Who are these guys?

Long-regarded as an afterthought on the world skiing stage, the United States Ski Team is slugging it out with the Austrian dynasty in the medals race at the FIS World Championships. With only the Women's and Men's Slalom races to go, the U.S. has six medals in St. Moritz, second only to the Austria's seven. This in comparison to a combined total of one medal (Daron Rahlves' gold in the Super-G) over the past two World Championships.

But it may not be over yet. Red-hot Bode Miller, staking a claim to being the top all-around skier in the world, will be favored to bring home another medal in Sunday's slalom. If he succeeds, Miller will become the first American ever to earn four medals in one World Championships. And given his position in the overall World Cup points race, just eight points behind Stephan Eberharter as the season winds down, Miller looks to be the next truly dominant skier on the world scene.

Of Sunday's slalom, Miller said, "I'm ready to race. I come out ready to compete every day and I have a really good ability to not get too concerned with the result, just to race really hard.

"Obviously, the feeling in the organization is pretty excited right now. We've got a lot of momentum, a lot of confidence we're doing the right stuff because the athletes are showing it, especially in the big championships."

Equally important to Miller's ascendancy is the fact that four different U.S. skiers--two men and two women--have earned medals at St. Moritz. Kirsten Clark and Jonna Mendes finished 2nd and 3rd in the Women's Super-G, while Erik Schlopy earned a bronze medal in the Giant Slalom with a great second run. Beyond the Worlds, the team has seen outstanding performances on the World Cup circuit this season from Daron Rahlves, Jake Fiala and 17 year-old Resi Steigler. The team is building the type of depth necessary to compete for championships.

Whereas the Austrians have been dominant for decades, the U.S. team is still learning to perform at the highest level. Mendes addressed that issue after winning her medal. "After the Olympics last year I learned quite a bit. I will never feel the stress again I felt at the Olympics. I think I was able to learn a lot from it and come into the World Championships feeling relaxed and ready," she said.

The U.S. Ski program has set a goal to lead the medals count at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. Alan Ashley, VP-Athletics, can see the progress. "We're on the right track. The program and relationship between the coaches and athletes is starting to jell to where everyone is banging on all cylinders. We have to remember that we celebrate our victories, but then we get up the next morning and get back to work to be 'Best in the World!'"

Based on performances this season, that goal may not be so farfetched.

— Tim O'Mara, MountainZone.com correspondent