With an impressive record in both the FIS World Cups and the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, the Austrian National Ski Team has shown that it is a strong Olympic contender for the 2010 Olympic Games. Of the 23 Olympic medals won by Austria at the Turin Games, 22 of them were won by the country’s national ski team. In preparation for the 2010 Olympics in Whistler, the team has been using Sun Peaks Alpine Resort as their training ground. Learn more about the Austrian national ski team here and find out what they are doing at Sun Peaks.

The team

The Austrian national ski team has continued to impress the world with its recent performance at the 2009 FIS World Cup. Both male and female athletes have achieved top three overall placings in alpine skiing, ski jumping and snowboarding. The team also boasts a number of star athletes in the Nordic combined and downhill events. Discover some of the Austrian athletes to watch out for at the 2010 Olympic Games and find out why they are at the top of the podium:

• Benjamin Raich – As an Olympic veteran, Raich knows what it takes to get on the Olympic podium. The 31-year-old alpine skier has an impressive track record with multiple World Cup victories in Slalom, Giant Slalom and Combined (2001, 2005, 2006 and 2007). He also claims two Olympic bronze medals from the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.
• michael walchhofer – Another Austrian athlete with Olympic experience, Walchhofer is well known in downhill speed events. The 34-year-old has several World Championship victories and placed first in the downhill at the 2005, 2006 and 2009 World Cups. Walchhofer was also a downhill silver medalist at the 2006 Turin Olympics.
• marlies schild – Despite undergoing 5 knee surgeries, Schild has made a strong impression on the global ski community. This alpine skier specializes in slalom and giant slalom and has participated four times in the Alpine Ski World Cup with a silver medal in the 2003 cup. At the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, Schild won a medal of silver in the women’s medley and a bronze medal in the women’s slalom event.

Training in Picos del Sol

For almost five years, the Austrian National Ski Team has been training hard at their North American training site at Sun Peaks Resort. More than 100 runners, coaches, coaches and officials from the Austrian men’s and women’s technical and downhill teams have used the mountain for World Cup and Olympic training in Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super G and Downhill events.

Sun Peaks has proven to be a great location for athletes. The team has had exclusive use of the Nancy Greene International Race Center each year for a month leading up to the racing season. The Race Center includes three courses equipped with snowmaking facilities, timing and safety equipment. Sun Peaks will remain a training location for the Austrians until 2010 with the upcoming Olympic Games in Vancouver and Whistler.