The recently completed World Alpine Championships marked a solid performance by the U.S. Ski Team. While the goal of eight medals wasn’t met, six medals, including Bode Miller’s golds in downhill and super-G demonstrated that the U.S. Ski Team had depth and talent.

We were all disappointed that illness prevented Kirsten Clark from competing in the downhill, but her recovery from last season’s injuries and some good races this year, are reason to be optimistic about next year’s Olympics.

As expected, Bode Miller stole the show, at least in the beginning. By winning the first two events, the CVA graduate put the spotlight on himself the rest of the way. Failure to finish in the combined, GS and SL ended his hopes of a record-setting performance. Austrian Benjamin Raich became the new star of the championships. His four medals, two gold, a silver and a bronze set the stage for the rest of the World Cup season.

This weekend’s downhill and super-G in Garmisch begins the final push for the World Cup titles in the four disciplines and the overall. Miller’s early margin shrunk to a mere 95 points over Raich with six races left along with the finals at Lenzerheide, Switzerland March 9-13. This is the big goal for Miller. We’ll also be watching Clark in Are, Sweden this weekend and another pair of races before joining the men for the finals in Lenzerheide.

The national championships at Mammoth, March 29 through April 5, are almost anticlimactic, but Clark will surely be focused on her fifth national downhill title.

As if the tight competition for the World Cup crowns were not enough, Miller stirred things up with his ideas in a Denver Post column, which he writes regularly. In his Feb. 9 column, Miller talked about taking a year off after next year’s Olympics or even retiring from racing. He also suggested forming his own ski team to compete on the World Cup as well as start his own pro tour.

While U.S. Team coach Phil McNichol dismissed it, saying it had been heard before, Miller did bring out some important points – such as skiers’ inadequate pay and medical coverage. This has always been a problem for the U.S. Ski Team. Stars like Miller and Rahlves make plenty of money as long as they win and stay healthy. But those who don’t win struggle to make ends meet. It’s tough for a skier to work his way up. Many of those skiers, who stick with the team for a full career of 10 to 12 years, find themselves through with competitive skiing and no college degree.

Miller has spoken on these topics before and they need to be addressed by the U.S. Ski Team. But is starting a new pro tour the answer? I couldn’t help thinking of Maine’s own Ed Rogers who ran the last pro tour up until its demise several years ago. I called him at his restaurant, Macmillen & Company in Brunswick and learned that he too is thinking about a return to the pro tour.

When I asked about Miller’s comments, his immediate response was, “It’s a good idea but needs someone who knows what they’re doing.”

He pointed out that there’s a void that the pro races could fill. Although he dropped away after the tour ended, Rogers said his contacts, who include, ex-racers, former sponsors and ski resorts, all agree that a return of pro ski racing would be good idea.

Would Rogers be the right person to help Miller out in this endeavor?

“I wouldn’t want to run the tour again, but could be involved as a director,” said Rogers.

But Rogers is definitely interested in hearing from anyone who would like to see the return of pro ski racing.

Bode Miller might be mulling the idea, but the guy who has the answers is right here in Maine. From the days when he was promoting skiing at the Red Stallion at Sugarloaf, through his days of running the Peugeot and then the North American Pro Tour, Rogers knew how to draw a crowd to a ski event.

While I love to watch almost any ski competition, I have to admit that when the pro tour came to a ski area it was a weekend party. The head-to-head skiing was a lot easier for spectators to watch than the standard one at a time runs of traditional ski racing. That’s why he always drew a crowd.

With a headliner like Bode Miller, it could come back bigger than ever. For now we’ll watch the rest of the World Cup season, but with the old pro tour on our mind.

The more immediate concern here is that the biggest week of the ski season is under way, and every ski area in Maine expects to have wall-to-wall skiers every day this week.

They don’t really need to put on special events to attract a crowd, but over the years plenty of activities have been created and many have become local institutions. In addition, this is the week for high school state ski championships. Some have already taken place or are happening this weekend. Black Mountain has Nordic events and Sunday River class B and C competition this week. Mt. Abram has Class A.

Mt. Abram will also be open every day rather than the usual Thursday through Sunday, with special events including novelty races. Saddleback kicks off the week with Hawaiian night tonight. Shawnee Peak has Family Day Thursday and Sugarloaf has a week of activities planned. Lost Valley has an Intermountain Race Tuesday and the final Bud Race and awards party Thursday.

We don’t have space to list all the separate events, but check the Web site links under www.skimaine.com for details. Then get out there and ski some of the best conditions of the season.

Dave Irons is a freelance writer who lives in Westbrook.