Miller may not defend downhill world title in Sweden

Bode Miller might not defend his downhill title at the upcoming World Championships in order to preserve his fragile knee. The downhill course in Are, Sweden, is notorious for its big jumps. It was the same course used at last year's World Cup Finals, where Miller hurt his knee.
SCHLADMING, Austria — Bode Miller might not defend his downhill title at the upcoming World Championships in order to preserve his fragile knee.
    The downhill in Are, Sweden, will be staged on the Olympia course, which is notorious for its big jumps. It was the same course used at last year's World Cup finals, where Miller hurt his knee.
    ''I've been considering whether I'll race all the races and where my goals are,'' said Miller, who won both the downhill and super-G titles at the 2005 worlds in Bormio, Italy. ''I might have to think about skipping the downhill. The downhill there last year was what beat up my knee pretty bad.''
    Though usually known as a risk-taker, Miller is looking to become the first skier with world championship titles in all five disciplines. The only one missing from his collection is the slalom.
    Tuesday night's slalom in Schladming is Miller's last chance to qualify for a slalom berth in Are, though coaches could still pick him if no one else on the U.S. team meets the selection criteria. Olympic combined champion Ted Ligety and Jimmy Cochran have already secured two of the four spots available.
    The championships run from Feb. 3-18, and the downhill is scheduled before the slalom.
    ''That big 70-meter (230-foot) jump with the flat hard landing is not that nice where you're as old as I am,'' the 29-year-old Miller said.
    At last year's finals, racers went an average of 100 kph (62 mph), but hit speeds as high as 120 kph (75 mph).
    Miller, who has had knee problems in recent years, exacerbated the injury in training when he landed heavily on the top jump. He then finished second behind Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway, but underwent surgery last spring to fix his meniscus.
    ''It's probably one of the biggest jumps on the World Cup,'' said teammate Steven Nyman, who crashed on a tricky turn lower on the course last year. ''The jump just drops away and you go big. You need to be over your skis or something nasty is going to happen. A lot of guys' knees were hurting after that thing.''
    Olympic downhill champion Antoine Deneriaz and American teammate Christopher Beckmann also got hurt at last year's event
    ''It's certainly gnarly but Bode's just talking. I hardly doubt he won't race it,'' said Nyman, who won the downhill in Val Gardena, Italy, in December.