In visit to Atomic's American headquarters, Miller describes his decision to switch brands

In visit to Atomic’s American headquarters, Miller describes his decision to switch brands{mosimage}Bode Miller, at home in New Hampshire to coach youngsters at his family’s tennis camp, appeared at the Atomic USA’s headquarters last week for a press conference.

Miller recently signed an agreement to ski on the company’s equipment for the next two years. According to an article in the Union Leader, a New Hampshire newspaper, it was Miller’s first visit to the company’s North American facility. Miller has already dropped by the company’s factory in Altenmarkt, Austria several times, according to Rudi Huber, Atomic’s alpine race manager.

Miller admitted that the company’s dominance in his category of the racing scene was irresistable. But his decision to sign with Rossignol two years ago, he said, was a deliberate attempt to try to beat the company. That was another demonstration of Miller’s anti-authoritarian temperament. So was Miller’s back-handed praise for his new equipment supplier (he called them “bullies”).

‘They’re kind of the bullies, the bully ski company’ the article quoted Miller as saying. ‘They knew they’re the best, they produce the best stuff, they’re the most professional (and) they do all the stuff that needs to be done behind the scenes to have the best skis in the world. Although those are all really appealing things, at the same time, personally, I wanted to be the guy who beat those guys.”

‘But over the last couple of years it became more and more obvious that that’s not the way to go,” Miller continued. “So I had to swallow a little pride.’

To read the article, by Jim Fennell, click:
Union Leader