WENGEN, Switzerland — Carlo Janka of Switzerland won a World Cup super-combi Friday, while Bode Miller of the United States lost control during the slalom and finished 32nd.
Miller, the reigning World Cup champion, hasn’t won in 18 events this season. He’s 11th in the overall standings.
Janka finished in 47.01 seconds in the slalom for a combined 2 minutes, 34.16 seconds after the downhill. He also won a giant slalom last month at Val D’Isere, France.
Miller was sixth after the downhill. The 31-year-old New Hampshire skier recovered from a big mistake on his slalom run to lead by 0.21 at the halfway mark. But his right ski slid out after a left gate and he lost too much time recovering his line. He did not speak with reporters at the finish area.
Peter Fill of Italy was second and Silvan Zurbriggen of Switzerland was third.
Overall leader Benjamin Raich of Austria (593 points) was seventh and extended his advantage over Jean-Baptiste Grange (536). Grange, the super-combi winner at Wengen last year, finished ninth. Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway is third overall (502) after finishing eighth.
Janka had a runner-up finish in the season-opening downhill at Lake Louise, Canada.
“My second place in Lake Louise started something,” Janka said through an interpreter. “I started skiing well in all disciplines. I just hope I can keep it going.”
Janka rose to fifth in the overall standings with 466 points, despite not competing in slalom events.
Miller showed his determination to do well this weekend by hiring a helicopter Thursday for extra slalom practice in the next valley. He flew to Veysonnaz in the Swiss Valais region to find a slope that resembles the slalom course at Wengen.
Miller will line up as one of the favorites for Saturday’s downhill after winning at Wengen the past two years. The meet ends with a two-run slalom on Sunday.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
