Good Start for Miller

Bode Miller began his bid to become the overall World Cup Alpine skiing champion Sunday by winning the season-opening giant slalom at Soelden, Austria.

Miller, of Franconia, N.H., seeking to dethrone champion Stephan Eberharter of Austria, had a big victory margin of 1.12 seconds. Miller covered the course in a combined time of 2 minutes 9.58 seconds for his two runs.

Frederic Covili was second in 2:10.70, followed by French countryman Joel Chenal in 2:10.76. Eberharter, the Olympic giant slalom champion, was sixth after the opening leg but dropped to eighth after the second run.

Erik Schlopy of Park City, Utah, the world championship bronze medalist, tumbled after both skis broke but was not hurt. Daron Rahlves of Sugar Bowl, Calif., barely missed qualifying among the top 30, finishing 32nd.

Austrian star Hermann Maier finished 16th.