A tip of the ski hat to Bode Miller of New Hampshire, who took this weekend's combined trophy at the Hahnenkamm in Kitzbuehel, Austria, and eclipsed Phil Mahre's American record for most World Cup wins—a record which has stood since 1983.
Here's an interesting tidbit: Miller, Mahre and Bob Cochran (a UVM grad who was on the US Ski Team in the '60s and '70s) are the only Americans to have won the Hahnenkamm trophy.
In Kitzbuehel, Miller finished 14th in the slalom after taking second in the downhill. Earlier he had knocked organizers for making the downhill course bumpier and more dangerous than it already was and for changing the historic slalom course. In fact, American skier Scott Macartney crashed and sustained a brain contusion on the downhill before Miller's run. But Miller went on to collect the combined title anyways and he marked 28 career World Cup wins.
"It's a nice record, something you dream about as a kid," the 30-year-old told Associated Press. "As a professional skier, you're more focused on winning each individual race. Before the season, it was my target to break that record, and it's a really good feeling if you reach your goals."
Miller grew up skiing at Cannon Mountain in northern New Hampshire. It was a treat for my sisters and I to go there when I was young. And one tough mountain, as I recall.
Bravo, Bode!
Photo of Miller on the podium (at left) after the Hahnenkamm downhill, courtesy of US Ski Team.
