Michael Walchhofer and Bode Miller set the pace for the season-opening men’s World Cup downhill by clocking the fastest times in final training at Lake Louise — the course where they both had their maiden downhill wins.

Walchhofer, a winner on Whitehorn mountain in 2003 and the reigning World Cup downhill champion, signalled he was ready to defend his crown with the hard-charging Austrian clocking a time of one minute 50.66 seconds.

Miller, who claimed back-to-back victories in Lake Louise in 2004 capturing the downhill and super-G, also looked in superb early season form crossing in 1:51.25 just in front of Italy’s Werner Heel.

Read more on… Michael Walchhofer and Bode Miller fastest in Lake Louise

Twice World Cup overall champion Bode Miller has announced his return to the United States ski team in one last bid for Olympic gold.

Miller, who after a falling-out with the US team split from the programme following the 2007 World Cup season to start his own team, said he was excited to be back and would try to get a spot on the 2010 Vancouver Olympic squad.

“I’ve had some great seasons. I’ve had some great runs here and there but I’ve never… in hindsight looked back at a season and said, ‘Wow, I really did all the stuff I could do’,” Miller said.

Read more on… Bode Miller returns to US ski team

Bode Miller has denied reports that he will definitely compete in the upcoming season’s World Cup. Rainer Salzgeber — director of Miller’s Head team — had been quoted saying that his number one skier had already committed to the 2009/10 campaign.

Read more on… Undecided Bode Miller to make a decision

It appears Bode Miller plans to be at the World Cup openers in Soelden this October, probably without a coach. In a widely distributed report carried by the Austrian News Agency Miller reportedly told Head Skis Race Director Rainer Salzgeber he had not made his mind up about racing at the 2010 Olympics, and that he would not take a season off. Instead, Salzgeber says, Miller plans to continue. The two met at the Kapruner Glacier Thursday.

Read more on… Bode Miller to keep skiing