Three-time Olympic medalist Lindsey Vonn continues her comeback to World Cup racing at the Stifel Birds of Pres Audi FIS Ski World Cup this week at Beaver Creek Resort.
Vonn took her first run down the Birds of Prey course as a forerunner for Wednesday’s downhill training run. She is scheduled to forerun the remaining downhill training runs, in addition to Saturday’s first official World Cup downhill race and Sunday’s super G, as she continues to build toward returning to the FIS Audi Alpine Ski World Cup circuit.
Forerunners are a vital part of a ski race as they serve to test the timing equipment and course conditions prior to the start of the race. In addition, they provide valuable safety feedback to race officials and an opportunity for the television production crew to perform a “dry-run” before broadcasting live to a worldwide audience when the first racer drops onto the course.
Many athletes have served as forerunners at some point in their careers to gain valuable course knowledge and insight into the next level of competition. In Vonn’s situation, while she does have the acumen and experience to race at the World Cup level, she recently earned enough FIS points to qualify for racing on the World Cup level as soon as next week at a pair of super G event in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
“We are excited to see Lindsey back on the World Cup circuit, and taking part in this historical women’s event,” said Birds of Prey Event Director Sarah Franke of the nonprofit Vail Valley Foundation, which hosts the event each year.
The nonprofit Vail Valley Foundation serves as the local organizing committee (LOC) for the Stifel Birds of Prey races, working in close partnership with the FIS, U.S. Ski & Snowboard, Vail Resorts, the Beaver Creek Resort Company, Beaver Creek Resort, the U.S. Forest Service, and other partners and sponsors to make the races one of the highlights of the World Cup tour since they were first held in 1997.
The Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup has deep roots in the Vail/Beaver Creek community, which is one of four modern venues to have also hosted one of the original World Cup events, as Vail hosted a giant slalom in spring of 1967.
Women’s Birds of Prey Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Racing schedule
Dec. 12: Downhill training 2, 11 a.m.
Dec. 13: Downhill training 3, 11 a.m.
Dec. 14, 11:00 a.m., Downhill
Dec. 15, 11:00 a.m., Super G
*Race times subject to change.
Domestic television schedule*
Saturday, Dec. 14
11:00 a.m. – Downhill, live on Outside (free)
Sunday, Dec. 15
11:00 a.m. – Super G, live on Outside (free)
2:00 p.m. – Downhill & Super G, (delayed) on NBC
*All times Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Festivities will surround the event, including films, Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete signings, the annual Beers of Prey beer tasting, VIP opportunities, and more. Learn more about the festivities at bcworldcup.com/events and about the event at www.bcworldcup.com.
For more information about the Vail Valley Foundation visit vvf.org.
