For the first time since March of 2008, Bode Miller was victorious in a World Cup race winning the super combined in Wengen, Switzerland. Despite admitting to making a few too many mistakes in the morning downhill on the shortened 3078-meter Lauberhorn course, the 32-year-old Miller still took a substantial 0.69 second of a lead into the afternoon slalom ahead of Switzerland's Carlo Janka.

The two-time overall World Cup champion skied tactically smart protecting his lead in the slalom holding off the 23-year-old Janka by 0.37 for his 32nd career win. Miller and his serviceman experimented with an entirely new equipment set-up for the day's race with positive results.

"I'm really happy for a win - I think it's a great time of year for me to get moving forward," said Miller. "Normally this is the time of year I'm moving backwards. The most important thing is the equipment. I changed a lot of stuff this morning and was on a different set-up than I've ever raced on. I decided to stay in the same boots in the slalom that I wore in the downhill which I've never done before."

Always in search of the perfect run, Miller was, as he often is, particularly hard on himself despite the triumph.

"I wasn't really that excited about the way I skied," he said. "I think I made some big mistakes in the downhill. There was a lack of execution. I've been here for ten years or so I should be able to figure that stuff out by now. Those are mistakes that can cost you the race. I would have felt pretty dumb if I would have lost by three-tenths instead of winning by four-tenths."

For Janka it was his eighth top three finish of the season. The young Swiss star won last year's super combined in Wengen, however his time of 48.73 in the slalom, thirteenth best overall, wasn't enough to overtake Miller who clocked 49.05.

"The first turns I had on the slalom skis were on the course today and that's always a little bit tough," said Miller. "For someone that has 400 World Cup races you know that is not the best way to go out there and win, but I had to do it. I started so late this year I really had no time to test or run new equipment. I was really excited to get out there and finish two runs in these circumstances."

Joining Miller and Janka on the podium, was Janka's Swiss teammate, Silvan Zurbriggen. Zurbriggen was second last season in the combined standings missing the title by just eleven points to Janka. The 28-year-old Swiss skier was just tenth after the downhill, but his slalom time of 47.51 was second fastest and catapulted him onto the podium.

Janka's second place finish helped him gain ground on overall World Cup leader, Raich who finished fourth after posting the quickest slalom run of the day. Janka has 657 points to Raich's 689.

Miller has had great success in the Wengen combined in year's previous. In 2002 & 2003 he finished second. He was also on the podium two seasons ago finishing third.

The American continues to battle through an ankle injury suffered during a team volleyball game in Val d'Isere back in December. He admits it is still sore, skiing in minor discomfort at times depending upon snow and course conditions among other varying factors.

"The main thing right now is to make sure the ankle injury is as strong as it can be and also to get the equipment so that I feel 100 percent ready to race," he said.

In terms of his physical conditioning, Miller seems pleased in the direction it is going. The veteran American racer skipped races early in the season to try to get fit as well as taking a short break over the holidays.

"I feel pretty strong right now and I think there is something to be said for my conditioning," he said. "The next two weeks through Kitzbuehel its really tough to get more conditioning in other than what you do on the hill."

"We're in a better place right now," continued Miller. "I've won a race and I've shown I can ski fast in downhill and super-G. I felt good today in slalom even though I skied with the emergency break on most of the way. I think the last question is GS."

On Saturday, Miller will seek to carry his momentum into the venerable Lauberhorn downhill, one that he has won on twice, in 2007 & 2008.

By Brian Pinelli
FISalpine.com
Friday 15 January 2010