Compiled by Outside Online

March 18, 2002 Racing in near-blizzard conditions on courses full of ruts, double Olympic silver medallist Bode Miller and Sarah Schleper skied to victory in the U.S. Alpine Championships at Northern California's Sugar Bowl Ski Resort on Sunday.

Miller, 24, took home his first career U.S. slalom title, beating second place Erik Schlopy, of Park City, Utah, by an impressive 2.76 seconds over two runs. In the process, Miller snagged the U.S. combined title with a sixth-place finish in the super G.

The titles add to an already breakthrough season for Miller, who captured four World Cup victories and two Olympic silver medals this winter. Chastised in the past for his "no guts, no glory" approach, he said his style was never the problem.

"A lot of people have given me [a hard time] about not being smart and blowing out all the time the last three years, but you can't change like that ... nothing is different, I'm still doing the same stuff," Miller said in a race report posted on the U.S. Ski Team Web site.

Schleper, 23, captured the U.S. slalom title for the second time in as many years. Entering the second run with a .12- second lead, Schleper skied to victory with a combined time of 1:37.43. Caroline Lalive, of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, was second at 1:37.97.

"After the first run just having a .12 lead, I knew I had to put it on the line. It was a little rough and I didn't feel too stellar. So I told myself, 'dang girl, you gotta' go.' And as soon as I hit the flats I just let them run," a U.S. Ski Team report quoted her as saying.

Schleper, an up-and-comer on the U.S. Ski Team for the past few years who has been celebrated as a free spirit (see "Rising Star: Sarah Schleper," Outside magazine, November 2001) said she's ready for a larger role on the team. "I think I'm not considered an up-and-comer any more. Next year I'll be considered a veteran," the U.S. Ski Team quoted her as saying. "I can't wait to start winning on the World Cup."