Picabo Street summed it up best in a television appearance. When asked about Bode Miller’s comments, she replied, “Bode will learn that no one wants your personal opinions.” That was it. No analysis, just that simple statement, and the show moved on to other topics. It was the best treatment of the subject I’ve heard.

She then spoke about the real focus of this year’s Olympics, the incredible depth of the U.S. team. While Bode and his remarks have received attention, U.S. athletes have been preparing and the medal potential is greater than any other team in the world.

We have other skiers who, like Miller, have an opportunity of winning medals. Daron Rahlves is the best example. The Lake Tahoe skier has won 11 times on the World Cup, all downhill and Super-G, the most speed events of any U.S. skier. Three of his wins have come this season, including the Lauberhorn downhill, one of the toughest of all. A year ago, he won the equally prestigious Hahnenkamm (third this season) and is as hot as any skier going into the games. Rahlves is not only a favorite to win a medal, it could easily be gold in both Super-G and downhill.

On the women’s side, Julia Mancuso and Lindsey Kildow finished second and third in a recent World Cup Super-G. Unfortunately, one of our top skiers, Caroilne Lalive, will miss Turin with a fractured knee cap, but running downhill in her place will be our own Kirsten Clark who has been coming along well in her comeback from an injury. The Raymond skier has won on the World Cup and was second in the 03 World Championships in Super-G. That gives us at least three women who could medal.

Our freestyle team is equally strong with a bunch of veteran competitors who have racked up numerous titles in recent seasons. In both moguls and aerials, we have defending World Champions Jeremy Bloom and Jeret “Speedy” Peterson. Travis Mayer won a silver medal in moguls in the 2002 Olympics, and Hannah Kearny is the reigning women’s World Mogul Champion. Her teammate Shannon Bahrke won the silver in Moguls in 2002.

The freestyle team also has a strong aerial contingent. In addition to Peterson, Eric Bergoust has been in the last four Olympics and was the 1998 aerials champ. Joe Pack won silver in 2002. CVA grad Emily Cook missed 2002 with an injury but is back and skiing well.

Our snowboarders lead the world. Farmington’s Seth Wescott and Lindsey Jacobellis are both snowboardcross World Champions. Kelly Clark won the half-pipe gold medal in the 2002 games.

Get the picture? The talk is all about Bode Miller, but we have a ski/snowboard team with more depth than ever. These athletes could bring home a record number of medals even if Bode falls in every race. Don’t get me wrong. I hope Bode wins five gold medals, but let’s not forget the rest of the team.

As to his comments, his remarks have kept alpine skiing and the upcoming games on the front pages and on TV. The commercials advertising the TV coverage of the games feature Bode skiing and in a close-up head shot. And that doesn’t even mention the covers of Time and Newsweek! I can’t remember a time when any U.S. skier has received the amount of attention Bode has gotten this season.

Some say he is hurting the sport and others feel any press is good press. I’m with Picabo. Bode will find out when it’s all over. In the meantime, it is good to see skiing getting a lot of attention. It was even better to see Seth Wescott and his snowboard teammates on national TV.

I can make a prediction based on history. Once the games are over, the coverage will fade away. Bode won’t be in contention for any of the World Cup titles due to his skipping some races to rest up for the Olympics. Without him, the major news outlets will ignore the World Cup finals and the National Alpine Championships, which will be held right here in Maine at Sugarloaf the end of March.

This is the way it always happens. The skiers toil in obscurity until an Olympic year when all of the news people suddenly discover that we have a ski team. It won’t be any different this year. Bode might make some headlines, but you will have to search for other skiing results.

And the most successful of U.S. Ski Teams will get even less coverage.

The World’s disabled athletes will gather for the Paralympics, to be held on the same runs as the Olympics on March 10. Our team has dominated these games since their inception, and we have a strong team going to Italy.

One Maine skier is expected to compete, Carl Burnett of Cape Elizabeth, a mono skier who was paralyzed below the waist in a car crash at age 5. He is majoring in linguistics at Dartmouth. He has a great example from Maine to follow. Sarah Billmeier from Yarmouth was on the team from 1992 to 2001, and between Paralympics and Disabled World Championships, has 13 gold medals, eight Olympic. Billmeier is studying medicine at Dartmouth. You may not find the results in the news but they will be on www.usskiteam.com.

Finally, congratulations to Shawnee Peak and all the skiers who raised over $40,000 during the Moonlight Charity Challenge Feb. 5. The money will go to Camp Sunshine and the Shawnee Peak Adaptive Skiing Program.

Dave Irons is a freelance writer who lives in Westbrook.