Val Gardena

Bode Miller blew his downhill lead by skiing off course in the slalom, allowing Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway to win a men's World Cup super-combi in Beaver Creek, Colo., yesterday . Miller led after the downhill leg, but swerved off course in the slalom after a gate smacked his inside boot, causing him to knock his skis together. "He pushes the line and it works sometimes and when it does, he destroys everyone. When it doesn't . . . " said teammate Steve Nyman, explaining why Miller would be so aggressive despite enjoying such a large margin ahead of his run. "He's won enough.

New Swiss ski star Beat Feuz won before his home fans Saturday, capturing a World Cup downhill on the classic Lauberhorn course while Bode Miller seemed poised to win but made a tactical error and finished fifth. "It's a bummer," said Miller, a two-time Lauberhorn winner. Feuz was timed in 2 minutes, 35.31 seconds on the longest course on the World Cup circuit for a victory that gave him the lead in the downhill standings in his breakout season. Austria's Hannes Reichelt was 0.44 seconds back in second.

Austria's Klaus Kroell goes into Thursday's knee-jarring downhill on the Stelvio course with memories of the fall that robbed him of a podium finish last year. American Marco Sullivan and Canadian Robbie Dixon are looking to rally from season-ending concussions from a year ago. For Adrien Theaux of France and Patrick Kueng of Switzerland, potential top-three finishes were wiped out when this season's previous downhill in Val Gardena was canceled because of high wind. Throughout the field, motivation is running high for the final race of 2011.

Austria's Klaus Kroell goes into Thursday's knee-jarring downhill on the Stelvio course with memories of the fall that robbed him of a podium finish last year. American Marco Sullivan and Canadian Robbie Dixon are looking to rally from season-ending concussions from a year ago. For Adrien Theaux of France and Patrick Kueng of Switzerland, potential top-three finishes were wiped out when this season's previous downhill in Val Gardena was canceled because of high wind. Throughout the field, motivation is running high for the final race of 2011.

Hans Olsson of Sweden appears set for a career breakthrough when the World Cup ski circuit returns to Europe this weekend. Still seeking his first career victory, Olsson has dominated both downhill training sessions on the classic Saslong course. In Thursday's second training run, Olsson led Didier Cuche, Bode Miller and Aksel Lund Svindal by more than two seconds. Competition begins Friday with a super-G race, although snow is in the forecast and could impact the schedule.

Kalle Palander worked up to 10 hours daily for 40 days during the summer to rehab his surgically repaired left knee. A sleep-deprived Bode Miller still nearly beat him . Palander won a giant slalom yesterday in Alta Badia, Italy, for his 13th World Cup victory and first since tearing knee ligaments in March at the World Cup finals. Miller, who keeps waking up at night and is irritable the next day, was right behind the Finn after a charge in the second run. Palander also led after the first run and covered the steep and narrow Gran Risa course in a combined time of 2...

Bode Miller’s conditioning is strong and his sprained ankle is getting better. It’s the wind and the light, however, that have been slowing the two-time World Cup overall champion. The Franconia, N.H., skier finished ninth yesterday in the Saslong downhill at Val Gardena, Italy, affected by a strong headwind that whipped up just as Miller and other competitors took the course. Manuel Osborne-Paradis won in 2 minutes 1.27 seconds, giving the injury-plagued Canadian team a boost.

Shani Davis and Heather Richardson won 1,500-meter races yesterday for their third victories at the US Speed Skating Long Track Championships in West Allis, Wis. Davis and Richardson also won the 500- and 1,000-meter events at the Pettit National Ice Center. Richardson finished in 1 minute, 58.13 seconds to beat Jilleane Rookard (2:00.87). Britany Bowe, who finished second to Richardson in both the 500 and 1,000, was third in 2:01.15. Davis, who has two Olympic silver medals at this distance, had a time of 1:45.19.

Bode Miller took over first place in the overall World Cup standings for the first time in a year after winning a super-G yesterday at Hinterstoder, Austria. Miller raced down the foggy 1-mile Wertung course in 1 minute 9.76 seconds for his third Cup victory this season and 24th of his career. The 29-year-old native of Franconia, N.H., is the only skier this season with more than one victory. "Things are starting to come together for me," Miller said. "My skis are working great.

