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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Miller attacks Birds of Prey course for World Cup giant slalom triumph


American Bode Miller bends a gate Saturday on the way to winning the men's World Cup giant slalom in Beaver Creek, Colo. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Compiled from wire reports The Spokesman-Review

Thrilled to still be upright, a grinning Bode Miller thrust himself across the finish line, then slid on his back, pumping his fists Saturday at Beaver Creek, Colo.

Skiing the only way he knows how, Miller attacked the Birds of Prey course with abandon, his hips and fists gathering snow as he nearly fell at least twice. For the first time this season, Miller’s daring style produced a victory, with the reigning overall World Cup champion leading a 1-2-4 U.S. finish in a giant slalom.

“I was fully, fully aware of being on the edge the whole time,” Miller said. “I was definitely taking a risk. Those are the kind of runs that are fun for me.”

Tied for the lead after the first run, Miller produced the fastest second run by going right at the gates and barely avoiding a wipeout, finishing with a total time of 2 minutes, 34.56 seconds.

Daron Rahlves, who edged Miller in a 1-2 U.S. downhill Friday, was second in the giant slalom, 0.49 seconds back.

The results pushed the teammates to the top of the World Cup overall standings, with Rahlves at No. 1, and Miller at No. 2 – and certainly sent a signal that all eyes will be on them at the Turin Olympics in February.

Kalle Palander of Finland finished third, a mere 0.01 ahead of Erik Schlopy, preventing an American sweep.

“American power in Alpine skiing applies to both sexes this Olympic season. Lindsey Kildow made that clear with a women’s World Cup downhill victory in the swirling winds and frigid temperatures at Lake Louise, Alberta. While the U.S. men dominated in Colorado, Kildow edged Sylviane Berthod of Switzerland for her second career World Cup win.

Kildow won in 1:49.51. Berthod was second in 1:49.54, and Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria was third in 1:49.63.

“At Lillehammer, Norway, Hannu Manninen of Finland won his second World Cup Nordic combined event of the season, while American Todd Lodwick finished fourth.

Manninen beat runner-up Felix Gottwald of Austria by 1 minute, 18.1 seconds for his 33rd career World Cup win.

Also at Lillehammer, Andreas Kuttel of Switzerland broke the Olympic hill record with a jump of 139 meters to narrowly win a World Cup ski jumping event.

Golf

Miyazato cruises along

Japan’s Ai Miyazato continued a steady march to a record-setting performance at LPGA Tour qualifying, shooting a 6-under-par 66 to take a 12-shot lead into the final round on the Legends Course at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Miyazato, 20, made three birdies in a four-hole stretch around the turn, then finished a bogey-free day with two birdies on the last three holes to wind up at 17-under 271.

Kate Golden (69) and Katie Futcher (71) are at 5-under 283. Morgan Pressel, 17, who tied for second in the U.S. Women’s Open and won the U.S. Women’s Amateur, had a 71 and was tied for 11th at 287.

“Michael Allen finished with three straight birdies to shoot a 3-under 69 and share the lead with D.A. Points at 272 during PGA Tour qualifying at Winter Garden, Fla.

“Tim Clark shot a 67 and Adam Scott had a 68 under windy conditions to join co-leader Angel Cabrera at 209 after the third round of the Nedbank Challenge in Sun City, South Africa.

Miscellany

Croatia closes in on Davis Cup

Ivan Ljubicic and Mario Ancic beat Slovakia’s Dominik Hrbaty and Michal Mertinak 7-6 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (5) at Bratislava, Slovakia, giving Croatia a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 Davis Cup series between first-time finalists.

Croatia needs to win one of today’s reverse singles to clinch the prestigious tennis title.

“Right-hander Tom Gordon, 38, passed his physical and officially joined the Philadelphia Phillies, agreeing to an $18 million, three-year contract to replace Billy Wagner as the closer.

“His casket draped in a Northern Ireland soccer flag, George Best received a farewell from more than 100,000 fans lining the streets in this country’s biggest display of public mourning. The former star for Manchester United, who died Nov. 25 after decades of alcohol abuse, was given a state-style funeral inside Stormont Parliamentary Building on a hill overlooking Belfast.

“Simon Kuipers of the Netherlands won the 1,500-meter race at a speedskating World Cup event at Heerenveen, Netherlands, beating Chad Hedrick of the United States.