BORMIO, Italy (AFP) - Barring the biggest upset in alpine skiing history the United States will be celebrating the first double triumph in the overall World Cup series for 25 years.

US ski star Bode Miller officially secured his second overall crown here Thursday after his main rival Didier Cuche announced he would not be racing in Saturday's slalom, the final men's race of the season.

Miller's 12th-place finish in the final super-G Thursday, where Cuche dramatically failed to score points and lost the crown by a single point, had already boosted his overall tally to 191 points.

American Lindsey Vonn followed suit, claiming a surprise second place in the final women's super-G, won by Swiss racer Fabienne Suter, to boost her overall lead on German rival Maria Riesch to 197 points.

Although Riesch is expected to compete in both women's races, the talented German, a close friend of Vonn's, would have to win both and hope Vonn fails to win any points in order to score a dramatic upset.

The last time Americans won both the men's and women's overall crowns - awarded to the skier with the biggest points tally from the entire season - in the same year was 25 years ago.

In 1983 Tamara McKinney and Phil Mahre dominated the World Cup series which, at that time, was devoid of the super-G and composed of only four events - the downhill, slalom, giant and combined.

"I think it's great," Miller told AFP when asked about Vonn's impending triumph.

"It's been a long time since a US girl has won the title, Tamara was the last girl to do it.

"She's been very consistent all year, and had quite a few wins. She's also been unlucky in some parts that I saw."

A lot has changed since 1983 and over the past decade the maverick approach of Miller has helped shape a rethink about the way ski racing should be approached.

On Thursday the 30-year-old who grew up in the wilds of New Hampshire, once famous for his 'kamikaze' approach to racing, at first refused to accept he had secured arguably the biggest prize in alpine skiing.

True to his rustic roots, Miller doesn't like to assume much in life until after it has happened, and said: "Mathematically, I haven't won the title yet. If Cuche wins the slalom, then ... he can still catch me."

His crown was secured when Cuche then made what seemed a logical announcement of not competing in the slalom - his weakest event.

Miller's triumph this season is down to several factors: he has tamed his win-or-nothing strategy which seen him crash out on a regular basis, and he has a whole new philosophy to racing - thanks mainly to the dedicated coaching team who travel with him throughout the series.

Miller suggested he is only just beginning: "The programme that I put together I was really proud of. I think we did some amazing things, but there's definitely a lot more to go."

Vonn has yet to officially secure her overall crown.

But after her second place finish in the super-G, worth 80 points, coupled with Riesch's sixth place finish, worth 40, she needs only three points from the next two races.

In the finals only the top 15 racers are awarded points. If Vonn finishes in the top 15 of Friday's slalom she will win the overall, the first for a US woman since McKinney in 1983.

Vonn said: "Three points is nothing! I just have to make sure I ski a solid slalom tomorrow then I think it's okay."

The 23-year-old American had secured the women's downhill title weeks ago, finishing as the season's 'speed queen' with over a 300-point cushion on Austrian veteran Renate Goetschl.

After two days of cancellations due to poor snow conditions, she added: "I'm very happy we could have a super-G today."