2014 Audi Birds of Prey Program

JULIA MANCUSO Photo by: Julia Mancuso

TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome Letter.....................................................8 Schedule of Events................................................9 Birds of Prey Race Week....................................10 Birds of Prey History...........................................12 Ted Shred.............................................................18 Racers To Watch..................................................22 Countdown to 2015............................................27 Previous Birds of Prey Winners.........................31 Thanks to our Sponsors.....................................37

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Photo: Preston Utley

Official Wireless Partner of The US Ski Team and Audi Birds of Prey

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VAIL VALLEY FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Andy Arnold Judith Berkowitz Marlene Boll Bjorn Erik Borgen Jenn Bruno Susan Campbell Steve Coyer Jack Crosby Andrew Daly Ron Davis William Esrey Johannes Faessler Tim Finchem Cecilia Folz, President Harry Frampton, Chairman Peter Frechette Stephen Friedman John Garnsey Margie Gart Bob Gary

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Donna Giordano Sheika Gramshammer Martha Head Mike Herman Al Hubbard William Hybl Chris Jarnot George Johnson Rob Katz Kent Logan Peter May Brian Nolan Bobby Patton Michael Price Eric Resnick Doug Rippeto Dick Rothkopf Ken Schanzer Michael Shannon Stanley Shuman

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Rodney Slifer Ann Smead Oscar Tang Fred Tresca Stewart Turley Steve Virostek Betsy Wiegers DIRECTORS EMERITUS Adam Aron James Berry Craddock John Galvin Pepi Gramshammer Steve Haber Elaine Kelton

Photo: Preston Utley

Elegance is an attitude Aksel Lund Svindal

OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER

Conquest

WELCOME TO THE BIRDS OF PREY Dear Ski Friends, Welcome to the dress rehearsal for the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. That loud ticking sound you hear is the clock counting down the final weeks until Vail and Beaver Creek once again welcome the world for the Championships.

But while this year’s Audi FIS Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week will serve as a valuable final test for many of our World Championships operational plans, the coming races will feature all the stories, drama and excitement that the world has come to expect from Birds of Prey, year in and year out.

We are anxious to see the “new” Birds of Prey Downhill course set, featuring higher speeds in some sections and larger jumps.

We are looking forward to the races providing a preview of not only the World Championships, but also the 2014-15 season and we are sitting on the edge of our collective seats to see if Ted Ligety can record his fifth consecutive Giant Slalom victory on Birds of Prey.

You will most certainly notice significant changes in and around the race venue this year as much of the infrastructure for the 2015 Red Tail Stadium complex has been constructed during the fall. In addition to the significantly larger stadium tribune, the International Broadcast Center and one of our two hospitality tents are also in place and being utilized for this World Cup. So sit back and enjoy a great week in Beaver Creek with the 2014 Audi FIS Birds of Prey Ski World Cup Race Week activities, both on and off the race course. And, we invite you back in less than two months, February 2-15, for the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

Best Regards, Ceil Folz President Vail Valley Foundation 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships

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Photo: Preston Utley

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS *All events subject to change TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2 Men’s Downhill Training 1 11am Birds of Prey Racecourse WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3 Men’s Downhill Training 2 11am Birds of Prey Racecourse THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4 Men’s Downhill Training 3 11am Birds of Prey Racecourse Welcome Party 7pm The Dusty Boot (Tickets Required)

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5 Pre-Race Festivities, Exhibitor Row, Music & Entertainment, Food & Drink Specials 9am Red Tail Finish Stadium Men’s Downhill Race 10:45am Birds of Prey Racecourse, Awards ceremony immediately follows

Post-Race Festivities, Live DJ & Festival Food & Drink 3:30pm Beaver Creek Village Fashion Show w/SNOW Magazine 4:30pm Beaver Creek Village Aprés Fashion Show Parties 5:30pm Beaver Creek Village U.S. Ski Team Autograph Session 6pm Slifer Smith & Frampton Office Beaver Creek Village SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 Pre-Race Festivities, Exhibitor Row, Music & Entertainment, Food & Drink Specials 9am Red Tail Finish Stadium

