It's a busy weekend on the winter sports circuit. Here's some of the more noteworthy events.
Alpine Skiing - Is Bode back?
Two-time Salt Lake silver medalist Bode Miller is poised to make a return to competition after a nine-month hiatus. Slalom, the event that will be held this weekend in Levi, Finland, is typically his worst. Still, it should provide a good indicator to whether Miller is committed to the pre-Olympic winter season and whether he'll be able to regain fitness after a summer away from the slopes. Countryman Ted Ligety will look to continue his strong start after taking second in giant slalom at the World Cup opener in Soelden. Someone you won't see in Levi is reigning overall World Cup champion Aksel Lund Svindal, who is nursing a minor injury from the friendly confines of Miami. Watch the women compete Saturday and the men on Sunday, both at 10 a.m. ET on Universal Sports TV.
With multiple World Cup and Olympic victories under their belts, these athletes have the potential to reach the medal podium in Vancouver.
Figure Skating - Can Flatt emerge?
The 2009 Skate America in Lake Placid features reigning world champions, Evan Lysacek of the U.S. and South Korea's Kim Yu-Na, in both the men's and ladies' fields. But despite the star attraction, the event might be of greatest importance to American Rachael Flatt. The 17-year-old will hope to rebound from a lethargic presentation at the Grand Prix stop in China that landed her in fourth place. The typically consistent Flatt was the top U.S. finisher at 2009 Worlds, but Ashley Wagner, with two Grand Prix medals this season, is making a convincing case as the safest bet for one of two available spots on the U.S. Olympic team. Flatt needs to take advantage of a relatively shallow talent pool in Lake Placid - none of Japan's top guns are assigned to Skate America - and record a podium finish to bolster her chances at Vancouver. Full coverage on Universal Sports TV
Bobsled - Night Train the favorite?
Fresh off a feature article in Sports Illustrated, Steve Holcomb's world champion four-man sled begins their World Cup season on the 2002 Olympic track in Park City, Utah. The opener will shed light on the adjustments made to the notorious Night Train sled by architect Bob Cuneo over the summer in his workshop in Oxford, Conn.
Short Track - Will the U.S. earn max quota?
At last weekend's short track World Cup in Montreal, the U.S. showed their increasing depth beyond five-time Olympic medalist Apolo Ohno. That depth will be even more important this weekend at the final World Cup in Marquette, Mich., which, along with the stop in Montreal, will determine how many spots the United States team is awarded in both men's and women's short track competitions at the 2010 Olympic Games.
