MILLER CARVES HIS OWN PATH IN WORLD CUP

Difficile de resister au plaisir, meme a posteriori, de vous livrer cet article sur Bode Miller avant son sacre en Italie. Du spontane, du souriant et du hors normes...comme d'hab quoi (Source_David Leon Moore_USA Today)

Bode Miller is likely to make American skiing history this week, which would normally be cause for unbridled joy on the US Ski Team. But his story has always veered outside the norm, and this time is no different.

US Ski Team officials, coaches and athletes will cheer on Miller in Bormio, Italy, at World Cup finals as he seeks to win his second overall title, an award that goes to the skier with the most points over the course of the season.

Yet there will be tinges of regret, maybe even a little embarrased, if Miller ends up hoisting the big cristal globe that goes with the title, because Miller is not a member of the US Ski Team. He split the team before this season over ongoing differences regarding training, conditioning and what it means to be a member.

He represents the USA in races but travels and trains on his own and receives no funding from the US Ski Team, unlike star Lindsey Vonn who is seeking the women's overall World Cup title this week.

"It will be bittersweet" US men 's coach Phil McNichol says about Miller's potential title. "I want to see the US Team do well ans see our program do well"... Bode winning on his own doesn't detract from that but it doesn't help, either.

[...] Does this impending triumph mean more to him (Bode) as an independant than when the one he won three years ago? "No" he says. "I mean, the thing that makes the overall title good to me is having a season that I am really proud of and I feel is my top level".

Separate Ways

Miller spoke birfly to US reporters after a recent World Cup race in Whistler, British Colombia. That was a rarity. He has routinely declined interview requests from US reporters since he was savaged by the mainstream media during the 2006 Olympics. He spent the months leading to those Games doing interviews where he came off as not only rebellious and irreverent, which won him a large following among young ski fans, but also as petulant and condescending. After he talked about skiing "wasted" in a 60 minutes profile, he was forced to apologize by US Ski Team officials. Then he mostly dodged the media at the Torinon Olympics while he failed to medal in any of his races. Miller somehow patched up things enough with the US Ski Team coaches and administrators to return for what turned out to be an up-and-down 2007-07 season.

But then the relationship fee apart. US coaches wanted restrictions on Miller's use of an RV while touring Europe and wanted Miller to listen to them more about race tactics and physical conditioning. He wanted to stay in the RV full time and had philosophical differences with the US staff.

The parting was mutual. Miller formed Team America, hiring 3 full time coaches, including former US head men's downhill coach John McBride. Miller struggeld at the start of his season. Then  in late December, he surged. He won the downhill in Bormio and 2 weeks later, took the downhill in Wengen, Switzerland. Next he won the combined in Kitzbuehel, Austria, his 28th World Cup victory, passing Phil Mahre as the US leader in career victories. He has won 3 more races since, continuing to build on his lead for the overall title.

McBride says "it would mean a lot" to Miller to win the title doing it his way. But he says Miller's program isn't that different "the main thing is that he is enjoying himself... If you can keep him happy, he can stay motivated. That's a big thing for him. He likes living in his motor home because he's got his own bed, he never has to unpack, he's got his own food and his own chief..."

Miller improves fitness

McNichol sees at least 2 major differences. He sees Miller making better tactical decision, finishing more races and getting more points instead of always going for broke. He also see Miller in better physical condition. "He always said he was in good condition but I questionned taht" says McNichol, Miller's coach when Miller won the overall in 2005. "It's good to see him making good decisions".

[...] "The organization of the team has been good. That's been a lot more in line with what I believe will give me the chance to have the best season I could have." Miller hasn't said anything about his plans for next season, and he says he isn't thinking about Vancouver Games in 2 years. McBride however thinks Miller will show up for another Olympics.

Miller's decision to go the independent path is no likely to become a trend. Only one other prominet US skier, slalom's retired Kristina Koznick, went out on her own. It is too expensive unless you are winning a lot and can generate lucrative sponsorships.

[...]