This article appeared in skiracing.com yesterday.
https://www.skiracing.com/premium/mikaela-shiff-win-strikes-again
The author, Gabbi Hall {who's a former NCAA racer} spent some time interviewing Tiger Shaw, USSSA CEO.
He said "We are measured by Olympic Medals as an organization." Read the last few paragraphs.
Essentially what he's saying is that true race fans, and the athletes themselves care much more about the WC. An athlete places the most "value" on a WC overall globe. Tiger says as much. But, for the rest of the world, as Rudi mentions and others have, the Olympics are it. Basically one race start, every four years, in each event. Some really rise to the occasion. Never did before. Never do again.
Good example is Deb Armstrong who won the 1984 GS. I think that was her only win. May have had a WC podium or two. Great for her to have won the medal. Seriously.
I think there is, IMO, a real conflict and divide between how our national federation is defining success in the sport, versus the rest of the world. We are an outlier. I assume that it is all driven by market research,sponsor and advertising interest. Must be.
It is clear how we define best in the world. She is great to watch. It's surely not how the powerful teams see it. I sort of like seeing how teams go at this. Like the Norwegian men, the Italian women in GS, the Austrians.
If Ligety is not back to where he was. If the men's speed team doesn't find another gear or two, and if LV does not show her former speed {I think she will, to a large degree, BTW}, what do we have a team of one?
Having USA Olympic team criteria based on WC results will be interesting, as there may not be so many results between now and then. Could be three on the mens' tech team, two of whom pretty much specialize in one event.
Sort of interesting to see it out there from Tiger.