The younger brother of alpine World Cup champion Bode Miller was critically injured in a motorcycle accident last Thursday near their home in Franconia, N.H., delaying Miller’s departure for the season-opening World Cup races Oct. 22-23 in Soelden, Austria.
Chelone Miller, 22, was not wearing a helmet. His head struck the pavement and he suffered “extensive head trauma,” according to U.S. Ski Team head men’s coach Phil McNichol.
McNichol expects Bode Miller to leave for Europe this week. After the Soelden races – men’s and women’s giant slaloms – the tour goes back into hiatus until Thanksgiving weekend.
“He’s not making any comment to the press, and he probably will maintain that stance through Soelden,” McNichol said.
Last season Miller became the first American to win the World Cup overall title in 22 years. He won the Soelden giant slalom the past two seasons.
“It’s definitely going to weigh heavy on him in the next days, but I think once he gets over to Europe, once he starts to train, gets close to the race and stands in the start gate, I think it will be about Bode and that will be the end of it,” McNichol said. “He has an uncanny way to close out the world. His modus operandi is probably going to help him get through this better than most people’s capabilities.”
John Meyer can be reached at 303-820-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com.
