Street Back On Course, If Only for Appearances

It didn’t take Picabo Street long to bounce back after her world came crashing down Pepi’s Face on Wednesday at Vail, Colo. At least, mentally.

“Let everyone know I’m OK,” she said Thursday through Tom Kelly, U.S. Skiing’s vice president. “I’m bummed out because of the knee injury, but I’ll be in the finish area on crutches to cheer for our team.”

The World Cup women’s downhill, in which Street had been the favorite, is scheduled today--if continuing snowstorms leave the necessary window.

Street, 25, who suffered severe ligament and cartilage damage to her left knee when she fell and skidded hard into a fence during downhill training, will undergo surgery next week and will be unable to ski for at least six months, according to Dr. Richard Steadman.

In the meantime, she is going to be a busy non-skier, according to her agent, Greg Anderson of Nike Sports Management.

“Obviously, we’re disappointed,” Anderson said from Beaverton, Ore. “But it’s important that Picabo continue to keep herself in the public eye. She’ll still be working with her sponsors and making as many appearances as possible.

“As always, she has a positive frame of mind and is looking for the silver lining. She’s just glad that the accident occurred when it did, because there is still plenty of time for her to complete rehab and come all the way back before the 1998 Winter Olympics.”

Still on Street’s schedule, Anderson said, is a black-tie dinner at River Run Lodge in Sun Valley, Idaho, on Dec. 28 to raise money for U.S. ski team development programs.

Street’s season started on a somewhat disappointing note last Saturday when she finished fourth behind winner Katja Seizinger of Germany in the downhill at Lake Louise, Alberta, then failed to finish the next day’s super-G.

Undaunted, the two-time World Cup and reigning world downhill champion immediately looked ahead to today’s race before a friendly home-country crowd, telling Reuters, “That’s great for me. I made a couple of mistakes, but I know what I have to clean up before Vail.”

Now, U.S. hopes rest mainly with Hilary Lindh, who despite past personality conflicts, was the first to reach Street after she fell, both women in tears.

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America’s male downhillers--Tommy Moe, AJ Kitt and Kyle Rasmussen--are scheduled to compete for the first time this season at Whistler-Blackcomb, B.C., but continuing heavy snowfall is also threatening that World Cup event.

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Ideal snow-making weather is enabling four Southland resorts to operate daily for skiers and snowboarders.

At Big Bear Lake, Snow Summit is running four chairlifts--both quads plus Nos. 3 and 8--for all levels of ability, and Bear Mountain is offering five chairlifts serving six runs.

Snow Valley, where a lift ticket also entitles you to use its new skate park, has Chairlifts 1, 6 and 12 going.

Near Wrightwood, Mountain High West is open, with up to four chairlifts going as needed.

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The High Sierra received a dusting of powder last weekend and some wet snow in midweek.

Mammoth Mountain, site of Saturday’s Jeep King of the Mountain downhill involving several great racers from the recent past, is reporting a 36- to 60-inch base.

However, skiing is more limited around Lake Tahoe. Heavenly, for example, is only 40% operational, and Squaw Valley is running only five lifts. Kirkwood says it is 60% open.

Bear Valley delayed its start until Saturday, which is also opening day for Diamond Peak at Incline Village, Nev. Sierra Summit plans to reopen today.

Skiing Notes

Bill Janss, the former owner of the Sun Valley Co., died Wednesday at his home in Sun Valley after a long illness. He was 78. . . . The World Cup schedule also lists super-G races Saturday for the women and Sunday for the men. . . . Germany’s Katja Seizinger tops the women’s overall standings with 305 points, 47 more than runner-up Pernilla Wiberg of Sweden. . . . Kjetil-Andre Aamodt of Norway is the men’s leader with 231 points, followed by Swiss racer Michael Von Gruenigen with 207.