LAKE LOUISE, Alberta (Nov. 28) - World Cup leader Bode Miller (Franconia, NH) barreled his way into skiing history Sunday, collecting his third consecutive win as he won a World Cup super G - the first skier to first the first three races of a World Cup season - and became one of only five skiers to win in all five racing disciplines. It was his second victory in two days at Lake Louise - and in both races Daron Rahlves (Sugar Bowl, CA) was fifth.

Miller clears the air during his historic downhill win on Saturday (credit FIS/Zoom)

Miller, who won his first World Cup downhill Saturday at Lake Louise, was timed in 1:28.18 for his 15th World Cup victory with Hermann Maier of Austria - whom Miller tied for the super G silver medal at the 2003 World Championships - in second place (1:28.32).

Rahlves was fifth in 1:28.86 while Bryon Friedman (Park City, UT) came out of the 62nd start spot to tie for 28th with a time of 1:30.11.

"It was good. I had a couple of little mistakes," said Miller, a low-key Carrabasset Valley Academy (ME) product, "but it was good."

Coach: Miller "at another new level..."
"Mr. Miller 'threw down,' as they say. He put on another impressive display, very impressive," said DH/SG Head Coach John McBride. "He's simply at another new level of skiing.

"And 'D' was great, right in the hunt until a little mistake in the final section, so two good days for him on a hill that hasn't been kind to him before now...and FreeDog showed some good stuff. I'd've liked to see a little more love out of the back, but we'll take what we can get," McBride said.

Rahlves with a solid weekend (credit M.Carmichael/ACA)

Saturday, Miller - who had won the final training run, which sets the start order (in reverse of the fastest times) - ran 30th in the downhill and when he dropped nearly a full second (.97) on the field, it was over. However, in super G, racers go in order of their World Cup points; Miller ran 14th and had to wait as Maier, Rahlves and the others took their shot at his time. Maier, the defending World Cup super G champ, gave it run but couldn't match Miller's performance.

The back-to-back wins in 24 hours, he said, helped vindicate his desire to ski all events, not just slalom and GS. Some questioned the wisdom of him racing speed, he said, especially after he tore ligaments in his left knee in a crash during the combined downhill at the 2001 World Championships. "It's great to have the results to back-up by my philosophy of racing," he said.

Olympic season marked real emergence
He rebounded in the Olympic season with - to that point - his greatest success, winning four races and picking up the Olympic silver medals in giant slalom and combined. At the '03 Championships, he won GS and combined and tied Maier for the SG silver. Last season, he won the first World Cup title by a U.S. man since Phil Mahre in 1983 when he won the GS title; he also won six races and was fourth overall (with Rahlves fifth overall after winning four races and ranking second in downhill and super G).

Bode makes short work of the Lake Louise super G  (credit M.Carmichael/ACA)

He switched to Atomic skis last spring. Miller said it was not just the skis but his entire new equipment setup, which has helped him find a more comfortable stance on his skis; he also said the "process" of gaining experience was vital. He led the final training run two years ago in Lake Louise and, despite a "huge mistake," finished seventh to mark his emergence as a speed contender.

"I'm 27. I've been working a long time for this," he said. "I'm not a rookie, y'know."

He also pointed out he had won the first two races of the 2004 season before he ran into some problems and eventually had to settle for fourth overall.

New "neighborhood" for Miller
Asked about becoming one of just five skiers to win in slalom, GS, super G, downhill and combined, Miller said he had thought about being a successful five-event racer since he was a youngster. "To win by as much as I did in [Saturday's downhill] and on back to back days, and that I skied well today, that's surprising," he said.

His win enabled Miller - who came into the season with no victories in downhill and super G, and now has won both in 24 hours - to join some of the greatest names in racing annals: Norwegian Kjetil Andre Aamodt, who is still active, plus Swiss champion Pirmin Zurbriggen, Austrian Guenther Mader and five-time World Cup champion Marc Girardelli. Perhaps the most amazing statistic, though, is that Miller conquered all five disciplines in his first 15 World Cup wins.

The men head to Beaver Creek, Colo., for the VISA Birds of Prey races, a series of four, which begins Thursday with another super G and then rolls into a downhill, GS and slalom. Miller said Lake Louise did not suit his style because it was "easy" and not technical enough, but he feels Birds of Prey - where Rahlves won a downhill last season - is well-suited to both of their styles.

MEN'S ALPINE WORLD CUP
Lake Louise Winterstart
Lake Louise, ALB - Nov. 28, 2004
Men's Super G
1. Bode Miller, Franconia, N.H., 1:28.18
2. Hermann Maier, Austria, 1:28.32
3. Michael Walchhofer, Austria, 1:28.73
 -
5. Daron Rahlves, Sugar Bowl, Calif., 1:28.86
28T. Bryon Friedman, Park City, Utah, 1:30.11
42. Scott Macartney, Redmond, Wash., 1:30.78
45. Erik Schlopy, Park City, Utah, 1:31.04
48. Jake Fiala, Frisco, Colo., 1:31.07
55. Dane Spencer, Boise, Idaho, 1:31.63
57. Wade Bishop, Winter Park, Colo., 1:31.85

For complete results:
http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?event_id=15437&cal_suchsector=AL

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