Bode Miller shares his story training in Vibram shoes
One wouldn't normally associate skiing superstar Bode Miller, who competes in about the heaviest footwear in sports, training in a minimalist fitness shoe made by Vibram.
But the company that makes FiveFingers, the unusual, glove-like shoe used mostly by runners looking for a more natural or barefoot running style, has launched a campaign featuring Miller, the Olympic and World Cup champion skier, in the run-up to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
The ad released Monday features Miller wearing a version of the FiveFingers during his dry land training routine in a rustic New Hampshire barn near where Miller famously grew up in a mountain cabin without electricity and running water.
The 60-second spot – called "What's Your Story?" – includes some highs and lows of Miller's career, including footage of his daring, go-for-it skiing style as well as a clip of him crashing.
Miller, shown in one scene hopping on one foot on a grass field, says of the FiveFingers training shoes: "(They) allow my feet to stay connected to the earth and the terrain that's underneath your feet. It's a huge step forward for athletics and for people in general."
Miller, 36, who won three Olympic medals at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, sat out the entire 2012-13 Alpine skiing season to fully recuperate from knee surgery. He has returned to the slopes about 20 pounds lighter and focused on reclaiming his familiar spot atop a World Cup podium.
Miller finished 19th in his first race back – a giant slalom in Soelden, Austria, last month. He expects to fare better when he races a World Cup downhill and super-G in Lake Louise, Canada, Nov.30-Dec.1.