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The best ski racer in the world is an American, and the world of skiing seems to be happy about that because it has been so long since it happened and expanded U.S. interest in skiing can mean a lot to the sport.

But the best ski racer in the world is Bode Miller. That means the world of skiing is a little unsure about what happens next.


That's because Miller, 27, raised by counterculture idealists in a mountain cabin in Franconia, N.H., without running water and electricity, is an unpredictable, slightly reclusive, reluctant champion who keeps talking about blowing up the sport and perhaps forming a breakaway tour with new formats and fresh, alternative ideas.


Maybe two lasting impressions were formed at the World Cup finals, where Miller's impressive clutch performances earned him the first World Cup overall title for an American since Phil Mahre and Tamara McKinney in 1983.


• Miller, his unorthodox style intact, his raw talent bursting from his skintight Spyder suit, ripping down the Swiss Alps to take second place in the downhill, first (tied with teammate Daron Rahlves) in the super-G and second in the giant slalom.


Coincidentally, with the overall title already clinched, he posted the fastest second run in Sunday's slalom, an event he had failed to finish in seven of eight races. He wobbled in the first run, however, and finished sixth overall in a race won by Austria's Mario Matt.


"In my skiing now," Miller says, "I'm constantly going into situations where your reactions and your instincts are telling you to do one thing and I override that and do something different and it kicks (butt), and that's a really cool feeling."


• Miller, consuming two beers at his news conference after he clinched the title Saturday, complaining again about the crush of media, sponsors and fans that are sucking the enjoyment out of his life and talking about how he might need "a lot of beer" to motivate himself for the Torino Olympics in February.


"The Olympics are important," he says, "but it depends on what you're looking to accomplish. If you're looking for mass recognition, the Olympics are the most important, especially in the U.S. But I'm not looking for that.


"If I was looking to prove I was the best ski racer in the world, I feel like I've done that."


However, Miller, who won two silver medals in the 2002 Olympics, told USA TODAY last week that an Olympic gold medal is a goal of his and that "I'm definitely going to be as ready as I can possibly be for that push when it happens."


The typical athlete's motivations after winning a big championship, such as cashing in on endorsements or pushing for a repeat title, just don't seem to grab Miller.


"I don't know that this is going to be some kind of giant springboard," he says. "I don't know where I would spring to from here - except away.


"A lot depends on what happens the next few months, I suppose, and I'm not really that enthusiastic about driving that forward. It's going to be a matter of how much influence sponsors and coaches and agents have. We'll see where it goes from there."


His agents, Ken Sowles for ski-industry deals and Lowell Taub for non-ski endorsements, are busy, and they say sponsors are eager.


"He's the most marketable person in the ski industry, by far," Sowles says.


And coaches? They're thrilled to make some American skiing history and relieved Miller didn't blow a huge midseason lead by repeatedly skiing out of races; his 11 DNFs (did not finish) is believed to be a record for an overall champion.





But, once again, they're wondering what roadblocks Miller will put up in the summer regarding conditioning and training.

"You have to drag him to the drawing board," U.S. men's coach Phil McNichol says. "He is constantly elusive to sitting down and mapping down that structure for the ultimate goal.

"He doesn't like structure. It's not the way he was brought up. He doesn't operate that way."

For instance, McNichol says, "We have a tremendous sports science program, and he's elected not to be much of a part of it.

"I have to tell you, it's getting old."

If this proves to be the pinnacle for Miller, if he decides not to go after a second World Cup title or a medal haul at the Olympics, McNichol says they'll always have Lenzerheide, where Miller came through in the clutch and rose to the top of the skiing world.

"He can get up any day and do something that's amazing," McNichol says. "Whatever happens from here, I'll always say Bode is one of if not the most amazing skier I've ever seen."

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