THE DAY BODE HAD A SCREW LOOSE
Bode Miller is getting his groove back. He took second in a World Cup super G, missing the win by just 2/100 of a second---literally less than the blink of an eye.
But that was followed by a demonstration of skiing talent that should have put Bode in the record books---instead of getting him disqualified. At a December 16th World Cup slalom in Italy, Miller put so much pressure on his ski binding through the tight course that one of the screws in the binding came loose. The binding fell apart. Miller was left with only one ski, while the other slid down the hill.
Instead of limping away, he completed the slalom---a very tight, turny course on solid ice--- bashing the gates with ease. But FIS rules say a racer must complete the race with both skis on, so Miller was DQ'ed. Still, the crowd roared its approval.
Miller could have been totally bummed, taken off and thrown down his other ski, or tossed his poles in a fit of petulance. Instead, he talked calmly with his Head ski rep and dismissed the disappointing incident to "bad luck."
Meanwhile, Miller has started a new web site. It's MySpace on skis. SkiSpace.com is a social networking site that will allow skiers to hook up with each other over the net. It looks a lot like a rack on which to hang ads, but there are a growing assortment of "friends" getting together. It will be a lot more cool once more skiers join up. But SkiSpace has something no other site has: a racer's registry. From World Cuppers to local town league racers, visitors can look up anyone; though this function will also need more work.
But the site has the potential to catch on big; to the point of being Miller's career once his ski racing is finished. Imagine someone having an incredible powder day who uses their cell from the mountain to text in to SkiSpace about the great conditions. Ten people in the area click in just to find such a message. They quickly load up the car and are on their way. There's no site that interactive for snowriders.
Miller also intends to post exclusive videos from the World Cup and the occasional blog.
A huge launch party was held for the site at the recent Beaver Creek World Cup races. Guests were a who's who of alpine racing, with current U. S. ski team members dropping in, along with legends like Franz Klammer, Hermann Maier, and Daron Rahlves, who is no longer retired from skiing; Rahlves is now a skiercross racer who is zooming up the rankings.