Mikaela Shiffrin will compete in super-G at Beijing Olympics, U.S. ski team says

BEIJING — The on-the-slopes portion of what Mikaela Shiffrin hopes will be a «reset» at the Beijing Olympics — moving on from early mistakes that eliminated her from two races — began under a cloudless sky with a pair of trips about a half-hour apart down the competition hill during an official training session Thursday for the upcoming super-G.

Wearing a maroon racing helmet, bright red reflective goggles and a white racing suit with «USA» on the front in blue capital letters, the two-time Olympic gold medalist eased across the finish line each time, upright instead of in a speed-preserving tuck. After the first, she paused briefly to chat with two other racers. After the second, she swiftly made her way past a gathering of about a dozen folks and was on her way.

All of that was clear to anyone present. Less certain right there and then: How Shiffrin is faring with her off-the-slopes attempt to get over those sudden and surprising exits in her best disciplines.

What became known via the U.S. ski team a few hours later, though, was that Shiffrin will, indeed, take part in the super-G on Friday as the women move from the technical to the speed events. That will be her third start of what still could end up being a six-race trip to China.

«It's hard to accept what happened, but she has to work through it. And one of the better ways to do that is to keep looking forward. She has multiple events here, which is great for her,» U.S. head women's Alpine coach Paul Kristofic said. «You have to look at what's in front of you and try to put what's behind you to rest, as difficult as that is.»

Kristofic said Thursday's practice «went well.»

Shiffrin, a 26-year-old from Colorado, never has entered a super-G at an Olympics, but she