Sölden: Tracy optimistic of U.S. women's chances

On the eve of the opening World Cup race, at Sölden, Austria, on Saturday, America's new-again head women's coach is guardedly optimistic for the six starters the U.S. has.
     As officials picked the start order, Jim Tracy, on board with the U.S. team for a second stint, said the off-season training was remarkable in at least one sense. "We didn't miss a single day the whole summer, but it is always hard to know [what to expect] in the first race."
     Tracy had been the women's downhill coach from 1997 through 2003 and returned after Patrick Riml moved on to Canada at the end of last season. He's been through the process before and knows how the game is played. "You know," he said, "the smart ones never show their cards."
     Like many, he's got some expectations, at least about his own charges, but in the preseason there is always some guessing involved. The preseason ends Saturday.    

On the eve of the opening World Cup race, at Sölden, Austria, on Saturday, America's new-again head women's coach is guardedly optimistic for the six starters the U.S. has.
     As officials picked the start order, Jim Tracy, on board with the U.S. team for a second stint, said the off-season training was remarkable in at least one sense. "We didn't miss a single day the whole summer, but it is always hard to know (what to expect) in the first race."
     Tracy had been the women's downhill coach from 1997 through 2003 and returned after Patrick Riml moved on to Canada at the end of last season. He's been through the process before and knows how the game is played. "You know," he said, "the smart ones never show their cards."
     Like many, he's got some expectations, at least about his own charges, but in the preseason there is always some guessing involved. The preseason ends Saturday.    
     Tracy said that although the returning Sarah Schleper has been very fast in training he anticipates a sluggish start. Schleper's last World Cup race was in March 2006 when she crashed hard at Hafjell, Norway, doing severe damage to her knee. She took last season off as well, and— among other things—had a child.
     "It would be great if she's able to qualify," said Tracy, referring to making the top 30 of the first run in order to claim a chance at the second. "but after two years off I believe it will take a handful of races before we know where she is. She looks good in training, but it's different on the race hill."
     Schleper drew the 35th start position. With relatively soft conditions expected, she could face rough course, making her task tougher.
     Julia Mancuso comes into Sölden nursing a sore back, which should be reason enough for doubt. But Tracy feels Mancuso is one of those skiers who likes to keep things close to the vest.
     "Julia is a little sore, but she, too, is not showing her cards. Sore or not, she could lay one down."
     Having drawn the number one start she'll have the opportunity to put up a time the others will have to chase. But she will be followed in the start order by Nicole Hosp and Elisabeth Goergl of Austria, and defending World Cup GS champ Denise Karbon. If she can outlast those three and still top the finish order, she will have done a full day's work.
     The defending overall World Cup champ, Lindsey Vonn, is also a Tracy charge, and while she is better known as a speed skier, she's got some GS "cred" as well. Vonn scored her first World Cup GS points last season spread among five races. All of them were 13th place finishes or better with a best of sixth at Ofterschwang, Germany, last January.
     The additional U.S. starters include Megan McJames (38th), Jessica Kelley (44th) and Stacey Cook (52nd).

Start order:

1. Julia Mancuso USA
2. Nicole Hosp, AUT
3. Elisabeth Goergl, AUT
4. Denise Karbon, ITA
5. Manuela Moelgg, ITA
6. Tanja Poutiainen, FIN
7. Kathrin Zettel, AUT
8. Tessa Worley, FRA
9. Maria Pietilae-Holmner, SWE
10. Anja Paerson, SWE
other North Americans:
14. Lindey Vonn, USA
25. Genevieve Simard, CAN
35. Sarah Schleper, USA
38. Megan McJames, USA
44. Jessica Kelley, USA
49. Emilie Desforges, CAN
50. Marie-Pierre Prefontaine, CAN
52. Stacey Cook, USA