updated 9:15 p.m. ET Jan. 19, 2006

WENGEN, Switzerland - Bode Miller is backing down, for once.

The overall World Cup champion apologized Thursday for his comments about skiing and drinking during a televised interview, regretting the “confusion and pain” he caused.

The apology, while out of character for the usually obstinate and defiant Miller, was not unexpected given the concern the comments caused within the sport’s hierarchy.

“The most important thing is that I wanted to come straight out and apologize to mostly my family, friends,” Miller said at a news conference at the Wengen Elementary School. “But also we have a lot of people who supported me along the way, through my team and even just family and friends who have supported me, who I think are subject to only what the media puts out in America.

“And because of the way I made those comments in the ’60 Minutes’ interview it caused a lot of confusion and pain for all those people and obviously that’s not something I want to do so, firstly, I’d like to apologize to them,” he added.

The apology followed discussions with U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association president and chief executive Bill Marolt.

“This is a great step and this is something that needed to happen,” he said.

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Though he didn’t specifically address Miller’s role with the U.S. team heading for the Turin Olympics, he did say:

“Bode and his teammates have a great athletic opportunity here in Wengen this weekend. And we look forward to watching Bode and the entire team head to Torino next month.”

Miller, who took no questions after his statement, didn’t comment on the possibility of racing in Turin as an independent.

“He’s apologized. It’s great,” teammate and friend Erik Schlopy said. “Hopefully, this will straighten things out.”

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International Ski Federation president Gian Franco Kasper said the apology surprised him.

“But I’m happy,” he told The Associated Press. “It’s a good thing and a clever move.”

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