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Bode Miller ready for great US weekend
Three weeks after his impressive victory in Soelden’s World Cup Opening, Bode Miller feels ready for another great weekend in Utah’s Park City which hosts the next stop on the 2003/2004 World Cup Tour.
The double World Champion from New Hampshire, who scored his very first World Cup point here in November 1997 in finishing 11th hopes to keep his winning form on homeland.
“It would be great to win my first World Cup race in the US this weekend” Bode said at a press conference. “It’s disappointing how long it has been since an American has won on American soil. It’s an embarrassing drought. So it’s about time we close this gap” he added.
“It would also be a strong message to the US crowd and get more spectators here. Ski racing is a very spectacular sport yet it’s not marketed very well here. My dad mostly follows my races on the internet because the TV coverage is so weak in the US. It’s embarrassing when you think about all the effort and the intensity we put into this sport”.
Silver for Bode in 2002
Last year, Miller didn’t finish both races here, losing much ground on Austria’s Stephan Eberharter in the Overall World Cup standings. Yet he likes the demanding slopes in Park City which requires much aggressiveness and perfect technique from the skiers. In fact, he captured a superb silver medal in February 2002 in the Olympic GS dominated by Stephan Eberharter. “The terrain is very nice and challenging too. I think the conditions will be excellent for us”.
Miller trained and raced several days in the past week after undergoing Lasik surgery at his right eye on October 31st . “I had some vision problems
last season especially in downhill and I decided to make this operation in time for this season. It worked out fine and it should help me this winter”.
Bode also worked hard to recover his form in slalom, his best specialty two years ago. Last winter, he only reached once the podium, in Bormio. He tested intensively last summer, trying almost 40 different pair of new slalom skis. “I don’t worry too much, it’s just a question of time until we find the best adjustment in our equipment” Bode explained. “Slalom is a very interesting event because you mostly compete at your limits. I have always enjoyed to move at the edge, this is what makes this sport so exciting. This is also the reason why I like to race in all events. That’s the way I grew up, it’s nothing special for me”.
Austria aims for revenge
During this press-conference, Bode also mentioned the importance of a good mental preparation before the races. “We all ski very well, and at the end it’s your dedication and your confidence which help you to be faster than the rest of the field. You can just attack more when you feel sure about your form. Yet you also need some luck - you can straddle the fourth gate in the first run and then the game is over!”.
The Austrians, who didn’t reach the podium in Soelden, should be particularly motivated here. “We will do our very best to defeat Bode in the USA after he beat us in Soelden” said Hans Pum, the Alpine Director of the Austrian Federation.
Hans Knauss, the silver medallist in St Moritz last February and Benjamin Raich, who has not won a single race for more than a year, will be fighting for revenge in giant slalom. Stephan Eberharter, who suffered a bad flue last month, and Hermann Maier, injured at a rip since October, would be happy with a strong top-10 finish. Maier 16th in Soelden, will again start far behind the favorites.
On hard snow, France’s Frederic Covili and Joel Chenal could again ski among the best 5. Yet the weather forecast in Utah predicts some heavy snowfalls before and during the race. Difficult course conditions may create some surprises at the end of the day.
Manuèle Lang
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