SKIING WORLD CUP : U.S. Hopes Are Up in Downhill

GRINDELWALD, Switzerland â€”  As the final countdown to Albertville gets under way this weekend, U.S. women skiers are showing surprising strength in an event that they had previously almost written off.

Three Americans--Krista Schmindinger, Hilary Lindh and Megan Garety--were among the top 11 in Friday’s last training run for today’s World Cup downhill.

And this followed on the heels of Lindh’s first place Wednesday and Kristin Krone’s fourth Thursday. Throw in Edith Thys’ ninth on Wednesday and suddenly the U.S. ski team has a problem, since only four racers may be named for each Alpine event when the final Olympic selections are made Monday.

So, obviously, today’s race, in the shadow of the Jungfrau and the Eiger, will carry a lot of weight.

Sunday’s slalom is a bit different. American Julie Parisien is one of the favorites in this final tuneup for the Winter Olympics starting next Saturday. And in addition, both Eva Twardokens and Diann Roffe figure to score points, although their strong suit is the giant slalom, which is not being contested this weekend.

Here to lend her support to the U.S. women is Tamara McKinney, the 1983 World Cup overall champion and combined gold medalist in the 1989 World Alpine Championships. McKinney, who will be a commentator on Turner Broadcasting’s reports from the Winter Games, visited with her old--and also young--buddies at the Hotel Kirchbuhl after arriving Friday.

“Everyone is ready to go,� she said.

The U.S. men, meanwhile, are competing about 150 miles from Grindewald in a giant slalom and super-G at Megeve and Chamonix, France. The American to watch there is Jeremy Nobis, who has had some great first runs but has faltered on his second trips. If he can put together two solid runs, he could be a medal contender in the giant slalom at Albertville.

On Monday, the action will shift for both men and women to the French Alps, where the first Alpine race, the men’s downhill, will be held Feb. 9 at Val d’Isere.