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Miller's No. 2 again
U.S. skier is the fastest on 2nd giant slalom run
By Ray Grass
Deseret News Olympic specialist
PARK CITY — When Bode Miller needs more speed, he takes certain risks, not the least being the risk of falling.
Twice, now, in these Olympics, he's taken the risk. Both times, by the slimmest of margins, he's missed disaster and, instead, won a silver medal. The second came Thursday in the men's giant slalom. His first came in the men's combined a week ago.
Winning the race was Stephan Eberharter of Austria. Third was Lasse Kjus of Norway. All three are multiple medal winners. Eberharter has now won three, Miller two and Kjus two.
None of the three was a clear favorite in the GS. Eberharter's specialties are the downhill in which he won a bronze and super-G where he won a silver. Kjus won a silver in the downhill. This year, Kjus said he has struggled in the GS.
It was Miller, though, who set the crowd of more than 18,000 chanting in unison, "Bode . . . Bode . . . Bode," and cheering loudly when times of five race leaders were announced.
Miller was seventh after the first run. He was nearly a full second behind Eberharter and varying times behind the five racers between the two.
"I know I'm capable of more speed," Miller said as he stepped from the finish after his first run.
Miller is considered one of, if not the, fastest technical skier in the world. But his style is unorthodox, technically flawed and wildly exciting. His arms flay, his turns are rough and his line is much too straight for other skiers. But he's fast.
"Miller risks more than the others. He takes risks because he has really good feeling," explained Kjus. "He's able to ski the short line. Two gates he skied faster than me because he skis a short line and is risking more."
Eberharter called it a "crazy style, but he's fast and that's what counts."
Miller had the fastest time on the second run of the giant slalom. It was enough to lock him in second. Eberharter's time for two runs was 2 minutes, 23.28 seconds. Miller clocked a 2:24.16 and Kjus a 2:24.32.
Miller admitted after the race that if he hadn't been the first racer on the course on the first run, he may have been able "to be a little closer (to Eberharter)" but said he wasn't fast enough "today" to beat him.
Eberharter said he came into this, his last Olympic race, relaxed. "I said after the super-G, 'OK, I have two medals and nothing can happen to me.' I had such a good feeling in the morning . . . I didn't feel any pressure, it was just fun for me today to ski the slope."
For Park City's Erik Schlopy, the slump continues. He missed a gate on his first run, had to hike up the hill to recover and did not make a second run.
Dane Spencer and Thomas Vonn, two of the U.S. Ski Team's upcoming young racers, finished 16th and 19th, respectively.
The main event for the U.S. team will come Saturday at Deer Valley, the final alpine race of the Olympics, when Miller, No. 2 in World Cup slalom standings, goes up against Ivica Kostelic of Croatia, No. 1 in the standings. The race will start at 10 a.m.
E-MAIL: grass@desnews.com
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February 22, 2002
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