One With The Mountain: Bode Sees Boost After Forming Own Team

Miller Has Signed Deals With Hublot, Madhouse Munchies, Among Others, To Sponsor His Team

Over the past two years, U.S. skier Bode Miller has saved his career when it was "on life support after his spectacularly disappointing performance" at the '06 Turin Games, according to Bill Gifford of MEN'S JOURNAL. Miller, who is currently 8th in the '09 Men's World Cup overall standings, began the turnaround in May '07 when he "effectively fired the U.S. Ski Team and went out on his own." But in forming the new team, which he dubbed Team America, Miller "was now the boss, with employees to manage and paychecks to sign." He also was aware that the team "would live or die based on how he performed." Miller: "Managing my own team was a whole different challenge. ... With the ski team there was always a safety net." However, separating from the NGB to form Team America "had considerable financial advantages" for Miller. Lowell Taub, Miller's agent, said, "It opened up new platforms for us. We no longer had to worry about competing with U.S. Ski Team sponsors." Miller this year has signed new deals with several sponsors, including Hublot watches and Vermont-based Madhouse Munchies.

HEAD START: Despite winning the overall title last season, Miller struggled in slalom and giant slalom. At the time, Miller said of his struggles, "It reflects poorly on me, and it reflects poorly on [sponsor] Head. No one's won a race on Head in ... GS ever, I don't think." But Gifford notes Miller "didn't just trash his sponsor and leave it at that." He flew to the Head factory in October '07 and "designed his own boards." He attempted to race on his new "Beefy" skis for the first half of the '08 season, but Beefy "proved all but unskiable." Midway through the season, Head "had gotten the message and delivered better skis" (MEN'S JOURNAL, 2/ '09 issue).