Alta Badia, Italy – The Americans helped shut out the traditionally strong Austrians at World Cup events over the weekend.
Ted Ligety’s second-place finish in Monday’s slalom gave the U.S. team an unprecedented two wins and two second-place finishes during four days of racing.
Bode Miller began the weekend with a super-G victory in Val Gardena on Friday, and Steven Nyman won the classic Saslong downhill for his first career victory Saturday. Miller finished second in Sunday’s giant slalom before Ligety’s runner-up finish Monday.
“Two firsts, two seconds – pretty good show by the boys,” U.S. coach Phil McNichol said. “That’s a podium in every discipline, and that’s epic.”
Miller crashed out Monday in the first run of the slalom, won by Sweden’s Markus Larsson. Miller looked out of control at the start of the first run and skied off the course after about 10 gates. He gathered himself and started again, only to fall a few gates later.
“I’m OK,” Miller said. “I just got stuck on my tails a little bit.”
Larsson, who was seventh after the opening run, covered the Gran Risa course in a combined time of 1 minute, 44.51 seconds.
Ligety, the Olympic combined champion, was 0.19 of a second behind, and Ivica Kostelic of Croatia was third, 0.48 back.
