Another good finish for skier Bode Miller

KVITFJELL, Norway, Feb. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. skier Bode Miller was on the podium for the 31st time in World Cup competition Friday after one of two downhills at Kvitfjell, Norway.

Miller finished second to Italy's Werner Heel in the race held at Olympiabakken, Kvitfjell's 1994 Olympic course.

Miller finished 0.10 seconds behind Heel, whose winning time was 1:45.73 in his first World Cup first-place finish.

Steven Nyman, a member of Miller's Speed Head team from Provo, Utah, was 14th. Marco Sullivan of Squaw Valley, Calif., crashed, but was uninjured.

"It was a pretty good day," said Speed Head Coach Chris Brigham. "It was a great day for Bode getting 80 points."

The event was a rescheduled after it was postponed earlier this month at Val d'Isere, France, site of the 2009 FIS Alpine World Championships.

With 1,183 points, Miller is within 25 points of World Cup downhill points leader Didier Cuche of Switzerland, who has 1,058.