BORMIO, Italy (AFP) - Outspoken US ski star Bode Miller and his former US ski team left behind a trail of success, and several question marks here Saturday as the World Cup finals came to a virtual close.

But ahead of Sunday's team event, which many national teams are set to sit out, the dominant Americans weren't alone in celebrating an end to the gruelling alpine season.

While Lindsey Vonn and Miller created their own piece of history by winning both overall titles, the first time US skiers to have done so since Phil Mahre and Tamara McKinney's double in 1983, Germany's Maria Riesch, Austrian pair Nicole Hosp and Benjamin Raich and Italian duo Denise Karbon and Manfred Moelgg joined in the party.

The Italian hosts of the six-day event were praying for better snow conditions after the cancellation of both downhill finals in midweek, which handed Swiss Didier Cuche and Vonn the prestigious speed crowns.

Their spirits were lifted when Karbon lifted the giant slalom trophy she secured two weeks ago. Moelgg provided the final day drama when he upset French slalom series leader Jean-Baptiste Grange.

Grange, leading the Italian by 21 points ahead of the final race, had one hand on the trophy after a blistering second run until a huge mistake brought his bid to an end just four gates from home.

Moelgg finished sixth to become the first Italian to win the slalom crystal globe since Giorgio Rocca, and could not believe his luck.

"I didn't know Grange had made a mistake. It was only when I'd finished that I realised how disappointed the French fans were," he said.

The slalom was won by Reinfried Herbst, who handed the alpine powerhouses their second win of the day after Elisabeth's Goergl's giant slalom victory.

Grange, 23, was philosophical in defeat, but still hugely disappointed.

"If I'd got to the finish line I'm sure I would have won the title. It's really, really hard to accept right now, but I'm sure I'll get over it," he said.

Karbon might be tiny, but she was the giant slalom champion having triumphed comfortably with a total of 592 points after five victories.

Germany's Maria Riesch secured the women's super-G and combined titles - and has already promised her 23-year-old friend and rival Vonn a run for her money next season when she promises to be "more consistent".

The big story this year however is Miller, who ultimately proved is back to his consistent best.

The 30-year-old American claimed six wins, won the combined crown and his second overall title after his maiden win in 2005.

Austrian rival Raich, the 2006 champion, finished second overall just ahead of Cuche. Last year's reigning champion, Aksel Lund Svindal, did not compete after his crash at Beaver Creek in November.

Cuche was crowned the downhill champion ahead of Miller, with a five-point cushion, after the final race's cancellation.

It was one title Miller would have liked to add to his collection. Miller is still searching for perfection though, and he feels he could have done much better.

"There's a lot of times this year where I feel like we just missed. I could be 100 percent proud with six wins, but that wasn't where we got to," he said.

The US's epic season was completed Friday when Ted Ligety won the giant slalom crown, his first World Cup title, meaning American skiers grabbed five of the 12 crystal globes.

However that success, and that of Miller, will be tempered after some ironic final day decisions.

The US team's head coach, Phil McNicol, announced he was quitting after 11 years in charge after overseeing the emergence of Miller, Vonn, Ligety and co.

Then the pioneering team Miller put together ahead of the season, after he officially split with the US ski team, virtually fell apart after two of his coaches said they were quitting for family reasons.

The situation has even left Miller, known as much for his outspoken views as his impressive skiing, guessing over his own competitive future.

"It's obviously a concern of mine for next year if I continue to race, which is up in the air on its own."