Daron also thought there were a couple spots in the course where his tips tried to cross. Either way, he had a smile on his face and was ready to HAMMER DOWN in the Super G and CS.

In the combined DH the piste was in excellent condition. Bode finished #1. We were all so very excited. Susan was at the bottom of the DH and got some awesome pictures from 2 ft. away. Bode was happy and so cool. Smiles from ear to ear. All the S.V. gang was chanting the rest of the day was: "WHAT TIME IS IT?...IT IS BODE TIME!"

USA fans were on fire and starting to party very early. As a result of Bodes' efforts he was .97 seconds ahead going into that evening's slalom. Ted Ligety had also laid down an incredible run with a top-five result going into that evening's Combined Slalom.

The CS in Sestriere Colle took place at the end of the day. The newly installed lighting system was so powerful we almost had to wear goggles. The high-powered lighting was necessary for the high-definition broadcast of the race.

The first run was extremely exciting as Bode skied solid and close to the edge and extended his lead in the combined to 1.4 seconds. Ted Ligety also threw down a great run leaving him in the top five in the combined. In the second run only the top 30 start, and they start in reverse order. This makes it very thrilling because it is not over until the last racer goes. Ligety came down 3rd to the last and took the lead and never lost it. Bode straddled a gate and DQ'd, but it was still A GOLD to the American, Ted Ligety. Wonderful.

Celebrating Squaw style we all ended up with an Austrian oompah Band. The band's name was KAUNERTAL TIROL. The Austrians knew how to help us celebrate in style. After partying and watching the Band, Jeff was asked to play drums, and he did so very well, we thought. He was even offered a permanent position to play in the band.

Hurbert, the leader of the band, was a friend and former neighbor of Tony Proximyer and Ernst Hager. Once this fact was discovered, Hubert declared the band would not stop until we finished a huge bottle of Austrian jet fuel. Tasty! We danced, drank, played drums, and told stories. USA had a gold. Before we knew it was 2am and our heads hit the pillows. Another good day of ski racing.

Keep you eyes peeled on Channel 3. Our "Up Close and Personal" story is suppose to run next week with Reno's Deirdre Fitzpatrick. She was able to come into our apartment here and check out our incredible location. She said: "Here I am with a little bit of Palisades Tahoe right here in Sestriere."

On our way to the Swiss House, where we are now, we ran into Palisades Tahoe's Andreas and Zack Riekenbach, and Andreas' US Ski Team wife, Kristen Clark. They were enjoying a day off and cruising around Sestriere.
                  --By Banfields, Holbrook, and Rouses
CIAO.
Susan and Jeff
Dick and Ann
Johnnie

Editor's Note: Robert Frohlich, a veteran Olympic journalist, is coordinating these reports to Tahoetopia.