With just days to go until the start of the 2009 Audi FIS Alpine World Cup season, coaches report that the U.S. Ski Team is in a perfect position to open the competition year.

The X factor: incredible summer training camps and total athlete commitment to personalized conditioning programs.

"This is a World Championship year and a set-up year for the 2010 Olympics. Our athletes know that and stepped it up this summer with their preparation," said Alpine Director Jesse Hunt. "We had awesome snow for our summer camps in New Zealand and Chile, and both men's and women's coaching staffs have done an outstanding job utilizing those opportunities."

For the 11th year, the Rettenbach Glacier above Oetztal Valley in Soelden, Austria, sets the stage for the opening alpine battle with a women's giant slalom set for Oct. 25 and the men's race to follow on Oct. 26.

Ted Ligety of Park City kicked off his World Cup giant slalom title-winning season with a second-place finish in Soelden last fall. Also on the podium with a second for the U.S. was 2006 Olympic giant slalom gold medalist Julia Mancuso of Olympic Valley, Calif. World Cup overall and downhill champion Lindsey Vonn of Vail, Colo., was 13th in the opening race.

"Ted gets this hill," said men's head coach Sasha Rearick. "Soelden starts out with a long flat section at the top, followed by a big right-hand break over with a steep pitch. Then it's pretty flat again at the bottom. He did a good amount of speed training this summer and is much better prepared for keeping his speed in those flatter sections — he's already got the steeps nailed."

Also starting for American men are reigning overall World Cup champion Bode Miller of Bretton Woods, N.H., '03 World Championships giant slalom bronze medalist Erik Schlopy of Park City, U.S. champion

Jimmy Cochran of Keene, N.H., and NorAm GS champ Jake Zamansky, Park City. Tim Jitloff of Reno, Nev., who suffered a sprained ankle

while training in Chile in September, also may start.

"'Schlopes' is in great physical shape and has something to prove this season. Jimmy is in a good place to do a lot this winter, and if Jitloff is completely healthy, he'll go in Soelden. We've got a clear plan for everyone on the Team," said Rearick.

"It's been working perfectly in terms of getting everyone completely prepared for an important World Cup year. Soelden is a hill that if you don't go out and attack it, you're out."

In addition to Vonn and Mancuso, American women on the attack at Soelden will be Olympians Stacey Cook of Mammoth, Calif., and Sarah Schleper of Vail, Colo., three-time NorAm GS champion Jessica Kelley of