Speed Demon

Bode Miller may be the most popular American in Europe. Granted, that's not a crowded competition. But on the hotly contested World Cup Alpine-skiing circuit, the laid-back Miller is a one-man diplomatic mission, even as he routinely beats the schuss out of Europe's best skiers. Endowed with boyish good looks, an easygoing manner and a breathtaking style, Miller has won a huge fan following in ski-mad Europe. From Alta Badia, Italy, to Schladming, Austria, the man has serious teen appeal. BODE YOU ARE SO SEXY! read banners at a recent event in Austria, where as many as 70,000 fans may show up to watch a day of racing.

Heading into the world championships under way in Bormio, Italy, Miller ranked first in the overall World Cup standings, piling up an impressive lead over Austrians Benny Raich and Hermann Maier. At the worlds, Miller has brightened his stardom in typical falling-off-the-planet fashion. During the super-G--the second fastest race after the downhill--Miller took a jump off-kilter at 65 m.p.h., struggled to stay on his skis and still won the race by a nail-biting margin. In the combined downhill and slalom, he lost a ski--and the race--at the top of the downhill course but amazed the crowd by running the gates on his remaining ski. In the downhill last Saturday, he kept both skis on and won a second gold, beating teammate Daron Rahlves by almost half a second. "Miller is a Bewegungstalent," says an admiring Toni Giger, head coach of the powerful Austrian team. That's the German expression for exceptional agility. Or maybe it means "That dude is whack." "He takes the full risk," says Giger. "But then he shows he can correct his mistakes. That is his strength." It is not an approach, Giger hastens to add, that he would recommend. "It's very dangerous."

Miller is singlehandedly lifting the traditionally underperforming U.S. ski team to a level not seen since Phil and Steve Mahre topped the rankings in the early 1980s. Miller has posted wins in all four disciplines on the circuit: the high-speed events, which include the downhill and the super-G, as well as the more precision-oriented giant slalom and slalom events. The U.S. team has had 12 podium finishes this World Cup season. Miller owns 10 of them. (Rahlves got the other two.) Says U.S. head coach Phil McNichol: "He walks out the door, and he is good. He doesn't necessarily work harder; he's just naturally better than everybody else out there. He's inspiring."

Arms windmilling, poles in the air, Miller often looks out of control--and often is. That's one reason why he has finished only one of seven slalom races this year. When showing videos of Miller to other racers, McNichol will cover up the volatile upper half of his skier's body and show just the feet to prove Miller is properly balanced over his skis. "It is not exactly ski-instructor style," says McNichol.