[Printer Friendly Version]   [How to E-mail This Article to A Friend]

SPORTS ZONE 2: Downhill Ski Season Begins

Last Weekend, American Bode Miller and Swede Anja Paerson won the men’s and women’s titles in the first downhill ski race of the season. Both skiers have their sights set on winning the Alpine Ski World Cup.

The World Cup is awarded to one male and female skier each season based on results in races throughout the season. The skiers with the most points in their respective group win the Cup.

Paerson won the World Cup in the women’s division last year. Her specialty is the technical races, and she won 11 of them last season. She has had trouble in speed events. Last year she did not win any of those races. Consequently, her triumphant World Cup win surprised the skiing community. Rarely are skiers without a single win in speed races able to capture the Cup.

Bode Miller has never won the World Cup, but he thinks he can this year. He just turned 27 and says he is at an age where he has both experience and youth on his side. And it showed in Austria at the race! He beat second place Massimiliano Blardone from Italy by 1.17 seconds--a huge margin for skiing! If Miller maintains his early domination, he will become the first American since Phil Mahre in 1983 to win the Alpine Ski World Cup.

--Written by Sarah Kurachek

Write your own story telling us what you think about this article!

Read SPORTS ZONE 1: Curse Reversed!