Two years ago, Bill Marolt talked about his "dream" training facility for winter athletes. Last Friday, Marolt, CEO of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, showed off his new training facility ... and said proudly, from concept to completion, "I wouldn't change a thing ... it's perfect."

Not only was the 85,000-square-foot center northwest of the Park City exit off U.S. 40 completed on time and under budget, the center itself is, indeed, perfect. And, after touring, few, if any, would argue.

Some training centers may come close to this one, but none can compare with the Center of Excellence athletic facility.

Despite its origin, the center is not just for the elite athletes, pointed out Marolt.

It will provide service to all the winter elite and development athletes, in all disciplines, as well as athletes at the universities and the more than 400 local clubs. And, to some degree, the general public.

Built completely with private donations, the center is the most complete all-things-to-all-athletes building one could imagine.

It is broken into three levels, with the top floor for staff, the second for coaches and the main floor being a 45,000-square-foot training center, complete with the very latest in high-tech equipment, including a well-stocked cooking school, an indoor skate park, Olympic trampolines and full-size basketball court.

Often overlooked is the fact that moms and fast-foot pizza shops are not always nearby for athletes on the road, "so we end up doing our own cooking about 50 percent of the time," said Steve Nyman, a member of the alpine A team and resident of Orem.

It has been proven, too, that the best time to replenish used-up nutrients is within the first 30 minutes of a workout. Which will make it possible for athletes to complete a workout, eat their favorite meal, they cooked, and then be ready for a second session, something that was heretofore difficult, if not impossible.

High-tech video equipment will be used to capture athletes in training. These images will be analyzed, reviewed and placed in educational collections. These files will be made available to athletes and even the viewing public under "Dartfish TV," on the USSA's Web site — www.ussa.org.

One of the most impressive, and destined to be one of the more important areas of the center, is the sport medicine or rehab center.

The equipment in the center, from lasers to ultrasound equipment to muscle stimulators, "is the very newest and latest available."

At the far end of the rehab center is a large high-tech pool where athletes can do deep-water running, ride a submerged bike, swim against an on-demand current and walk on an underwater treadmill all while four cameras record the therapy sessions, which can then be digitized and analyzed.

And, in the center of the center is the most complete inventory of workout and testing equipment imaginable.

And, said Marolt, experts in each area were brought in to design and furnish their particular area "to be the very best."

So, will this center be a benefit to athletes headed for the 2010 Winter Games in six months? Possibly. It's certain to make a big difference, however, for those headed for future World Cups and Olympics given time to exercise their membership.