U.S. Ski Team Gives Fans Many Christmas Presents

The U.S. Alpine Ski Team has recently outdone itself in podium appearances – nine podiums in six days and they came in all the disciplines - slalom, GS, super G, and downhill. U.S. Alpine Director Jesse Hunt said in a press release, "The athletes are feeding off each other now… Our athletes have that little edge and confidence when their teammates are breaking through and doing well (and) The team is confident."

Why wouldn’t they be confident? The best previous streak of podiums was a top-3 on four straight days by U.S. men or women in 1983, and this new record setting pace was done by five different skiers - and not just one or two having a great series.

The winning streak produced First World Cup wins for Steven Nyman (Provo, UT) and Olympic giant slalom gold medalist Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA), each of whom won in downhill. Mancusco also picked up a 2nd in another DH. Lindsey Kildow (Vail, CO) earned her fourth and fifth podiums of the season in DHs. Bode Miller (Bretton Woods, NH) won twice and had a 2nd in SGs. Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) added a 2nd in slalom.

By the way, how did it all end? With Bode getting a GS 4th (.13 seconds out of third) and Resi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, WY) a slalom 6th - not a bad ending, indeed!

Congratulations and Happy Holidays to all the skiers on all the Teams – if only the rest of the world could get along as well as these athletes on the snow.