Industry News
38-year-old Bode Miller has officially announced that he will not be ski racing on the World Cup circuit this season. Instead, Bode will be focusing all his energy on his new race horse training operation, spending time with his family, and testing a new line of ski equipment.Bode is not saying he’s retiring, though he has stated that it’s “really unlikely” that he’ll be ski racing in the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.
”But it would be a cool thing to share with your kids, competing at a high level. And fitness-wise, my body feels excellent. You never know, but I would say it’s really unlikely I’d go in ’18.” – Bode Told the AP
Bode mentioned that skiing has not been as big a focus for him since he and his wife, pro beach volleyball player Morgan Beck Miller, just had a son this year. Bode also has two other children from previous relationships.
”I haven’t slept in 4 1/2 months. My priorities are so focused on the baby and family stuff. It’s really hard to manage all the other stuff.” – Bode Miller
Bode new passion will be horse training. Bode and his business partner own 15 thoroughbred horses and a barn in Maryland.
Bode Miller has won 33 World Cup races, 2 Overall Titles, 3 Olympic silver medals, 2 Olympic bronze medals, and 1 Olympic gold medal.
Bode says that his fitness “feels excellent” despite surgery last November to fix a herniated disk in his back and surgery to his hamstring last winter. Bode skied in Chile and Europe over the summer with no pain.
”My hamstring seems to have no real impact on my ability to ski and my body feels great. My back feels fine. In terms of that, everything feels great.” – Bode Miller
Bode dropped his sponsor Head and began working with Bomber Ski, an Italian ski company that makes handcrafted skis.
US Ski Team men’s coach Sasha Rearick thinks that Bode will race on the World Cup tour again:
”He’s Bode Miller. He loves it. He loves expressing himself on snow. He loves pushing the limits. If he’s got a new challenge, find something fun for him, he’s going to go full at it.” – Sasha Rearick
Will Bode race again? He’s not sure:
”The way it works in ski racing – you just don’t show up anymore.”
”I would tell people, ‘Look, I’m not going to do this anymore,’ and lay it out my plans. I haven’t drafted that up yet. As of now, it’s not the likely outcome. But you never know.
”I’m juggling a lot of different things and my family is my top priority. It comes down to whether or not we can manage (ski racing) with my family.” – Bode Miller
