Bode's Bormio blaze

By Marina Knight

Let’s talk about Bode Miller for a minute because for the first time in a while (and I don’t mean this as a knock) he’s done something great.
Saturday, he won the downhill at Bormio, Italy on a rugged Stelvio course. It’s the same track he won on in 2005 at World Championships.
The win was the first this season for Miller, who, compared to previous seasons has been off to a slow start. Last year by this time he had won a downhill and two super g races. Each season is different though; in 2005 he won 9 times, then in 2006 just twice and last year Miller had four wins.
This win was significant because it was his first as an independent skier; the first since he parted ways with the U.S. Ski Team at the end of last season.
The story of the divorce is an old one by now, and one with many angles. From Miller’s perspective the team made irrational rules for him exclusively, which he felt prohibited him from skiing his best. From the team’s perspective, Miller was tougher than most to control and manage. He constantly pushed the edge of what people wanted to hear and he often was outspoken to the media.
It is up for debate whether he created more problems than he was worth. Obviously the Ski Team saw marketing potential in some of its up-and-comers, or they wouldn’t have let him go.
Either way, when Miller decided to go out on his own he undertook great risk. The team provides and organizes all aspects of a World Cup racer’s life. Plane bookings, transportation around Europe, meals, ski tuning and physical and on-snow training to name a few. Miller had to recreate all that on his own.
Athletes have done it before, Marc Giradelli, one of the best skiers ever to be, was independent due to coaching disagreements. Ivica and Janica Kostelic, the Croatian sister and brother team, were essentially independents and American, Kristina Koznick also did it alone.
One of the first things Miller did was hire away some key people from the U.S. Team. Forest Carey, one of the Team’s technical coaches and a high-school friend of Miller’s, was brought on as a coach along with the team’s manager, Jenny Holden, the one with all the logistical European contacts, relationships with airlines, etc. John McBride came out of retirement in 2007 to work with Bode specifically, then left with him when the split up was final. Word is he offered them 30 percent more than what they would have made with the Team.
Then Miller got a few friends to drive his R.V. and cook for him and hired a physical trainer to help keep him in shape. Robbie Kristan, who has been tuning Bode’s skis for years, stayed on, too.
With the entourage set, all Miller had to do was ski fast.
The beginning of the season was plagued with what Miller termed “unfortunate circumstances.” His binding ripped off his ski during one race, he hit a rock that ruined his edge in another and other Bodeisms accounted for lackluster results otherwise. “Lackluster” for Bode meaning not on the podium.
Still, he was fifth in the opening giant slalom, second at Val Gardena and fourth in super combined at Beaver Creek.
Miller’s 26th World Cup victory on the Stelvio was a great way to wipe the slate clean for the New Year.
“It was a miracle, really,” he told reporters. "I have known since the start of the season that I was capable of winning again. Today I finally managed a clean run despite the difficult course."
Surely, Team America (Bode’s team name) celebrated heartily that night. The milestone independent win had come.
I wonder if the U.S. Team wished they could have been invited to the party?