include:
Chad Fleischer of Vail, Colo. After some strong finishes last year that included a second in the World Cup finals, Fleischer has surfaced as the team leader this season. He has been known as a speed skier, but he's expected to do well in the more technical giant slalom. He won the downhill and was second in the Super G at the U.S. Championships in Snowbasin in March. Heading into the 1999-200 season, he admitted he didn't win a World Cup event: "Winning is the bottom line. I want to dominate, not just win this season." Egan says Fleischer has shown in training he's ready to be a force in world skiing.
Bode Miller of Franconia, N.H. Miller is the best GS and slalom skier on the team. He proved it last year in Park City with an eighth-place in the GS. He went on to back that up with another eighth in the GS and two fourth-place finishes in the slalom in World Cup racing. In his first race this season, he was ninth after the first run, but he had trouble with his second and dropped to 19th. His aggressive, swashbuckling style he was famous for last year has been balanced with maturity and the realization that there's a razor-thin line between finishing and not finishing and that he needs to focus on the finish.
Daron Rahlves of Truckee, Calif. Rahlves has had a couple of nagging injuries the past couple of years that have kept him off the podium. He's healthy and skiing well and is expected to reseat himself as the team's top Super G skiers and an emerging contender for the World Cup title.
Those looking good on the B team include:
Jakub Fiala of Breckenridge, Colo. Utahns will remember him as the winner of the first Super G at Snowbasin in March. That win, coupled with a few more good showings at the end of the year, boosted his confidence. More confidence and maturity are expected to play a strong role in his skiing this year in the speed events.
Sacha Gros of Vail. Gros always seems to come close, but is never quite there at the finish to take the medal. Coaches see a change in him this year and are expecting to see more consistency and better finishes.
Erik Schlopy of Park City. Once a racer, always a racer. Three year ago, he quit the team to find his fortune in the pro ranks. He's back on the team this year, yearning to prove he hasn't lost the touch he was starting to get when he left as one of the top GS skiers on the team.
Casey Puckett of Crested Butte, Colo. With 10 years under his belt, Puckett is one of the true veterans on the team. Last year he enjoyed his best year on the international circuit. A highlight was a 12th in the Super G. He crashed in February, but he says he's healthy now.
Thomas Vonn of Newburgh, N.Y. Coaches call last season a "breakthrough" for the rangy, 6-foot-1 skier. In only his third year on the team, he finished in the top 30 in three WC events.
Those on the women's A team expected to do well include:
Kristina Koznick of Burnsville, Minn. "Koz" is looking to regain the touch that made her the No. 2 slalom racer in the 1998 season. She won one WC slalom last year but was plagued by inconsistent skiing the remainder of the season. Known as a slalom specialist, she worked hard over the summer to improve her GS skiing and is expected to turn some heads in that event this season.
Those on the women's B team expected to do well include:
Kirsten Clark of Raymond, Maine. She is the reigning downhill champ after winning the opening event at Snowbasin last March. She is coming off a solid preseason and is expected to do well in the speed events.
Sarah Schleper of Vail. Schleper broke her leg last December but returned in March to finish No. 2 in the GS nationals. Her determination and growing confidence could move her into the top ranks of the technical events this season.
Caroline LaLive of Steamboat Springs, Colo. She missed two early season training camps because of an injury, but the rest has reportedly rejuvenated her desire to do well. She said she's healthy and anxious to begin. Last winter, she posted top 30 finished in the slalom, GS, Super G and combined, and won a gold in the World Junior Championships.
Jonna Mendes of Heavenly, Calif. This could be her year to break into the points in World Cup. She established herself as a world-class racer by winning silver medals in the downhill at the last two Junior World Championships. At age 20, she remains one of the younger skiers on the team.
Coaches are, as they always are, optimistic going into this season, but they are just as quick to point out that they are building now in anticipation for 2002.