Bode Miller won a World Cup super-combined event on the Lauberhorn course for his first victory since March 2008.
The American completed his slalom run in 49.05 seconds after leading the morning downhill for a combined time of 2 minutes, 35.96 seconds.
Carlo Janka of Switzerland was 0.37 seconds back in second, while Swiss teammate Silvan Zurbriggen trailed Miller by 0.42 seconds in third.
Miller, who won his 32nd career World Cup race less than one month before the Vancouver Olympics, missed much of the off-season while he considered retiring and had to skip recent races to rest an injured right ankle.
The 32-year-old promised to go all out for victory after an impressive downhill run gave him a 0.69-second cushion on Janka, who won the Wengen super-combined last year. He also revealed that skiing aggressively gives him the least pain in the technically demanding slalom discipline.
Miller skied without major errors, then turned to look up at the race clock and giant screen for several seconds after crossing the finish line. He tapped his ski poles behind his back in a small gesture of satisfaction, before spinning to face the crowd.
He stood still for several seconds more as if savoring the moment, then was greeted by a grinning Zurbriggen, who heartily grabbed Miller’s fist before Janka offered his congratulations.
Miller last won a World Cup race in a downhill in Kvitfjell, Norway. He last finished on the podium as runner-up in the classic Lauberhorn downhill exactly a year ago.
He won the race in 2007 and 2008 and will be one of the favorites today.
Benjamin Raich, who placed fourth yesterday, maintained his lead in the overall World Cup standings. The 31-year-old Austrian holds a 32-point lead over Janka.
Ted Ligety of the US placed fifth and is seventh overall with 362 points. Miller moved up to ninth place with 318 points.
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