New Swiss ski star Beat Feuz won before his home fans Saturday, capturing a World Cup downhill on the classic Lauberhorn course while Bode Miller seemed poised to win but made a tactical error and finished fifth. "It's a bummer," said Miller, a two-time Lauberhorn winner. Feuz was timed in 2 minutes, 35.31 seconds on the longest course on the World Cup circuit for a victory that gave him the lead in the downhill standings in his breakout season. Austria's Hannes Reichelt was 0.44 seconds back in second.

Shani Davis and Heather Richardson won 1,500-meter races yesterday for their third victories at the US Speed Skating Long Track Championships in West Allis, Wis. Davis and Richardson also won the 500- and 1,000-meter events at the Pettit National Ice Center. Richardson finished in 1 minute, 58.13 seconds to beat Jilleane Rookard (2:00.87). Britany Bowe, who finished second to Richardson in both the 500 and 1,000, was third in 2:01.15. Davis, who has two Olympic silver medals at this distance, had a time of 1:45.19.

Hans Olsson of Sweden appears set for a career breakthrough when the World Cup ski circuit returns to Europe this weekend. Still seeking his first career victory, Olsson has dominated both downhill training sessions on the classic Saslong course. In Thursday's second training run, Olsson led Didier Cuche, Bode Miller and Aksel Lund Svindal by more than two seconds. Competition begins Friday with a super-G race, although snow is in the forecast and could impact the schedule.

Bode Miller’s conditioning is strong and his sprained ankle is getting better. It’s the wind and the light, however, that have been slowing the two-time World Cup overall champion. The Franconia, N.H., skier finished ninth yesterday in the Saslong downhill at Val Gardena, Italy, affected by a strong headwind that whipped up just as Miller and other competitors took the course. Manuel Osborne-Paradis won in 2 minutes 1.27 seconds, giving the injury-plagued Canadian team a boost.

Bode Miller took over first place in the overall World Cup standings for the first time in a year after winning a super-G yesterday at Hinterstoder, Austria. Miller raced down the foggy 1-mile Wertung course in 1 minute 9.76 seconds for his third Cup victory this season and 24th of his career. The 29-year-old native of Franconia, N.H., is the only skier this season with more than one victory. "Things are starting to come together for me," Miller said. "My skis are working great.

Kalle Palander worked up to 10 hours daily for 40 days during the summer to rehab his surgically repaired left knee. A sleep-deprived Bode Miller still nearly beat him . Palander won a giant slalom yesterday in Alta Badia, Italy, for his 13th World Cup victory and first since tearing knee ligaments in March at the World Cup finals. Miller, who keeps waking up at night and is irritable the next day, was right behind the Finn after a charge in the second run. Palander also led after the first run and covered the steep and narrow Gran Risa course in a combined time of 2 minutes 28.82...

Bode Miller blew his downhill lead by skiing off course in the slalom, allowing Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway to win a men's World Cup super-combi in Beaver Creek, Colo., yesterday . Miller led after the downhill leg, but swerved off course in the slalom after a gate smacked his inside boot, causing him to knock his skis together. "He pushes the line and it works sometimes and when it does, he destroys everyone. When it doesn't . . . " said teammate Steve Nyman, explaining why Miller would be so aggressive despite enjoying such a large margin ahead of his run. "He's won...

Hannah Kearney, the 23-year-old Vermonter who honed her skills with Waterville Valley’s Black and Blue Trail Smashers Ski Club, turned in one of her best performances in the World Cup moguls Sunday, winning in Suomu, Finland, as she prepares for a second Olympic berth. “I made no mistakes this time and when I ended in first place, it was very satisfying,’’ she said after the race. “I did probably the best [helicopter spin] I’ve done the whole week off the bottom air.’’ Also on the podium were Canadians Kristi Richards (second)

VAL GARDENA, Italy -- Bode Miller isn't off to the same flying start as last season. The American finished eighth in a World Cup super-G yesterday and lost his short-lived lead in the overall standings. Hans Grugger of Austria won his first career super-G, and Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway finished fifth to regain the lead he lost to Miller a week ago. Miller, though, trails by just 2 points. Grugger covered the Saslong course in 1 minute 37.35 seconds. Erik Guay was 0.31 seconds behind and Ambrosi Hoffmann of Switzerland was third, 0.32 seconds back.