World Cup leader Bode Miller (Franconia, NH) gave up one-hundredth of a second through the first interval Saturday and then stormed through a two-mile downhill course to win by nearly a full second. Daron Rahlves (Sugar Bowl, CA) was fifth as the two teammates, who have said they each want to win the overall title, jump-started what could be a season-long duel.

Miller was timed in 1:42.75 for his nearly flawless run with Patrick Deneriaz of France second with a time of a 1:43.72. Third place went to Austrian Michael Walchhofer - the lone top-3 by an Austrian male or female this season in six races; Austrian men had won all eight races since the men resumed racing here in 1999. Rahlves, the only other American to crack the top-30 Saturday, finished in 1:44.06.

"This was the first downhill I've raced," Miller said, meaning he was comfortable and letting things rip, top to bottom, not just trying to make as few mistakes as possible and get a decent result. "I was attacking all the way, attacking from the start...

"It's awesome, not only to win a downhill but to win the way I wanted to: I attacked the hell out of the course. I was really aggressive and didn't make any mistakes.

"There are a lot of pieces that have to come together to win a downhill. Even more pieces have to come together to be a second ahead. I feel comfortable to be aggressive right now.

"I think in the past," Miller said, "I've shown when I can ski aggressive and make it to the finish, I'm tough to beat."

The victory was No. 14 in Miller's career, his first in a speed event. Miller, who switched to Atomic skis last spring, has won seven giant slaloms, four slaloms, two combined calculations and now a downhill. He's also the defending World Cup champion in giant slalom, the first U.S. man to win a World Cup title since 1983 when Phil Mahre won the overall, GS, slalom and combined titles.

Rahlves also skis on Atomic and the two share waxing technician Thomas Buegler. The triumph was the first by an American man in Canada since March 13, 1994 Tommy Moe won a super G at Whistler, B.C., following his Olympic heroics.

Coach: Miller "did some impressive things..."
"Pretty impressive show by our big guns," said DH/Super G Head Coach John McBride. "Bode pretty much put the smack down on everyone after that first interval. He's skiing with so much confidence. He did some impressive things out there today - skiing so intensively, so well...and he's obviously so confident - really, a whole different level of confidence - on that new equipment."

Through the first interval, at about 19 seconds in the course, Miller - who led the final training run Friday - was .01 off the leading pace. After that, though, he sizzled through the 2.97K run and cruised to the win in the first downhill of the young season.

Said Head Coach Phil McNichol, "This was such an unbelievably exciting day. The course preparation was fantastic and Bode showed that what we saw in training, that what we'd known was coming, was real.

Rahlves goes from no top-10 to a top-5
"Daron was upset through that first split, he was back in 50th place. He had some problems in a compression up-top, and if he'd been even 20th there, he'd would have been second today. But this was such an important result; he'd never been in the top 10 at Louise and now he's fifth. I think that come the end of the season this top-5 is going to have a big impact on the points race."

Miller had six victories and finished fourth a year ago while Rahlves won four times and was fifth overall. Each, noting they push each other to ski well, has said he is aiming at the World Cup overall championship.

The men have a super G Sunday before heading to Beaver Creek, Colo., for the VISA Birds of Prey races Dec. 2-5, a downhill, super G, GS and slalom.

MEN'S ALPINE WORLD CUP
Lake Louise, ALB - Nov. 27, 2004
Men's Downhill

1. Bode Miller, Franconia, N.H., 1:42.75
2. Patrick Deneriaz, France, 1:43.72
3. Michael Walchhofer, Austria, 1:43.92

5. Daron Rahlves, Sugar Bowl, Calif., 1:44.06
38. Scott Macartney, Redmond, Wash., 1:46.30
48. J.J. Johnson, Park City, Utah, 1:46.70
54. Bryon Friedman, Park City, Utah, 1:47.13
56. Jake Fiala, Frisco, Colo., 1:47.22
67. Wade Bishop, Winter Park, Colo., 1:48.55

— Courtesy of US Ski Team