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www.worldskinews.com/Lake
Louise (CAN) 28.11.2004
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1st
Men Super G - Race interview
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[ Report
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Standings ] [ Overall
Standings ]
[ Interview
with Bode Miller ]
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Interview: Bode Miller among the Legends
US World Cup leader
Bode Miller joined some exclusive company
Sunday as he won a Super-G at Lake Louise
and became only the fifth skier to win
a World Cup race event in all five disciplines
(SL, GS, Super-G, downhill and combined).
It was his 15th World Cup win, his second
in 24 hours and his third straight this
season, making him also the first skier
to win the first three races in any
World Cup season. He discussed the race
in a post-race interview session.
This was a pretty historic day. How was it?
B.M. “It was good. I had a couple of little mistakes, but it was good...good...”
What about your race?
B.M.“It's a tough Super-G because you run downhill for three days and then race but with Super-G you get one look in the morning, and then the light changes and it's different ... In general, I skied pretty well. When I got to the finish line, I didn't think it would be enough to win but I thought it could be good enough for a top-5.”
What about your astounding start? Could you imagine it - Are you surprised?
B.M. “I can imagine a lot of things, that's not a problem, not even top five. To win as much by as I did in Saturday's downhill], and that I skied well today, that was surprising...But I'm not overly surprised, just encouraged.”
You've won the first three races...?
B.M. “I was first in the first two races last year, too. More than anything, two years ago I won the last training run in Lake Louise and then, despite a huge mistake, I was seventh....”
How important is it to have won in five disciplines?
B.M. “It's great. It's been a goal of mine to win four events, or five events, and it's been a long time coming. I'm 27. I've worked a long time for this ... I'm not a rookie anymore, you know ... People were critical of my decision to race all events, not just the technical events. It's great to have the results to back up my philosophy of racing. To me, there's no difference in racing different events - in the overall, I concentrate 100 percent. Once the season starts for me, there isn't a change in my focus, just a change in my tactics and strategies.”
What are your goals for the year - overall title? World Championships titles?
B.M. “I'll be defending two titles at Worlds, and it's a long way to go for the Overall right now. It's a long season and I can get hurt, get sick...no end to the things that can happen. My fitness is good, though. I feel healthy, so let's see. For me, the Overall is very important because it represents the whole season and you have to be performing well, but at Worlds you have to be good on just one day. It's fun too.”
What's the difference in your winning? Is it switching to Atomic's?
B.M. ”The equipment is important, for sure. The Atomics skis are great but it's not just that. My setup enables to have good balance on my skis...
You gain skills as you gain experience. It's a process ... It's how more pieces fall into place more often....”
You won two speed races on a course that's not good for your style of racing. What's that say?
B.M. “This course is opposite to my style, probably one of the worst courses on the World Cup for me. The track is easy and doesn't play to my strength at all because not very technical challenging ... I'm up for the next races at Beaver Creek. The Birds of Prey speed track is good for Daron and me. My skills are better on bumpy, icy courses ...Last year I was very fast there before skiing out.”
You've said having Daron on the podium would be great. Can it happen in beaver Creek?
B.M. “We both think it's coming. I was surprised he didn't do Saturday in the downhill but he lost a half-second at the top; if he'd lost only half that time, he'd have been second ... No question he and I believe it's going to happen. The hill at Beaver Creeksuits us better, for sure. This is a good chance for us! It would be great!”
Paul Robbins (USA)
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