tjf67
12-15-2006, 10:34 AM
I dont really like the guy but you have to give him credit
Updated: Dec. 15, 2006, 9:20 AM ET
Miller wins super-G at Val GardenaReuters
VAL GARDENA, Italy -- World champion Bode Miller of the United States won a World Cup super-G on Friday for his second victory of the Alpine ski season.
Starting 21st, the New Hampshire skier charged down the Saslong piste in 1 minute, 32.99 seconds to beat Austrian Christoph Gruber by 0.64 seconds.
Canadian John Kucera finished third, 0.73 off Miller's pace, to show that his surprise win in the season's first super-G on home snow in Lake Louise was no flash in the pan.
Miller, who failed to win a medal at the Turin Olympics while gaining a reputation for late-night partying, put a poor start to the season behind him when he won the Beaver Creek downhill on Dec. 1.
The 29-year-old will be a favorite to triumph again in Saturday's classic Val Gardena downhill and the technical events in Alta Badia on Sunday and Monday as he looks to take command of the overall World Cup.
Miller combined his natural aggression and pace with great concentration on a demanding course with hard snow and plenty of sharp turns.
"I skied aggressively and I definitely didn't make any mistakes today," said Miller, who on Saturday will be aiming to win his first downhill in Europe.
Miller has previously won three World Cup super-G races -- in Lake Louise and Lenzerheide during the 2005 season when he won the overall title and then last season at Are in Sweden.
Kucera's podium place completed a good performance for North Americans with the Canadian in a buoyant mood after pushing Switzerland's Didier Cuche, fastest in downhill training here this week, into fourth place just ahead of former Olympic super-G champion Hermann Maier of Austria.
"I put in a good run and skied well, it was a strong and solid run and I am happy with it. I need to keep focused and pay attention to the littel details," said Kucera.
He paid tribute to race organizers who managed to produce a fast and testing course despite a shortage of natural snow.
"Considering the way the winter has been in Europe so far, I think they did an amazing job," said the Canadian.
Former Olympic super-G champion Hermann Maier of Austria finished in fifth place but was later disqualified after race officials ruled he had missed a gate.
Updated: Dec. 15, 2006, 9:20 AM ET
Miller wins super-G at Val GardenaReuters
VAL GARDENA, Italy -- World champion Bode Miller of the United States won a World Cup super-G on Friday for his second victory of the Alpine ski season.
Starting 21st, the New Hampshire skier charged down the Saslong piste in 1 minute, 32.99 seconds to beat Austrian Christoph Gruber by 0.64 seconds.
Canadian John Kucera finished third, 0.73 off Miller's pace, to show that his surprise win in the season's first super-G on home snow in Lake Louise was no flash in the pan.
Miller, who failed to win a medal at the Turin Olympics while gaining a reputation for late-night partying, put a poor start to the season behind him when he won the Beaver Creek downhill on Dec. 1.
The 29-year-old will be a favorite to triumph again in Saturday's classic Val Gardena downhill and the technical events in Alta Badia on Sunday and Monday as he looks to take command of the overall World Cup.
Miller combined his natural aggression and pace with great concentration on a demanding course with hard snow and plenty of sharp turns.
"I skied aggressively and I definitely didn't make any mistakes today," said Miller, who on Saturday will be aiming to win his first downhill in Europe.
Miller has previously won three World Cup super-G races -- in Lake Louise and Lenzerheide during the 2005 season when he won the overall title and then last season at Are in Sweden.
Kucera's podium place completed a good performance for North Americans with the Canadian in a buoyant mood after pushing Switzerland's Didier Cuche, fastest in downhill training here this week, into fourth place just ahead of former Olympic super-G champion Hermann Maier of Austria.
"I put in a good run and skied well, it was a strong and solid run and I am happy with it. I need to keep focused and pay attention to the littel details," said Kucera.
He paid tribute to race organizers who managed to produce a fast and testing course despite a shortage of natural snow.
"Considering the way the winter has been in Europe so far, I think they did an amazing job," said the Canadian.
Former Olympic super-G champion Hermann Maier of Austria finished in fifth place but was later disqualified after race officials ruled he had missed a gate.