Miller will race at Paganella Rock Fest next season

Anyone wanting to be sure they get the chance to watch America’s greatest ski racer compete next season will have to go to Italy December 22. Bode Miller has signed a contract to compete at the Paganella Ski World Alpine Rock Fest and also has accepted the Paganella resort as a personal sponsor.

These decisions were announced to the Gazetta Delo Sport, Italy’s premier sports magazine.

Miller said he was still undecided about racing on the World Cup circuit or at the 2010 winter Olympics, but said he would train and prepare for the Ski Rock Fest, an event precipitated by former U.S. coach Phil McNichol’s Top Out Sport.    .

Anyone wanting to be sure they get the chance to watch America’s greatest ski racer compete next season will have to go to Italy December 22. Bode Miller has signed a contract to compete at the Paganella Ski World Alpine Rock Fest and also has accepted the Paganella resort as a personal sponsor.

These decisions were announced to the Gazetta Delo Sport, Italy’s premier sports magazine.

Miller said he was still undecided about racing on the World Cup circuit or at the 2010 winter Olympics, but said he would train and prepare for the Ski Rock Fest, an event precipitated by former U.S. coach Phil McNichol’s Top Out Sport.    .

“For the rest my future still is not defined,” Miller is quoted by Gazetta Delo Sport. “The only certainty is the contract that I have signed with the organization of the Top Out Sport for this new competition.”

“I will compete for sure at the WARF and am the ambassador for Andalo Paganella Ski resort,” Miller said at the announcement, according to McNichol.

Miller’s signing makes him the eighth of top competitors who have agreed to compete at the World Alpine Rock Fest.

Other racers announced include Italy’s David Simoncelli, Ted Ligety of the U.S., Felix Neureuther of Germany, Julian Lizeroux of France, John Kucera of Canada, Mark Buechel of Liechtenstein and Mattias Hargin of Sweden. The organization expects to sign a dozen choice competitors who in turn can each invite two friends to compete in a run-off for an additional four starting positions in the 100,000-euro, winner-takes-all purse.

While some other competitors may have already agreed to participate no further announcement is expected until October.

“Bode was a big one,” said McNichol, “and would have overshadowed others. We will wait and announce others after (the World Cup opener at) Soelden. We’ve got eight names out and are still locking in others.”

According to the Gazetta Delo Sport, athletes have been selected based on popularity, sports success, their style, reputation and nationality.

The competition will not be the only draw for the event as rock bands “of international level,” will also be performing. According to the organizers negotiations are on going with three major rock groups including Nickelback, Audioslave and Pink.