Bode Miller just won his first gold medal, and when he did, the crowd erupted. Now Miller has five Olympic medals, and one in each color.
Miller trailed the dh portion of the super combined by .74 seconds off leader Aksel Svindal, and was positioned seventh. Several threats were ahead of him including Ivica Kostelic and Silvan Zubriggen.
Your stomach always sinks when Miller get in the gate, because you never know what’s going to happen. Today was no different. With time to make up it was easy to predict that Miller would be attacking the slalom. He smoked the top section of the course and ended the slalom in the lead. Miller’s slalom was third fastest – teammate Ted Ligety won the run.
The flower ceremony just took place and I have never see so many smiles from Miller. After getting bronze in the downhill he said he was approaching these Olympic differently. He was trying to feed off the energy and excitement and get back to the purity of skiing. Since then he’s won two more medals.
If there’s ever been a time that you could say it’s “Miller time” – it’s now.
Headed to the press conference.
Posts Tagged ‘alpine’
Miller takes gold in super combined
Sunday, February 21st, 2010Vonn, Mancuso grab gold, silver
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010Even with her recent shin injury, it is not a huge surprise that Vonn won the women’s downhill to day to collect her first gold medal, and it’s also not a huge surprise that Julia Mancuso reached the podium as well. Perhaps more that any other racer Mancuso brings the big stuff for big events – just like she did when she won the gold medal in Torino’s giant slalom. She had a blazing run, charging the whole way and nailing the important sections. When the press conference starts, I have got to ask her how she does it.
I stood next to Lindsey’s brother during the race, as well as the entire “Vontourage.” They were a jittery bunch, all waiting to see if the pressure and stress that comes with being the most hyped athlete of the Olympics, would turn out for the best, or worst. Then there was the unpredictable impact Lindsey’s shin bang would have on her result. My opinion all along has been that the pain would melt away as she kicked out of the gate. Lindsey charged hard, absolutely unleashing on the course.
After she finished, two racers remained at the top who could bring her down – Anja Paerson and Maria Riesch. Both experienced racers, who can also step it up in big events. For the record, my podium prediction was Vonn, Paerson, Mancuso. I would have been right had it not been for Paerson’s rugged crash off the final jump. She squatted coming in and launched into the air. For a second it looked as if she would pull it out, but she flew so high and far – 200 feet – that the forces were too great and she imploded, spinning through the finish. It was pretty horrific, and when it happened Vonn gasped and ducked away so she would not see. The TV crew cut out the jumbotron in case her crash was really bad. Paerson was about three tenths out – a sure medal contender.
Maria Riesch had a long course hold after Paerson’s crash. She was not on her game, well behind at the first split.
The race is still underway. One of the later racers had to be evacuated from the course – she hooked up, did the splits and crashed thought the fencing.
More from the press conference, when we’ll hear from the American top 2.
A look at the downhill course as the crowd poured in Wednesday morning. MK Photo
In the finish with VT racer Chelsea Marshall and her brother Jesse. MK Photo
Some quotes from Miller
Monday, February 15th, 2010The downhill is still underway, and Bode Miller is in bronze medal position. He ran early and charged hard. Really no mistakes to speak of. The margin separating the top 3 are miniscule. Here are some of the things he’s had to say so far:
On his run:
“I was really nervous this morning. Once I got going, I felt really, really solid.”
“It was hard for me to push without making mistakes. I skied really well at the top but I was pushing too hard.”
On his chances of winning a medal:
“I might hold on for a medal. I might not.”
“If I could do it again, I could hold those guys. I wasn’t doing anything wrong.”
Olympian studded day at Stowe
Saturday, February 6th, 2010
Jimmy Cochran racing in Saturday's UVM Carnival. MK photo
There was a lot of excitement on the hill today at Stowe for UVM’s Carnival as Jimmy Cochran, Nolan Kasper and Canadian Patrick Biggs – all 2010 Olympians – entered the race and put college skiers to the test. On the women’s side, U.S. Ski Team member Jessica Kelley was also in the mix.
Temperatures were cold, the snow was hard and skies were clear for the slalom held on Main Street, and there was quite a crowd on the hill for second run – perhaps the biggest since it opened for racing last year.
Another great highlight of the day was having Chelsea and Cody Marshall on the hill. Chelsea will be racing in the women’s super g in the upcoming Olympics and will time trial for a chance to start the downhill. Cody, also a U.S. Ski Team member, is making an incredible recovery after suffering a traumatic brain injury, which left him hospitalized for weeks. Amazingly, Cody is back on skis, and he’s making some impressive turns, too!
Patrick Biggs, Jimmy Cochran and Dartmouth’s Ace Tarberry were 1,2,3 for the guys and Meg Ryley, Lyndee Jenowiak and Veronique Archambault-Leger were the top three women. For race results, click here.
Chelsea and Cody Marshall came out to watch their brother Tucker race at Stowe. MK photo
Canadian Patrick Biggs won the men's race. MK photo
Vermonters named to Olympic Alpine Team
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010Two men and one woman was named to the U.S Olympic Alpine Team. Jimmy Cochran was not a big surprise. He’s led the Americans in slalom all season long and qualified with a 9th place under objective criteria. Chelsea Marshall and Nolan Kasper, were discretionary picks.
