T-minus 365 days and counting/ But there will be plenty of action

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Feb 8, 2001 | by Meri-Jo Borzilleri

SEPTEMBER

There is a reason USA Luge is one of the more successful National Governing Bodies, particularly at attracting kids to a sport that's completely obscure everywhere outside Lake Placid, N.Y.

One of the sport's outreach programs is Luge in School, a series of presentations by national luge team members to kids in inner-city schools. The kids they attract can try the sport at a highly convenient time: the summer. Using wheels and concrete in place of runners and ice, USA Luge runs an offseason program to develop young talent. From the summer youth luge tour, USA Luge spends September choosing its junior teams that will be sent to train on ice.

OCTOBER

The World Cup circuit in alpine skiing gets underway in Solden, Austria, Oct. 26-27 with a men's and women's giant slalom.

Start watching closely. The Austrians are going to be looking nervously over their shoulders at a surprising United States team who will be skiing on its home snow come February. (Does Wal-Mart sell cowbells?) Keep an eye on Daron Rahlves, who recently stunned the ski world with his world championship gold in super-G, beating renowned Austrian Hermann Meier.

With luck, Picabo Street should be hitting her stride in preparation for a medal in her third Olympics, and you'll see names like Erik Schlopy, Chad Fleischer, Megan Gerety, Bode Miller, Casey Puckett, Kristina Koznick, Caroline Lalive and Sarah Schleper atop podiums prior to the Olympics.

NOVEMBER

Snowboarders compete in a World Cup in Tignes, France, Nov. 16- 17 as the season begins. The big events: parallel giant slalom and halfpipe, the snowboarding events contested at the Olympics. Boarders race on a dual course in parallel GS. Halfpipe is a snow-covered ditch in which competitors swoop up the walls, performing skateboard- like tricks.

Best story in this sport is American Chris Klug, whose successful comeback from liver transplant surgery will be told and retold during the Olympics. Other Americans to watch for: half-piper Tricia Byrnes, along with Rosey Fletcher and Sondra Van Ert in the parallel GS.

DECEMBER

U.S. Olympic Trials in short-track speedskating starts Dec. 31 in Salt Lake City's Delta Center, where the Olympic event will be held.

Short track is like roller derby on ice. Pack skating, tight curves, high speeds can make for some good spills. No slingshotting allowed.

Apolo Anton Ohno is of Japanese descent but is an all-American when it comes to skating. Watch for him here: he just won the men's overall World Cup last weekend.

Others to look for include Dan Weinstein and Rusty Smith.

JANUARY

Let showtime begin. The U.S. Figure Skating Championships are Jan. 6-13 in Los Angeles' Staples Center. It will serve as figure skating's Olympic Trials, the Games' biggest on-deck circle.

Can Michelle Kwan come close to her seven perfect 6.0's at the 2001 championships? Here's where we find out if Kwan is able to distance herself from upstarts Sasha Cohen and Sarah Hughes. Colorado Springs' Ann Patrice McDonough should have an outside shot.