European Report: Miller pleased with 'step forward' in Chamonix races

European Report: Miller pleased with ‘step forward’ in Chamonix races{mosimage}Bode Miller said he’s glad he survived nasty race conditions in Chamonix, France, last weekend to come out winning the combined event and bounce back into contention for the overall World Cup title.

Miller, who scored his first slalom podium in over a year, wrote in his Denver Post diary that the results revive his campaign for the overall title going into this weekend’s important races in Wengen.

“Getting a podium in slalom and a win in combined represents a step forward. I made it into the finish, I got some points and I’ll be back in the top 15 in the slalom start list with that result,” Miller wrote. “But it doesn’t affect my opinion of my skiing. It wasn’t consistent with the way I’ve been skiing lately in training. To come out of Chamonix with 160 points (60 points for third, 100 points for first), those are the kinds of weekends I need to have to be a contender for the overall title.”

Miller said race conditions were extreme: “It was pouring rain for the second slalom run, so the visibility was really tough. Going 16th in the first run and 20th in the second, I skied the worst conditions possible. The course chunks out into little holes and the ruts are really sharp. Everything considered, it was good.”

Things were even worse in the downhill, when Miller narrowly avoided crashing. “I hip-checked on the last turn, hooked up on my inside ski, smashed my knee into my chin and chipped four teeth. I was going about 70 mph, and I almost knocked myself out. I hit my chin so hard I couldn’t see for a while,” he wrote. “It went totally black for a second and I saw spots. I still was trying to tuck, but I didn’t know if I was on the course.”

>> Firs Wengen training run called off

Heavy overnight snowfall Tuesday forced officials to cancel downhill training Wednesday in Wengen, Switzerland, going into this weekend’s races on the Lauberhorn. Thursday’s training run is expected to be held as planned as forecasts are calling for better weather. “It is supposed to be cold overnight and we are confident we can get a training run Thursday,” a race official to the Austrian daily Der Standard.

>> McBreath hanging up skis

Despite a bright spot in Wednesday’s super G win, Canada’s alpine team is taking a licking. Already depleted with the loss of Melanie Turgeon, downhiller Darin McBeath has decided to retire rather than fight through a comeback from injury.

“There were a couple of factors behind my decision,” McBeath told the Calgary Sun. “I found I really missed my family and friends more than I anticipated. I also found the results I was getting were not what I needed to maintain my position on the team.”

McBeath, 27, returned to the team after taking a year sabbatical following disappointing results in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. McBeath needed to finish in the top 30 to qualify for the team next year, but realized it would be tough going after poor finishes in early season races.

“I love ski racing and I was thrilled Alpine Canada gave me the opportunity and graciously took me back this year,” he said. “They believed in me but it just didn’t work out. If I put my mind to anything, I believe I can accomplish it. In this case, though, I found myself getting into the starting gate and not being excited about being there after a few races. When the results didn’t, come I started to lose my desire.”

>> Alphand quick on sand, too

Former World Cup winner Luc Alphand is proving he’s just as fast in desert sands as he was on skis. The French downhiller won stage 12 of the Paris-Dakar Rally on Tuesday in Africa. The car and motorcyle rally crosses the demanding barren landscapes of northern Africa, with teams competing in stages in the point-to-point race.

Racing was delayed over the weekend after warnings of military activity in Mali. Alphand, racing with Team BMW, clocked the fastest time on Stage 12 ahead of Jean Louis Schlesser.