It's two years and counting down toward the 2010 Winter Olympics, which is really not a lot of time when trying to put groups of elite skiers and snowboarders on track for gold.

No one is more aware of this than Bill Marolt, president/CEO of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard teams.

As things stand now, the U.S. will likely be sending its strongest contingent of athletes to the Games.

In Marolt's words, "The future look bright ... very bright.

"On a sport-by-sport basis, we see individuals in each sport that have been on the podium this season," he said.

"Almost all our athletes have had good success, not only in World Cup, but we've had good success in Europa Cup, which means we're starting to see some of the younger athletes percolate towards World Cup ... and the Olympics."

Needless to say, in the 12 years Marolt has headed the teams, there has been steady improvement, particularly in the areas of alpine racing and snowboarding.

All made possible, he said, through simple management strategies, which are to establish stability, present a plan and set down objectives for athletes, coaches and staff.

In 2002, skiers and snowboarders set a goal of winning 10 medals, a task many thought impossible. The U.S. won 10 medals, two gold, in alpine skiing and snowboarding.

Marolt upped the bar in 2006, and even though it was America's best showing — 10 medals, five of them gold — it was short of team goals.

"So I told our coaches and athletes that we're not going to back away but instead raise the bar (for 2010). We're going to get better at what we do by planning better, having greater focus and by being smarter at what we do," he said. "We can't work any harder; we just need to be smarter."

The new Olympic training center in Park City will, most certainly, put athletes on the road to learning. Scheduled for completion in the spring of 2009, the center will have the very latest in equipment, technology and training tools, and the professional staff to administer these tools.

Equally important, said Marolt, is that for the very first time athletes, coaches and staff will be "working together under one roof instead of being spread out all over the world."

It helps, too, that many of the elite athletes Marolt sees going to Vancouver are now living and training in the Park City area.

It means coaches and trainers will be able to sit down with these athletes on a routine basis in order to concentrate on proper training, diet and mind-set.

The prospects of a strong pool of elite athletes, the new training center and a definite plan have Marolt excited about 2010.

"We will go into 2010 fully prepared, and I believe we can go there as a team, with strong team feelings and compete hard as individuals," he said, "and see if we can't achieve our goals."

Success breeds success in a team atmosphere. One skier or snowboarder doing well will let others on the team know it's possible and will set for them a level they will need to succeed.

U.S. skiers and snowboarders have done well this season, and there are strong individuals within the development programs, which are reasons enough for all to be excited about 2010.

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