Some Bode News

[Ski]

America's Bode Miller finally completed a World Cup slalom at Schladming to end a year-long jinx. Miller made big mistakes during both runs on the floodlit course but eventually came in last of the 25 finishers, a hefty 9.60 seconds behind winner Benjamin Raich.

 

His last finish in the technical discipline was in January 2006.

 

Though a far from polished performance, the completion of Tuesday's race all but made sure of Miller's starting place at the world championships in Are, Sweden, with U.S. head coach Phil McNichol stating that the athlete's selection was now just a formality.

 

"Bode's probably going to get a spot," McNichol told Reuters. "He finished and none of the other guys [still fighting for qualification] have.

 

"I have to clear it with my bosses and go through all the process but I don't see why we wouldn't start him."

 

Miller's two rivals for the two remaining slalom start places, Tom Rothrock and Tim Jitloff, both failed to qualify for Tuesday's second run.

 

Miller, who left the finish area on Tuesday without speaking to reporters, has repeatedly stated that a slalom gold medal at the world championships starting on Saturday is one of his main goals for the season.

 

If he can turn around his astonishing poor form in what was once his favourite discipline, the 2005 overall World Cup champion would become the first skier to win world titles in five separate disciplines.

 

Miller is the reigning downhill and super-G champion and has two previous gold medals in the combined and giant slalom events dating back to the 2003 world championships.

 

Although he looked scrappy on the steep lower section of the challenging Planai course, the American showed flashes of his old self during the early sections, and was sixth fastest at the first split time.

 

"He's doing great, he just needs to finish too -- and with two relatively clean runs," McNichol said when asked about Miller's gold medal chances in Are. "Anything's possible with Mr Miller."

 

Earlier on Tuesday, Miller said that he might not defend his downhill title at the world championships because of injury concerns.

 

Miller said he was worried about suffering a recurrence of the knee injury he sustained on the Are downhill course at the end of last season.