Yep, Lindsey Vonn blew out her knee. Done for the season. But the U.S. Ski and Snowboarding Association is working hard on making the 2014 Sochi Olympics not about anyone named Lindsey or Bode, but about making certain that there’s a solid team in every single discipline. For a change, they’re also putting money into the equation, to the tune of $1 million a year in testing and programming alone, something the USOC has often lacked, in addition to strategy. Outside Park City they’re testing blood-oxygen uptake, stress testing athletes, and learning precisely how to train the team as a team. It’s paying off, too. Where Austrians or Swedes once dominated, U.S., alpine skiers have landed on the podium 27 times this season, including 16 wins. And Americans are even making inroads in nordic skiing and ski jumping. It’s a compelling shift, one that argues heavily against the idea that the Swiss or the Austrians have a genetic “lock” on winter sports. Via WSJ.

Tags: olympics, Skiing, Snowboarding

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