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BEIJING 2008: Miller cleans up his act to avenge 2006 nightmare

US skier Bode Miller speeds downslope during the official men's World Cup combined on Sunday in the French Alpine resort of Chamonix. PHOTO: AFP

Rumors of Bode Miller's demise as a regular on the party circuit, and his expected journey toward alpine legend status, may yet be premature.

But one thing seems sure. Bode is back, and seemingly on the road toward avenging his Olympic nightmare of 2006.

The American's victory in Sunday's super-combined here was his fourth of the season, but with 14 races remaining the bigger picture looks even rosier for the 2005 overall World Cup champion.

Now back in the overall lead, Miller also has one hand on the super-combined title, which will be decided this weekend at Val d'Isere in a duel with French slalom sensation Jean-Baptiste Grange.

To secure his second overall title Miller still needs to hold off Austrian all-rounder Benjamin Raich and Switzerland's on-form speed specialist Didier Cuche.

But even if he fails, the lifestyle changes Miller has recently made could unlock even bigger rewards at the Vancouver Games in 2010.

Known for spending the entire 2004-2006 seasons in his motor-home, to which he would often retire in the early hours after a night of partying, Miller has now surrounded himself with a personnel team dedicated to his cause.

His uncle, Mike Kenney, has joined the seven-strong "Team Miller," while cousin Chance Stith pitches in by helping merchandise the Miller brand at World Cup events.

Crucially, though, Miller no longer has to pitch up at local schools during the ski season hoping to use their gym for a workout. He can now leg squat through the night, if he likes, having fitted out the bigger of his two luxury buses with all the weights he needs.

Close friend and cook Jake Sereno provides the meals which, some say, Miller is settling down to most nights instead of partying.

Asked about his new approach -- compared with last year when he fully integrated with the US Ski team, even sleeping in hotels -- Miller told reporters: "It's not so different, except for the logistics of having my own team."

"The training in-season has been better. I have my weight machine and training facilities on the road with me all the time, which I'd been asking to have for 10 years," he said. "It's just crazy to try to go to a little high school gym and try to lift weights with the little kids' machines! I've paid for it myself, but it's an investment I think is worthwhile."

The 2008 Miller seems far removed from the one who left Turin under a cloud after failing to medal at the 2006 Olympics.

The previous year, Miller's overall crown had been the first for an US man since Phil Mahre won the last of three consecutive titles in 1983. Miller had scorched his way to victory after claiming seven wins, six of those inside the first ten races of the season.

This season it took Miller until the Bormio downhill in January to claim his first 100 points. Since then, he has defended his title at the Wengen downhill, and his combined win at Kitzbuehel last week saw him overtake Mahre's previous US men's record of 27.

Miller's slalom technique, originally his strong point before becoming erratic in recent years, is also on its way back.

He now has the edge over Cuche, who is not a slalomer, and Raich, the 2006 overall champion.
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