Miller Wins at Beaver Creek for 33rd Career World Cup Title

Bode Miller delivered a flawless run to win his 33rd career Audi FIS Alpine World Cup event on the Birds of Prey downhill in Beaver Creek on Friday. The New Hampshire native took his third career Birds of Prey downhill win by besting Switzerland's Beat Feuz by a slim .04 margin.

"I love to ski the way I did today. When I came across the finish line, I was 100 percent satisfied, and it's great to have it coincide with a win," Miller said. "If I could set up the Birds of Prey on my own and just run it all the time, I would ditch the World Cup. It's a pleasure to do."

American Bode Miller wins the Audi Birds of Prey World Cup downhill at Beaver Creek, Colo. Photo Courtesy of 2011 Birds of Prey Photo by: Cody Downard

Miller last won the Birds of Prey downhill in 2006, when he and fellow American Daron Rahlves went one-two. It was his first World Cup downhill win since 2008. His last World Cup win came in the super combined in Wengen in January 2010.

"You see how tight the course is," Miller said of Beaver Creek's famed Birds of Prey downhill. "If you try to back off in any spot, a few tenths can slip away from you and I didn't back off anywhere. I had my foot on the gas the whole time."

American Ted Ligety finished 22nd, one of four Americans to finish in the top-30 points.

Photo by: Erich Schlegel