What event is the U.S. weakest in this year? I read all the time about speedskating and skiing, but wonder if that’s the only thing U.S. athletes are good at.
- Derek Blake, New York

For those of you who revel in America’s occasional athletic failings, there are still a few precious events that figure to provide U.S-free medal stands. For some reason, despite all our practice at war and gun ownership, Americans are traditionally lousy at most Olympic shooting events, and that includes biathlon.

We stink at Nordic skiing, ski jumping, pairs skating, and our men traditionally aren’t competitive at curling. Other than that, however, I wouldn’t count the U.S. out of anything.

What sport deserves more coverage during the Winter Olympics? Is there some really cool event that no one pays attention to?
- Al Reeves, Seattle

There is so little substance to the Winter Games, frankly, that every sport is given more than its share of broadcast and press coverage. Maybe the U.S. media cheat Nordic skiing events a bit, because the Americans are historically medal-challenged in the events. But I wouldn’t say these long-distance treks would make for particularly riveting TV. And it didn’t help four years ago when the gold medalist, Russian cross-country skier Larissa Lazutina, tested positive for an EPO-like substance.

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Personally, I have a soft spot in my anarchic heart for short-track speedskating, just because it seems so random. But that’s not really your question.

Check back with me, Al, before the Beijing Olympics, and we’ll talk rhythmic gymnastics and badminton.

How do you begin ski jumping? Do people just decide it’d be a blast to go down a ramp and see if they don’t break their legs? Do you do any training for it besides just jumping?
-Peggy Miller, Norfolk, Va.

Most ski jumpers begin training at a young age by sliding down very small jumps or bumps, without much speed behind them, flying no more than two feet off the ground over a short distance. These trips are about one-twelfth as long as the 90-meter jumps you see at the Olympics.

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As the jumper gains confidence, she starts to increase the height of the hill and the jump, in about eight increments.

There is strength training involved, and of course many hours spent trying to perfect form by viewing videos. And in the summer, the jumping continues down water-dampened plastic runs, grooved for the skis.

And then there’s Eddie the Eagle, who just kind of flung himself down a ramp. So pick your poison, Peggy.