Experts have been tipping Olsson for victory for years, but he’s failed to come through.
“I know I can ski really fast, but I’ve never really proved it in the World Cup course,’’ he said. “I’m not really a killer-instinct guy. I’m kind of a scared guy when I ski downhill, but suddenly I feel comfortable and the equipment is all there. It feels good.’’
Miller won the super-G in Val Gardena five years ago, but his best finish in downhill was second in 2008.
“Conditions a lot of time, start number,’’ he said, referring to his downhill struggles on the Saslong. “Obviously there’s nothing you can do about it, but it ends up here a lot of the time making all the difference.’’
Miller won the season’s previous downhill in Beaver Creek, Colo., and could make a bid to become the first American man to win the season-long World Cup downhill title.
Miller and Cuche are tied for second in the downhill standings, 31 points behind Beat Feuz of Switzerland.
Miller has come close before, memorably getting denied a chance to catch Cuche in 2007-08 when the final downhill of the season was canceled.
“It’s one of those elusive things that he’s always talked about. That would be really special,’’ said Marco Sullivan, Miller’s teammate.
However, Miller acknowledged, he’s often skipped the final races of the season.
“The globes are always a goal, but the fact that I don’t really ski through the whole season makes those less likely,’’ Miller said. “I really have to be dominant.’’
Miller wouldn’t reveal whether he plans to head home early this season.
But Sullivan believes if Miller is in contention, he’ll stick it out.
“He’s obviously feeling good getting the win in Beaver Creek,’’ Sullivan said “I think he’s just fired up to race downhill more than anything else right now. The way it usually works for him is if he focuses on something, it usually goes pretty well. Right now I think downhill is the big focus.’’
