It's Miller's time to set another alpine record



The World Cup leader has won all four disciplines this season.
SESTRIERE, Italy (AP) -- The lights were on. The Olympic course was glistening.
The setting was perfect for Bode Miller to put his name in the record book once more.
The World Cup leader won a night slalom Monday to join Marc Girardelli as the only male skiers to win races in all four alpine disciplines in one season.
"I don't feel any different than before," Miller said. "These are the kinds of things you tell your kids about."
Earlier this season, Miller won Super G and downhill races for the first time. He won a giant slalom Sunday at Val d'Isere, France.
"At this point, I just really enjoy what I'm doing. I think being compared to some of the guys they're comparing me to is a unique opportunity," Miller said. "If you're happy with what you're doing, records don't mean as much. I think it's just fun to ski four events."
Olympic tune up?
Miller covered the course for the 2006 Turin Olympics in a two-run time of 1 minute, 39.03 seconds for his sixth win in 10 races this season. That increased his lead on Austrian rival Hermann Maier in the overall standings to 391 points.
Miller's ultimate goal is to become the first American man to win the overall title since Phil Mahre in 1983.
Silvan Zurbriggen of Switzerland was second, a distant 1.27 seconds behind, for the first World Cup podium finish of his career. Kalle Palander of Finland was third, 1.41 seconds back.
Girardelli became the first man to win slalom, giant slalom, Super G and downhill races in the same season in 1988-1989, over a two-month span. Miller compiled his victories in only 16 days.
Girardelli still has the edge on Miller, however. He also won a combined that season. Miller will have a chance to match that in the first combined event this season in Wengen, Switzerland, on Jan. 14.
Hero in the making
"It's great for alpine skiing, really good for the entire World Cup," Palander said of Miller's success. "We really need heroes. We're missing people like Alberto Tomba. Of course, it's not a fun story from this side, but it's still possible to beat him, he's not a monster or a machine."
Local favorite Giorgio Rocca, second after the first run, finished 24th after missing a gate the second time down under the lights.
After Rocca's slip-up, Miller stood in the starting gate with a massive 1.5-second advantage on Zurbriggen because of his fastest time in the opening run under a fading afternoon sun.
Miller slipped slightly near the midpoint of his second run then cruised to his second win in two days.
"I didn't know he went out," Miller said of Rocca. "There is no TV at the start. But at that point, I don't think it would have helped. If I back off I lose my rhythm. For me, the chances of making a mistake are higher when I back off.
"Winning here is good for me. It's been a tough hill for me in the past. I've never had the results I thought I should have had. But I can guarantee you it's going to be much different conditions for the Olympics. I've raced here for seven years now and it's changed every year."
Better all around
Miller began his four-discipline feat by winning a Super G in Lake Louise, Alberta, on Nov. 28, then added a downhill in Beaver Creek, Colo., on Dec. 3. After the giant slalom win in Val d'Isere, his only discipline victory missing this season was in slalom. He failed to finish the first leg in the season's opening slalom in Beaver Creek.
Miller began his career as a technical skier specializing in slalom and giant slalom, but has since become an all-around threat also excelling in the speed disciplines. As a result, his slalom results have suffered -- Monday's victory was just his second in slalom since 2002.
"It was just a matter of making sure to do everything right," Miller said. "In slalom you have to make five or six decisions in a second's time at every gate and if you make one bad decision you're out."
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

By using this site, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use.

» Accept
» Learn More