Bode Miller always wanted to be the best American skier ever. With one more win, he will.
Miller matched Phil Mahre’s U.S. record of 27 World Cup victories by winning the Lauberhorn downhill in Wengen, Switzerland, for the second year in a row, taming the lower part of the course to finish in 2 minutes, 30.40 seconds Sunday.
With two straight downhill victories — he also won in Bormio, Italy, on Dec. 29 — and a sudden rediscovery of his slalom form, the 30-year-old American is a good bet to pass Mahre before the season ends.
“I remember when I was young it was one of my goals. I wanted to be the best American skier ever,” Miller said. “I think that’s what I am. It’s nice to have the numbers to back that up.”
Swedish legend Ingemar Stenmark won a record 86 World Cup races during his career.
Didier Cuche of Switzerland was second, 0.65 seconds back, and Manuel Osborne-Paradis of Canada was third, 1.33 behind Miller.
Miller’s win also thrust him back into the race for the World Cup overall title. In 2005, Miller became the first American to win the crystal globe since Mahre did it more than two decades earlier.
Hosp on top.
Soft snow, heavy rain, poor visibility and a bruised left foot couldn’t stop Austrian Nicole Hosp from winning her 11th career World Cup race, a slalom in Maribor, Slovenia.
Vail’s Lindsey Vonn was 17th and teammate Julia Mancuso was 24th.
