Raymond’s Clark collects 4th

ASPEN, Colo. – It is, perhaps, a sign of change in philosophy on the U.S. Ski Team.

No longer content with placing 20th, Americans want wins and top-three finishes.

Jim Tracy, coach of the U.S. women’s super-G team, was encouraged – but hardly satisfied – by its performance in Friday’s World Cup super-G. Three Americans finished in the top 10 and five in the top 30.

“Our goal is pretty simple – it’s podiums,” Tracy said. “We’re not going for 15th or 16th place or anything like that. We’re going to win races. Three-quarters of the girls have the experience now and the ability to do that.”

Kirsten Clark of Raymond led the way, winding up fourth, just .06 seconds behind third-place finisher Isolde Kostner of Italy.

“We were six-hundredths away,” Tracy said. “I’ll take it. But we’re out here to win ski races, to make podiums.”

Clark sees progress.

“We’ve had a great training period,” she said. “Now we just have to go out and go for it.

“To finish fourth in the first super-G of the season is a great confidence-booster for me. I want to keep going like this.”

Clark called the Aspen course by far the most technical super-G on the women’s circuit.

Tracy agreed.

“To do well here can very easily set the tone for the whole season,” he said. “Obviously, I’m very pleased with the effort of our team.”

Marjan Cernigoj, the head women’s coach, said his skiers are more mature and experienced than ever before.

“They need to execute good technique, selecting a good line, then the results will come, Cernigoj said. “This is one of the most difficult super-Gs we’ll have all year. It’s very intimidating. But when your time comes, you go for it.”