In what may be the beginning of the end of the greatest career for an American male ski racer, Bode Miller returned to the World Cup Tuesday, participating in a downhill training run in Wengen, Switzerland.
Miller skipped the beginning of the season because of back pain and underwent surgery Nov. 17 to repair a herniated disc. His goal was to race this week in Wengen and next week at Kitzbuehel, Austria, using the two most storied locales in ski racing as tuneups for the world alpine championships at Beaver Creek now three weeks away.
Located in a breathtaking setting beneath the infamous Eiger, Wengen is not a place that lends itself to an easy transition back into racing. At 2.75 miles, the Lauberhorn downhill is the longest track on the circuit with runs taking more than two and a half minutes to complete.
Feeling out his back, Miller took it “pretty easy” on a run that hit a top speed in excess of 89 mph and finished 27th, three seconds behind pacesetter Matthias Mayer of Austria. Two more training runs will be held Wednesday and Thursday before downhill races Friday and Saturday.
“It felt bad, but that’s what I was expecting,” Miller told media in the finish. “This is a tough race to come into for your first race of the season. Physically this is probably the most demanding course of the year.”
Miller said his back held up but fitness was a problem.
“That’s to be expected at this point,” Miller said. “In my best shape, I suffer pretty bad on this hill, trying to be fast. I’ll keep running it this week and hopefully can race … I’ll see how I feel the next days, try to get recovered. My legs were tired. I wasn’t really tucking a lot of the way, but I just had no energy for the last turns.”
Sasha Rearick, head men’s coach of the U.S. Ski Team, was encouraged by Miller’s return.
“It’s really an aggressive plan to be racing here soon, and at the world ski championships,” Rearick said. “So far we’re making those positive steps in the right direction. I would say I’m optimistic that we’re going to be able to see Bode Miller compete at the world championships.”
While , Miller hinted it is unlikely he will return next season because of the wear and tear his body has sustained over the course of 16 World Cup seasons. Thus the world championships could mark the end of a brilliant career that includes the most World Cup wins for an American man (33), two World Cup overall titles (2005, 2008), six Olympic medals and four world championships gold medals.
“I won’t rule it out that I would come back and race next year,” Miller said. “The fact is, I’m 37 years old, I’ll be 38 next year, I’ve had a remarkable run and I’ve put my body through so much … I’m not delusional. The likelihood of getting through next season skiing hard, trying to win World Cups — which is the only reason I would come back — is the same as it was this year. It’s a risk and it’s probably not the best choice.”
John Meyer: 303-954-1616, jmeyer@denverpost.com or twitter.com/johnmeyer
