Benjamin Raich on Bode Miller's six in overall title race

Three ago, Bode Miller looked like a lock to become the first American skier in 22 years to win the overall World Cup title.

Back Miller led Austria's Benjamin Raich by some 400 points. Now the lead has been slashed to only 52 points going into the final four races of the season.

Miller go head-to-head with Raich in four events at the World Cup finals opening today. Hermann Maier will race in three events and still has an outside shot of defending his overall crown.

"To win the overall I need to be winning these last races, or at least beat the other two guys because the margins are small," said Miller, who has skied every World Cup event this season.

Miller 1,348 points, followed by Raich with 1,296 and Maier with 1,166.

The race for the women's overall trophy is nearly as close, with Anja Paerson of Sweden attempting to defend her title with a 63-point lead over Janica Kostelic of Croatia. They also ski in all four disciplines.

In addition to the two overall titles, six other disciplines will be decided by Sunday. The slalom titles have been locked up by Raich and Finland's Tanja Poutiainen.

Trying become the first American man since Phil Mahre in 1983 to win the overall title, Miller has been strong in the speed events -- downhill and super-G -- since switching ski brands. But he's been poor in slalom, finishing just one of eight starts.

Tamara McKinney is the last American woman to win an overall title, also in 1983.

Miller six of the first 10 races and has won in every discipline this season. He already considers the season a success.

"Of course I want to win the overall," he said. "It's been a goal of mine a long time. I accept that it's the standard by which most skiers measure the best racer. But still, I have nothing to prove to myself."

Raich relentlessly gained ground on Miller, reaching the podium eight times in technical events -- slalom and giant slalom. He's also prevented Miller from using the speed races to pull away, with the Austrian posting respectable results there, too.

Maier both the downhill and super-G last weekend in Kvitfjell, Norway, to close in. But he's ruling himself out of the overall title.

"There are only four races left. It's not possible," Maier said. "I don't ski the slalom."

Skiing Wednesday with the women's downhill. The men's downhill is Thursday, with both super-G races on Friday. Saturday is women's slalom and men's giant slalom. Sunday closes with the women's GS and men's slalom.

Unlike Miller, Paerson and Kostelic are under little pressure.

Paerson the defending overall champion, and Kostelic has won it twice. Both are satisfied with their season's haul of world titles and World Cup wins.

In the World Championships last month in Bormio, Italy, Kostelic won every race she entered -- slalom, downhill and combined -- and Paerson took gold in the super-G and giant slalom.

"I'm really relaxed now," said Kostelic, who missed all of last season with a thyroid problem and injuries. "No matter where I finish I'll be happy because when the season began no one expected much from me and I've had a great season and a great world championships."

Paerson her first downhill at last month's World Cup in San Sicario, becoming only the second woman to post wins in all four disciplines in a single season.

"Even if I don't finish on top in Lenzerheide, it will still have been a good season," Paerson said.