For an athlete like Olympic champion Ted Ligety, it makes rehabbing from a serious injury much more efficient.

"I always like to push the limits," he said. "It's hard taking it easy, being seemingly lazy."

Having the Center of Excellence, he said, "as far as recovery, it's been huge. In the old facility, we had two physical therapy tables."

But more than traditional rehab, Ligety said, he benefited from being able to run on a treadmill in a pool when his leg was unable to bear his weight at all.

"The pool stuff was really big," he said. "To get that mobility and strength back, when I was in the non-weight bearing stage, was really big. That is something I wouldn't have been able to do otherwise."

There is also a skate park for snowboarders to hone their skills and two trampolines for aerialists to practice tricks.

"This is definitely an upgrade in every area," noted downhill skier Erik Fisher.

e-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com