2006 Olympics

Will Justin Wadsworth and Patrick Weaver join John Bauer in trying to
qualify for the Olympics next year? Based on this years results they
would seem to have a fair shot. I am not being critical of the US Ski
team members or coaching staff in asking this. I think the world of the
job Trond and Pete have done with a very young group(Carl excepted),but I
think their time frame of bringing these young guys to the fore is a
little tight, with the possible exception of the sprinters.I hope that
Luke realizes this and doesn't pull any plugs.

For the three vets that you mention ... they will have to get it in
gear if they are going to qualify for the Oly's. Besides USST'ers they
have to beat out the likes of the Flora bros, Southam, Whitney,
Chamberlain, etc. My bets would be on these younger guys making the
team ahead of the vets - these younger guns will be even faster next
year.

As for Luke "pull[ing] any plugs" ... maybe the question should be
asked: "Who got lapped at Worlds?"

The "plug" has already been pulled, the USST staff don't have the
backbone to stand up to the CEO of USSA and DEMAND the reinstatement of
development dollars. It is too late for 06 laddies! The Canadians are
ten years ahead of us, and they are poised to have their best Olympics
EVER in 2010, and we will be licking their boots.
Tim Kelley wrote:
For the three vets that you mention ... they will have to get it in
gear if they are going to qualify for the Oly's. Besides USST'ers
they
have to beat out the likes of the Flora bros, Southam, Whitney,
Chamberlain, etc. My bets would be on these younger guys making the
team ahead of the vets - these younger guns will be even faster next
year.

As for Luke "pull[ing] any plugs" ... maybe the question should be
asked: "Who got lapped at Worlds?"

Desi - "demanding" US development dollars might have had a chance of
working a couple years ago, when US xc skiers were having some good
results. But I wouldn't want to be the one trying the "demand" tactic
now, based on this year's xc results. And especially when you compare
American xc skiing int'l results to the US alpine skiing power of
today. I figure anyone doing the xc demand thing would end up with the
USSA CEO's boot print imbedded in their butt.