SKIING NEWS ITEM

Miller Tops U.S. in Sub-zero Lake Louise SG

MONDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 2006

LAKE LOUISE, Alberta - Defending super G world champion Bode Miller (Bretton Woods, NH) had the top U.S. result Sunday in sub-zero cold, placing 14th behind surprise winner John Kucera of Canada in the first World Cup SG of the season.

Kucera's first World Cup win came in 1:29.70, putting him six-hundredths of a second ahead of Austrian Mario Scheiber. The temperature was about eight degrees below zero (-22 C.).

Miller was timed in 1:31.03 with Steve Nyman (Provo, UT), the only other U.S. skier to break into the top 30, finishing 20th (1:31.26) in the bitter cold.

"It was chilly out there, but not too bad. It was definitely colder on the racers than coaches standing on the hill," speed Head Coach Chris Brigham said. "And it's supposed to go down to -30 [C - about minus 22 F.] tomorrow as the women come in [for two DHs and a super G].

"We've certainly learned through the years this isn't a hard hill, but it is hard to ski fast...and it's very unforgiving. Make one little mistakes and you can lose a lot of time, and that means guys get packed in there - 10, 12 guys within three-tenths of a second...small mistakes can really hurt you here.

"Bode skied well both days but he also had some troubles, too. And Steven [Nyman, who had the fastest training time Thursday and led the U.S. men Saturday, finishing in a tie for 17th] skied great all week. But they were both very fast and very competitive in some sections..."

The men head next to Beaver Creek, CO, for the annual VISA Birds of Prey races, starting Thursday with a super combined and then a downhill Friday, giant slalom Saturday and slalom Sunday.

MEN'S ALPINE WORLD CUP
Lake Louise, ALB - Nov. 26, 2006
Men's Super G
1. John Kucera, Canada, 1:29.70
2. Mario Scheiber, Austria, 1:29.76
3. Patrik Jaerbyn, Sweden, 1:29.98
4. Hermann Maier, Austria, 1:30.16
5. Antoine Deneriaz, France, 1:30.47
-
14. Bode Miller, Bretton Woods, NH, 1:31.03
20. Steve Nyman, Provo, UT, 1:31.26
35. JJ Johnson, Park City, UT, 1:31.89
40. Erik Fisher, Sandpoint, ID, 1:31.99
44. Kevin Francis, Bend, OR, 1:32.20
-
Did not finish:
Marco Sullivan, Squaw Valley, CA; Scott Macartney, Redmond, WA

For complete results:
http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?cal_suchsector=AL&event_id=21811
This article is courtesy of the US Ski Team.

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