American Downhiller: Bode-Style
After keeping fans wondering for nearly two years, Bode Miller (Franconia, NH) officially announced his retirement in November 2017. For his fans and the ski racing community as a whole, it was a sad day. With two overall FIS Ski World Cup globes, six World Cup discipline titles, six Olympic medals, five World championship medals, 33 World Cup wins, and an unorthodox, renegade, "Bode-Style" - he was a rockstar in the world of ski racing.
Often misunderstood, Miller didn't race for the win. Instead, he wanted to ski his best and do it his way. “Winning is not the only thing I was focused on," reflected Miller. "I think that’s confusing for a lot of people, except for that when you look at your own life you’re not solely driven by one thing, you’re driven by a lot of things.”
Having worked as an NBC commentator alongside Dan Hicks at the PyeongChang Olympic Games, Miller continues to be a strong voice in the ski racing community. In an interview with Reuter's in early January, Miller commented on the upcoming Olympics, pointing out 2017 and 2018 Overall winner Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, Colo.) specifically, noting, "I think she’s maybe the best ski racer I’ve ever seen, male or female. She’s so balanced, dynamic, intense and focused, so for me, I think she’s got a chance in any event she skis in."
Check out the full American Downhiller: Episode 6, by Ski Racing Media.