Men’s Super G Race 11am Birds of Prey Racecourse Awards ceremony immediately follows

www.blackdiamondball.com for tickets

Post-Race Festivities Live DJ & Festival Food & Drink 3:30pm Beaver Creek Village

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7

Free Ice Skating Party 4pm Beaver Creek Village, Free skate rentals available Discover Beaver Creek Scavenger Hunt 4pm Beaver Creek Village Discover Beaver Creek Prize Drawing 6:15pm Vilar Center

Jonathan Selkowitz

Black Diamond Ball 6:30pm Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch

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Pre-Race Festivities, Exhibitor Row, Music & Entertainment, Food & Drink Specials 9am Red Tail Finish Stadium Men’s GS Race Run 1 9:45am Birds of Prey Racecourse Men’s GS Race Run 2 12:45pm Birds of Prey Racecourse Awards ceremony immediately follows

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STRAIGHTER COURSE SET AND BIGGER JUMPS HIGHLIGHT 2014 AUDI BIRDS OF PREY RACE WEEK Since its creation in 1997, Beaver Creek’s Birds of Prey men’s race course has earned its reputation as one of the toughest Downhill tracks in the world. However, on the eve of its second World Championships in February, FIS race officials may be looking to ensure that the Birds of Prey’s talons are especially sharp.

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Photo: Jonathan Selkowitz

In September, new Men’s Chief Race Director Markus Waldner participated in a walk down of the Beaver Creek course in conjunction with the final inspection for the upcoming 2015 World Championships. Waldner came away with some observations and some recommendations. In a sense, it’s a case of “Back to the Future”.

“We would like to set a little bit straighter, especially after Russi’s Ride and over Screech Owl Jump,” explained Waldner.

“We want to open the race line to have more speed over Golden Eagle and we want to jump a little bit more than in the past. Also, over Harrier Jump, we want to build a long jump, like it was years ago. So, these are little adjustments, compared to the last year.”

Little adjustments that should provide both racers and race fans with bigger air and more speed when the world’s best racers descend on Birds of Prey December 5-7 for the final 2015 dress rehearsal, otherwise known as the 2014 Audi FIS Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week.

Slated for Downhill, Super-G and Giant Slalom competitions, Birds of Prey will most certainly set the stage for not only the World Championships, but the entire 2014-15 World Cup campaign as well.

The Birds of Prey Downhill will get things started on December 5, with Super-G on tap for December 6 and Giant Slalom bringing down the curtain on December 7.

Photos: Jonathan Selkowitz

In addition, the public will get their first look at the lion’s share of the Red Tail Stadium complex that will play host to all individual medal races during the Championships. In addition to a significantly expanded stadium tribune, the 2014 World Cup will also feature the new 30,000 square-foot International Broadcast Center, along with the first of two hospitality structures.

Construction on the stadium complex got underway September 1, with the first floor of the Broadcast Center and stadium-top commentator cabins anticipated to be available to World Cup broadcasters, while VIP and racer hospitality are slated to occupy the first level of that structure.

Along with a definitive men’s preview of the 2015 Championships, the 2014 Birds of Prey World Cup will also feature its own unique set of drama and excitement, including Ted Ligety’s quest for a Giant Slalom five-peat in Beaver Creek. Only Austrian star Hermann Maier has won more World Cup events on Birds of Prey with six, while Ligety’s teammate Bode Miller and Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal are tied with Ted at four.

“It is very important for us this upcoming season to have one last big test with our Birds of Prey race at the beginning of December,” concluded Waldner. “This is a good opportunity for all of us to test these little adjustments to make sure that we are ready for the big event in February.”

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BIRDS OF PREY: HISTORY Beaver Creek’s Birds of Prey race course was built during the summer of 1997 in preparation for the 1999 World Alpine Ski Championships. Designed by Olympic Downhill gold medalist Bernhard Russi of Switzerland, Birds of Prey starts west of the top of Chair #8 and finishes at the bottom of Red Tail at the confluence of Chairs #10 and #11.

