Editor's Note: Following is a transcript of the press conference with Bode Miller and Erik Schlopy following the Giant Slalom at the World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Courtesy U.S. Ski Team.

You've had great success in St. Moritz. How is this your mountain?
"I don't know but it's been pretty good for me so far."

What did you think before the race?
"I knew it was going to be a challenge and I actually – not to blow smoke in my own sails – I actually called these two guys [Knauss on his right, Schlopy on his left on the dais] as two of the guys I felt could be a real threat on this hill…

"I didn't realize it was going to take the kind of skiing it did today to win.

"I thought I skied a great first run and I was almost a second behind Hans; it was really a little bit disturbing to know that he was that much than me. In the second run, I skied, I thought, unbelievable – and lost a second to Erik. So, it was a little disappointing in that aspect, but I couldn't be on the podium with two better guys,especially when I look at the results here [in his hand] and Hans is in the lead until the very last split, and then – just at the end – he decides not to reach his hand out all…the...way, and gives me my second gold medal."

Do you think you can win another gold medal in the slalom?
"I don't know. I hope so. It's just another tough race. There are so many guys now who are skiing with a ton of speed. It seems like this is a kind of a bit of a pattern. I came down in Schladming [Jan. 28, night SL] and thought I had a great run, then watched Kalle Palander – with no goggles on – beat me by a second-point-two. So, I don't know. I really thought I was really fast but lately people have been showing me up.

"I'm ready to race. I come out ready to compete every day and I have a really good ability to not get too concerned with the result, just to race really hard…"

Does having Erik on this podium add anything to your medal?
"I said that before Hans had come down. The way Hans skied the first run, I felt pretty confident that he was going to be on the podium, with the win most likely; if not he would be there with both of us.

"I could have had any color medal – it would have been the most important medal that I've had at these championships or in my life just because, on the team, I've always been able to focus on my own goals and do my own thing. I do put a lot of energy into the team, help the other guys, just try to make it a good atmosphere, not only for myself to function but to see those guys achieve their potential.

"I've talked a lot over the last five years I'm usually one of the only guys on the team who's made the transition into racing from training. And the guys are beating me and skiing incredibly fast in training for five years and they just haven't done it in races. To have Erik come out and put down a run like that in the second run at World Championships, and have our first double podium…y'know, we've been talking about that for five years now and to have it happen today is just amazing.

What made you think Hans and Erik would be challengers?
"It's a combination of snow conditions and a pretty moderate pitch most of the way … You need to have an unbelievable feel and touch on the snow to be fast on this stuff. If you're too aggressive, you lose time the whole way; you have to know how to attack and be a smart skier. You make too many mistakes and that'll cost you the race, too.

"When you have a course that's moderate like this, the times are gonna be close. Do, there are a few guys who have the potential … and these are two of the guys who, I thought, had the speed.

"But there's kind of a difference. A lot of the guys have the potential to win a race because they're mentally tough – that's [Austrian Stephan] Eberharter. Christian Mayer has great touch on the snow but I don't think he has the tactical ability, sometimes …

"In the race today I had no answer when people asked me who were the favorites. I don't really pick favorites but I would pick guys who had the speed and the ability, who – when they have a great run, I have to worry about them. And these are two of the guys."

Eric Schlopy
You were 23rd in the first run but had the fastest second run. How?
"For me, I think the key to my second run was that I forgot the results and forgot about the medals and concentrated on what I can do. I skied for myself.

"When I came out of the gate, I wasn't thinking 'I've got to win by 1.55 seconds to get a bronze medal.' I wanted to go out and be in a way that I could leave the mountain today and be happy with the way I skied. It sort of freed my soul and I went out there and I was relaxed and I had a run that I've been capable of having for a long time. "It opened up a door for me today of what's possible."

You skied eighth on the second run and led all the way; how tough was it to wait at the bottom?
"It was fun and exciting. I came through and I heard the crowd cheer and I heard the commentator say I was in first place. When I looked at the board and I saw 1.55, then I started thinking about the possibilities of a medal.

"I really didn't think it was possible until about 10 guys went. Nobody was even coming close with their times, and I thought, 'Well, I may have to wait until Bode [fourth in the first run, 27th on the second] comes down before somebody beats me. Of course, he came down and beat me by four-hundredths, and it was great to see our names up there [1-2 on the scoreboard], and a couple of more guys to come down and we could be on the podium together for the first time in our career. It's something we've waited a long time for, but it's certainly worth the wait."

What did you radio up to Bode?
"I knew this course was good for both of us. Actually, every course is good for Bode these days…

--Bode interrupts--"I've gotta tell you his report. He radioed up 'Oh, it's really awesome, it's really turny, it's perfect for me…"

Schlopy: "No, I said it was perfect for him because it is. He skis very turny, too. I told him 'It's turny, there's no traps, no tricks – you can have clean arcs from start to finish, and that's what he's best at, so I knew he was gonna have a great run."

You had almost a bi-polar race: In that first run you were kind of sleep-walking through it, and the second run you attacked top to bottom. Are you kind of kicking yourself now about missing two-hundredths of a second – or more – in that first run?
"I think I just should have gone to bed earlier and I'd've been more awake in the first run. But, no, I'm not kicking myself – I mean, what a day! It was actually more exciting to come from 23rd to get a bronze medal. Four-hundredths is close, but that's the way ski racing goes and we have close races almost every week…

"That second run, that's my gold medal…and my gold medal is to be on the podium with Bode and with Hans – he's a good guy, too."

How did you feel when Bode beat your time?
"Well, actually I was prepared for that. I was standing there with my teammates; Dane Spencer was right behind me and as Bode was coming down, and losing time as he was coming down, almost on pace to tie me. So I knew it was going to be really close.

"But I didn't get mad at him. I was just so happy that we were at the top [of the leaderboard] and it seemed there was a real good chance we'd be on the podium together. And it didn't matter what color the medal was…

"All season long, almost every time he comes down it seems he's in first place, so I was just glad to be next to him…and my second run I proved to myself I can compete with Bode and the rest of the World Cup."

— Courtesy U.S. Ski Team