Quotes from February 5, 2005: Miller-Rahlves Day

By Published On: February 8th, 2005Comments Off on Quotes from February 5, 2005: Miller-Rahlves Day

Quotes from February 5, 2005: Miller-Rahlves DayBode Miller, 2005 downhill world champion, on running third…
“For the first five guys the hill matches the angle of the hill matches the angle of the sun exactly, so it is shining over little bumps…The sun shines just over the top of the bump, and the rest is all dark. That is really when the visibility is the toughest. For sure the snow is the cleanest early in the race….Having really fresh clean snow allows me to make the most out of my strength.”

On the one-ski stunt two days before
“I think it really paid off today, my right leg was for sure a lot stronger after that workout, and you can see it on the turns today.”

On his servicemen, Robbie Kristan and Thomas Buergler…
They both do them, so I don’t know who did who’s skis. They do the exact same thing anyway. Those guys are dialed in right now. They’re both on it…This should shut up all those people who were worried about my switching to Atomic. Saying that I wouldn’t get good skis and all that (stuff).

On world championships…
“World Championships is about execution. I mean you obviously have to have certain preparation and skills in place but what really counts is execution on race day…If there’s two guys I can pick to really put on when the game’s on the line, you have to put a guy in to make that winning shot or take that all important run, the two guys I would pick out of the whole World Cup are myself and Daron.”

On where he’ll watch the Superbowl…
“I’m going to watch it in the USA house, I believe, and I think the Patriots are just tougher. They are just a tougher team, I think they have better defense and more intensity.”

Daron Rahvles, world championship silver medalist, on racing downhill…
“I always think that the strongest skiers are going to win…My Atomic’s were running really fast today…I was just searching for speed where I could…Downhill for me is the ultimate, it’s the ultimate rush…Life is about taking chances and sport is about taking chances.”

On his run…
It was difficult on top. Bode had a little bit of an advantage, starting early.

Michael Walchhofer, the 2003 world champion and current leader of the World Cup downhill standings, who finished third behind Miller and Rahlves…
“Clearly we hoped for a victory, because ever since Nagano we have won the downhills…Bode was fantastic, Even though he wasn’t perfect. So my third-place is not bad.”

On what went wrong for him…
I hit a rock on the course, and every time I had to turn left, I had great problems with my skis.

On the Superbowl…
We are not very interested in the Superbowl. We do not follow the matches. It is not our reality.

Bill Marolt, CEO and president of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association…
“I’ve been involved in this sport for a long time, and that doesn’t happen very often. This is no babycake course. My hat’s off to Bode. He got hung up in the start. And I really have to tip my hat to Daron, because he got really beaten up a couple weeks ago in Adelboden. As a coach, you always say there’s a difference between pain and injury, and he was on the edge of that.”

Jesse Hunt, U.S. Ski Team alpine director…
We made history today. This has never happened. Guys are putting in so much work, so much effort. There’s so much behind it. The energy is awesome for the team, for the staff. Even the women’s side is going to feel this energy. We’re one team.

U.S. Ski Team head men’s coach Phil McNichol…
I think it has to rank as one of the truly best days in the history of the sport for us. It’s always hard to say that, because I would never want to take away from what other athletes and other teams have done. But first and second at the downhill in world championships is pretty much an exclamation point that will always be hard to surpass.”

John McBride, head DH/SG coach for the U.S. men’s team…
You work so hard trying to put all the little pieces together. On any given day, especially with race horses like these guys, it can happen. But a lot of little pieces have to come together… Bode had some mistakes, and Daron had some mistakes. When you come through the finish with a run like that, you’re not sure if a guy like Fritz (Strobl) is going to come down with a flawless run… A few years ago people would sort of chuckle at the cowboy Americans, kind of seat of their pants and everything but I don’t care if that’s what people think as long as it’s not true…We’re serious, we work hard.”

Luc Alphand, former World Cup champion…
Bode looked a little tired and struggling a little bit at the last few gates. But it was really smart and well done. Daron is a fighter. He was the reverse. He had real good balance, but lost the same margin on the top.

Ken Read, president of Alpine Canada and former Kitzbuehel winner, speaking to The Associated Press…
“This is great for the sport. Bode is exciting, dominant, good looking…He’s the best skier in the world and for all of us on that side of the ocean it’s nice to see that.”

-More to come

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About the Author: Pete Rugh