Marshall is a terrific speed skier, and she’s slated to compete in super g and maybe the combined. Kasper is the 2009 World Junior bronze medalist in slalom, so he wil join Cochran on the four-man team.
Bode Miller, from New Hampshire (we have adopted him as an honorary Vermonter – he would be pleased to know) will gun for gold in all four events, pending a healthy ankle. Miller won the super combined at Wengen two weeks ago and will be a threat to the podium in all events.
The US had more spots become available to them at the last minute, allowing them to bring the full 22 athletes. Below is the Vancouver-bound alpine team.
Men
Will Brandenburg, Spokane, WA, 23, 1/1/87
Jimmy Cochran, Richmond, VT, 28, 5/29/81 (2006)
Erik Fisher, Middleton, ID, 24, 3/21/1985
Tommy Ford, Bend, OR, 20, 3/20/89
Tim Jitloff, Reno, NV, 25, 1/11/1985
Nolan Kasper, Warren, VT, 20, 3/27/89
Ted Ligety, Park City, UT, 25, 8/31/84 (2006)
Bode Miller, Franconia, NH, 32, 10/12/77 (1998, 2002, 2006)*
Steven Nyman, Sundance, UT, 28, 2/12/82 (2006)
Marco Sullivan, Squaw Valley, CA, 29, 4/27/80 (2002, 2006)
Andrew Weibrecht, Lake Placid, NY, 24, 2/10/86
Jake Zamansky, Aspen, CO, 28, 6/26/81
Women
Stacey Cook, Mammoth Mountain, CA, 25, 7/3/84 (2006)
Hailey Duke, Boise, ID, 24, 9/17/85
Julia Mancuso, Olympic Valley, CA, 25, 3/9/84 (2002, 2006)
Chelsea Marshall, Pittsfield, VT, 27, 11/15/82
Megan McJames, Park City, UT, 22, 9/24/87
Alice McKennis, Glenwood Springs, CO, 20, 8/19/89
Kaylin Richardson, Edina, MN, 25, 9/28/1984
Sarah Schleper, Vail, CO, 30, 2/19/79 (1998, 2002, 2006)
Leanne Smith, Conway, NH, 22, 5/28/87
Lindsey Vonn, Vail, CO, 25, 10/18/84 (2002, 2006)
*adopted Vermonter
Third post, 4:07 p.m.: Cochran 19th, Kasper 24th at Schladming
What a race! That was some seriously fun skiing to watch on an incredibly icy hill.
Jimmy Cochran finished up 19th, just behind teammate Ted Ligety, and Nolan Kasper, a Burke Mountain Academy graduate, scored his first World Cup points in 24th. Cochran will surely be named to the Olympic Team – his 9th place finish this year qualifies him objectively – and in a few short minutes/hours, we’ll know if Kasper has been named.
The team delayed it’s announcement yesterday, and it’s past the deadline they set for today – so hopefully we’ll hear soon. Two Vermonters on the Alpine team is better than one, the saying goes.
In other news, I just got off the phone with Andy Newell and Liz Stephen, VT’s cross country skiers, and I’ll have story ready for y’all soon. Stay tuned.
Second post 1:30 p.m.: Cochran, Kasper make 2nd run in Schladming
The first run of Schladming’s famous night slalom race in Austria has just ended and Jimmy Cochran, of Richmond, sits in 12th place – ahead of Ted Ligety and Bode Miller. Also in the mix is Nolan Kasper of Warren. He started bib number 56 and finished 29th of 30 taken to run two.
With the final spots on the men’s alpine Olympic team very much up in the air, Kasper’s performance could be the ticket to Vancouver. Qualifying for a second run the first time starting at Schladming, a technically difficult (understatement) hill is impressive. Last weekend, he qualified at Kitzbuhel, hiked and finished too far out to get World Cup points. But qualifying caught the eye of coaches. This guy Kasper is one to watch. Last year at World Junior Championships he was third. Today marks his third World Cup start.
Original post, 11:19 a.m.: Alpine Team Shrinks
If there is any proof that what we die-hards following the U.S. Ski Team for the past four years have noted – the Team has a few very bright stars and not much depth – this is it: Instead of being able to send a full team of 22 athletes, based on our strength, the U.S. will be sending 18 to Vancouver. The determination of team size is made by the International Olympic Committee, in charge of doling out spots. In 2006, the U.S. sent 22, and countries like Switzerland, Italy and Austria will send the full 22 this time around.
This is what has delayed the Team’s selection announcement from yesterday until today. Today, the committee selecting the 2010 team will find out if any other nations will leave spots unfilled, and the U.S. may get the chance to add a few more athletes. In addition, there are some very difficult decisions to make because the team criteria is so subjective. Only 10 athletes met the objective criteria for the Vancouver-bound team. Athletes like Chelsea Marshall, Nolan Kasper, Erik Fisher, Tim Jitloff, Kaylin Richardson and Hailey Duke are the tough calls.
