Beaver Creek – One day after throwing away what seemed to be certain victory in a World Cup super combined on the Birds of Prey, Bode Miller won a downhill and clinched one of the greatest days the U.S. ski team has had in a long time.
Four out of the top ten finishers were Americans.
It was the fourth year in a row that an American won the Beaver Creek downhill, the showcase event in four days of racing. Daron Rahlves won in 2003 and 2005. Miller won in 2004.
But Rahlves has retired, and the U.S. Ski Team was anxious for another racer to step up and be a threat in downhill along with Miller.
Steve Nyman of Orem, Utah, did just that, finishing third for his first World Cup podium.
Teammate Scott Macartney was eighth, and Marco Sullivan was tenth.
Miller threw away a two-second advantage Thursday in the super combined event when he failed to finish the slalom, but he roared down the highly technical Birds of Prey track in a snowstorm today to win with a time of 1 minute, 46.15 seconds.
Didier Cuche of Switzerland was second, 0.15 behind.
Racing continues Saturday with the giant slalom, followed by a slalom on Sunday. In the giant slalom last year, Americans claimed three of the top four positions, led by Miller.
