SKIING / CHRIS DUFRESNE : Ignorance Is Not Bliss for U.S. Team

It used to be that America had four years between Olympic Games to ignore the U.S. Ski Team.

Our attention spans were programmed for two weeks every 48 months, including commercial breaks.

You know Americans. Call us when they light the Olympic flame, when our guys are in the gate, when they cue the National Anthem. When some Italian whose name rhymes with fettuccine comes down the hill with a chance to beat our American hero, whose name we didn’t know five minutes before, we get excited.

This is the reality.

Picabo Street, one of America’s medal hopefuls in downhill, gets more fan mail from Europe, where World Cup circuit races are televised weekly.

Tamara McKinney is the greatest American female skier ever, winner of 18 World Cup races. But because she never won an Olympic medal, she is not given her proper due in the United States.

But, hey, they worship her in Berchtesgaden.

In our lifetimes, ski racing is not going to supplant any major American sport in popularity.

Fairly or not, American interest is reserved for the Olympic microcosm. Skiers resent the unfair expectations, that they should have to rise to the occasions for a few minutes every four years because that’s the only time we’re watching.

And America says: tough.

“Once you step outside of the skiing press, which is very small, you realize that the only thing the public knows about is the Olympics,” Paul Major, the U.S. Alpine program director, said. “And that’s why it’s important to do well.”

Well, the time to do well is approaching faster than usual.

Because of the move to stagger the Winter and Summer Olympics, the Winter Games are coming again this February to Lillehammer, Norway, only two winters after the games of Albertville.

We realize this doesn’t leave much time to catch up from the last Olympics.

So, a refresher course: What’s new since Albertville?

THE U.S. WOMEN

--They were supposed to ride the crest of Olympic silver medals from Hilary Lindh (downhill) and Diann Roffe-Steinrotter (giant slalom) and challenge the World Cup world last season.

It didn’t work out that way.

Lindh injured a knee early and Roffe-Steinrotter, frankly, had a bad season. Julie Parisien, the world’s top-ranked slalom skier, was plagued with injuries and grief after the death of her brother, Jean Paul, just before Christmas.

The only bright spot was the emergence of Street, the red-head from Sun Valley, Idaho, who won a silver in combined at the world championships and pronounced herself a medal contender.

Much was expected from the U.S. women. Not as much was realized.

Still, the women have hope.

Lindh, from Juneau, Alaska, appears fully recovered from knee surgery and ready to defend her Olympic downhill silver. Street has stepped up to give the United States a one-two threat in speed events, where Megan Gerety also is a factor, particularly in super-G.

Parisien blew a chance at Olympic gold in slalom at Albertville, finishing fourth, after leading the first run.

The mystery remains veteran Roffe-Steinrotter, who enters her 10th and, perhaps, last World Cup season. She did not carry over the momentum of her Olympic silver as she lost races and confidence.

The question: does she have any more great races left?

THE U.S. MEN

--In the past, this was the U.S. Man: AJ Kitt. The downhiller finished ninth at Albertville before embarking on a World Cup season that can only be described as bizarre. He was leading the downhill at Val ‘Isere when it was canceled because of bad weather. He was leading the Aspen downhill when it was canceled because of poor course conditions.

He salvaged a bronze medal at the world championships, but finished 21st in downhill rankings, hardly a true measure of his Olympic potential.

The good news is that Tommy Moe has emerged to challenge Kitt after years of such predictions. Moe will ski in the top rank (top 15) in downhill after finishing second at Whistler and a fifth at the world championships.

The men’s technical team remains a weak link. Matt Grosjean is the best American slalom skier, but ranks only 45th in the world. Jeremy Nobis can’t stay healed long enough to gage his skills.

Grosjean and Nobis will be among nine U.S. skiers participating this weekend in a World Cup slalom and GS at America’s Opening at Park City.

Major wants his team to build momentum during early World Cup races and then make a medal run at Lillehammer.

Major: “If we can get some heroes out there, that will help attract more kids.”

Skiing Notes

Mammoth Mountain, celebrating its 40th season, is open with a 40-inch, mostly man-made base. It expects to operate eight lifts and 18 trails over Thanksgiving weekend. Early season ticket prices are $30.

Around the Southland, the following resorts are open with limited trail access: Bear Mountain, Snow Summit, Snow Valley and Mountain High West.

Bear Mountain is operating seven intermediate trails and three novice and is charging $32 for a single-day lift ticket.

Snow Valley has three chairs and six runs operating and is offering an all-day ticket, including night-skiing until 9 p.m., for $25. Snow Summit is operating six chairs over machine-groomed packed powder and is charging $33.75 for an adult ticket, $14.75 for those 12 years and under. It will offer night skiing beginning tonight.

Mountain High West is open with four chairs operating. It offers night skiing from three to 10 p.m. . . . Because of lack of snow, women’s alpine World Cup races were canceled last weekend in Veysonnaz, Switz. Conditions look more favorable for this weekend’s races at Santa Caterina, Italy. A pair of GS races are scheduled for Friday and Saturday with a slalom set for Sunday. . . . Paul Major has added the title of alpine director to his role as women’s coach for the U.S. Ski Team. He replaces Dennis Agee, who resigned after last season.

Heavenly Valley ski resort in Lake Tahoe has officially dropped the “Valley” from its name and is to be known now as Heavenly Lake Tahoe.