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US dominates World Cup skiing, sweeps overall titles

Lindsey Vonn raised both arms to the sky and hugged her teammate Stacey Cook after completing the first US sweep of overall World Cup titles in 25 years.

Ted Ligety pulled out a clutch performance in the season's final giant slalom on Friday, becoming the first American to win the discipline title since Bode Miller in 2004.

Miller, who clinched his second overall title on Thursday, and Vonn are the first Americans to win the overall together since Phil Mahre and Tamara McKinney did it in 1983.

"It's just a big day for America," Vonn said. "We've finally swept the overall."

Vonn clinched the title on her own terms -- by posting the fastest run in the second leg of the slalom. Vonn eliminated her only rival still in contention -- her good friend from Germany, Maria Riesch -- before Riesch even had a chance to ski the second leg. Marlies Schild of Austria won the race to capture the season's slalom crown, while Vonn tied for 11th.

"It was special for me to wrap up the overall in slalom because I started as a slalom skier in Buck Hill, Minnesota," said Vonn, who is better known now as a downhill specialist, her whole family having moved to Vail, Colorado when she was 11.

"I just gave it everything I had, took a lot of risks, and it paid off," Vonn said. "It's like winning an Olympic gold medal. I remember reading about the legends of skiing as a kid and now I'm one of them. I can't believe it."

Likewise, Ligety charged back with the fastest second leg to win his second straight GS and first discipline title.

"It's cool to have the GS title, but it's nothing in comparison to what they have," Ligety said of Miller and Vonn.

Miller's first World Cup title also came in giant slalom and Ligety is being groomed to become an overall threat.

"To challenge for the overall is that you have to contend in at least three disciplines," said Ligety, who still specializes only in slalom and GS.

"It's going to be tough for me. Most times, in the speed events older guys do better. Hopefully I'll get that tire around my chest and be able to power it down," Ligety added with a laugh.

Vonn is a personable 23-year-old who has learned to harness her raw speed this season.

Formerly known as Lindsey Kildow, she married former US racer Thomas Vonn in September and credits her husband's full-time presence on the circuit for much of her success.

"I've made light years of progression this year in terms of being able to control myself and not get so emotional and so caught up in the points, and it's all because of him helping me," she said. "Now I know where to take risks and where not to. I'm more consistent."

Vonn crashed in training at the Turin Olympics and missed the end of last season with a knee injury. She spent much of the offseason in rehab -- and the gym.

"I feel like the summer is where you can make up ground on people," Vonn said. "If there's some party going on, you can say, `Hey, I'm going to the gym.'"

"Those are the decisions that make you stronger not only physically but mentally. I spent a lot of time in the gym, and I'm full of energy now. I could go race for a long time after this. I think that was the big difference this year," she said.

After failing to take home a medal at the Turin Olympics, Miller clashed last season with the US team over squad rules, prompting him to start his own team.

Besides his head coach John McBride, Miller also brought in former US coaches Forest Carey and Mike Kenney, his uncle, for his breakaway squad. And he quit drinking before the season.

"I think his uncle sort of said, `If we're going to commit ourselves to you, we want you to commit yourself to us.' That might have been what he needed -- someone that he was willing to listen to," Miller's father Woody said.
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