Its been a whirlwind for the U.S. Ski Team at the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Liberec, Czech Republic thus far.

The excitement kicked off with Park City’s Lindsey Van making history by becoming the first woman to win a world championship in her sport Friday.

On the same day, Nordic combiner Todd Lodwick won his own gold medal and cross-country skier Kris Freeman took fourth in the 15K classic race. Lodwick won another gold on Sunday and teammate Billy Demong, who resides in Park City, took bronze.

“It’s surreal,” said Lodwick after the first race. “It’s a true fairy tale.”

This was the first time two Americans made the same podium in a Worlds event.

“I think the most important thing about today, and probably the coolest, is that I am able to share this podium with another teammate,” Lodwick said in an interview with the U.S. Ski Team. “I cannot believe I get to share this World Championship podium with a teammate.”

These wins are even sweeter for the 32-year-old Lodwick, who made the decision to come out of retirement to pursue his dream of becoming a world champion. Lodwick has been to four Olympics and seven World Championships but this is the first time he has medaled in either arena.

The entire American team is sharing what has been an incredible showing at the World Championships. Its no secret that U.S. atheletes, at times, have struggled in Nordic competition, but it looks like 2009 is their year.

Sunday, with eight out of 20 competitions done, the Americans were ahead in the medal count, beating the Norwegians three gold medals to one. And the wins just keep coming.

On Tuesday, cross-country skier Kikkan Randall got a piece of the historic pie by taking silver in the World Championship Sprint. Her finish is the highest ever for an American cross-country skier at the World Championships.

Van, who leads a women’s jumping team full of Parkites, said that their accomplishments at the World Championships are truly a team effort. In fact in women’s ski jumping, success by all of the countries is something to celebrate as they try to push to get the sport into the Olympic Games.

“I definitely want to share this with my team,” she said. “Most of the women jumpers are friends and we’re pushing the sport forward. It’s a team effort. It’s not individual.”

Van is hoping that her performance is just one more reason to make Olympic officials take another look.

“I’m cautiously optimistic,” she said. “But I’m not trying to worry about that right now. I’m trying to enjoy the moment.”

Freeman, who will be able to compete in the Olympic Games in Vancouver next year if he plays his cards right, was very excited about what his finish meant for his chances next season.

“It shows I have the potential to take a medal,” he said.

Freeman finished off the podium by mere seconds and said if he had been able to ski just a little longer, a medal might have been his.

“I paced the race as good as I could,” he said. “After the race, I was trying to decide between crying in the corner or throwing the party.”

The trick for the Americans now is to sustain their success into the Olympic season. In April, the female jumpers will anxiously watch a legal arbitration in Canada unfold that may change their fate and give them an opportunity to jump in the Games, Their Nordic teammates just need to keep themselves on the podium.

“Let’s be the strongest team in the world,” declared Lodwick.