Miller’s foes face uphill climb

LENZERHEIDE, Switzerland – Bode Miller needed a top finish. He needed his Austrian rivals to have a bad day. He got both Friday – and is on the verge of becoming the first American to win the overall World Cup title since 1983.

Miller won the super giant slalom by tying fellow American Daron Rahlves, capturing the season title in the discipline and opening an almost insurmountable lead over Austria’s Benjamin Raich in the overall standings.

“Things worked out perfectly,” Miller said after becoming the first American to win the super-G World Cup crown since the discipline was introduced in 1986.

The victory stretched Miller’s overall World Cup lead to 184 points over Raich, who finished 11th.

Miller can only lose the overall title if Raich wins the last two races – today’s giant slalom and Sunday’s slalom – and the American finishes outside the top 15 both days.

Miller started the day 54 points behind Hermann Maier in the super-G standings.

Miller and Rahlves finished in an identical time of 1 minute, 10.24 seconds to take the lead and put the pressure on Maier. The last skier down, Maier needed a top-three finish to lock up the super-G title, but managed only ninth.

Paerson all but clinches title

Janica Kostelic all but conceded the overall World Cup title to Anja Paerson.

Paerson finished third in the super giant slalom and opened an 89-point lead on the Croat with only two races remaining – today’s slalom and Sunday’s giant slalom. Wins are worth 100 points.

Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria won the final super-G to claim the World Cup title in the discipline.

“I had a chance to do better today,” said Kostelic, who finished 15th, the last place that earns points at the finals. “I had a chance at the title.”

Paerson leads Kostelic 1,333 points to 1,244.

Dorfmeister took nothing for granted, winning in 1 minute, 12.38 seconds. She was 0.30 seconds ahead of Austrian Marlies Schild. American Lindsey Kildow was fourth.