The course features a vertical drop of 710 meters and contains an average gradient of 27 percent, increasing to 45 percent in the middle of the course and again in the final third of the course.

Kjetil Jansrud

Hometown: Vinstra, Norway 2013 Birds of Prey

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Photo: Jonathan Selkowitz

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Marcel Hirscher

Hometown: Annaberg, Austria 2013 Birds of Prey

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Photo: Jonathan Selkowitz

The first competition on Birds of Prey took place December 2-6, 1997, with a pair of men’s World Cup Downhill races and a men’s World Cup Super-G. The course was officially opened with a ceremonial Native American blessing, performed by tribal elder Red Ute, along with a traditional ribbon cutting.

Germany’s Stefan Krauss was the first racer down Birds of Prey in the opening day of Downhill training and Italy’s Kristian Ghedina was the first race winner, capturing the opening Downhill on December 4, with a time of 1:41.16. The remaining two races of the inaugural weekend of competition were won by Austrians Andreas Schifferer (Downhill #2) and Hermann Maier (Super-G).

During the 1999 Championships, Birds of Prey was the site of the first ever World Championships gold medal tie as Maier and Norway’s Lasse Kjus each mined gold for their Super-G efforts, with times that were identical down to the thousandth of a second. Maier’s Austrian teammate Hans Knauss finished third, a mere onehundredth of a second off the pace.

An estimated 20,000 spectators were on hand Feburary 6 of 1999 to witness the World Championships men’s Downhill competition, the largest crowd in U.S. ski racing history. The race was won by Austria’s Hermann Maier, one of his record eight victories on Birds of Prey.

The fastest World Cup or World Championships Downhill race time ever recorded on Birds of Prey is 1:39.59, courtesy of the U.S. Ski Team’s Daron Rahlves in 2003. That win also ended a 19-year American Downhill victory drought on U.S. soil, marking the first time since Bill Johnson’s 1984 Downhill win in Aspen that an American male had stood on the top

step of a World Cup Downhill podium in the United States.

History was also made on Birds of Prey in 2004 with the one-two American Downhill finish of Bode Miller and Rahlves, marking the first time that U.S. men have claimed the top two spots in a World Cup Downhill and the first time since Phil and Steve Mahre captured gold and silver medals in slalom at the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo that Americans had gone one-two in any discipline.

The 2009 Birds of Prey made history as well as Switzerland’s Carlo Janka captured all three races contested in Beaver Creek. The feat marked the first time that a racer has been victorious in three World Cup races in three consecutive days since the legendary Frenchman Jean-Claude Killy turned the trick in 1967.

Janka’s heroics also marked the first time since 1999 that one racer has won three Birds of Prey events in the same year. That mark was set by Hermann Maier of Austria, who won the Giant Slalom, Downhill and Super-G that winter.

The Americans earned back home turf bragging rights in 2012 when Bode Miller and Ted Ligety claimed the top step of the podium in Downhill and Giant Slalom respectively, while Lindsey Vonn etched her name in the history books with her Super-G win, becoming the first woman to win a race on Birds of Prey.

The stars and stripes was again on display again this past December as Mikaela Shiffrin posted her first career World Cup Giant Slalom podium with a third place showing, while Ligety and Miller combined for a onetwo Giant Slalom finish.

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ACHIEVING GOALS TOGETHER AS A PARTNER OF SWISS-SKI.

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Carlo Janka, Olympic gold medal winner in giant slalom, alpine skiing

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TED SHRED

2011

2010

2012

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2013

IS A BIRDS OF PREY GIANT SLALOM FIVE-PEAT IN THE CARDS? 2014?

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Racers To Watch Steven Nyman AGE

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Kjetil Jansrud AGE

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Hometown: Vinstra, Norway World Cup Wins: 3 World Cup Titles: Overall Discipline World Championships Medals: Olympic Medals: 3 Birds of Prey Wins: 2013 Birds of Prey: DH/12, SG/9, GS/17 2012 Birds of Prey: DH/3, SG/6 2011 Birds of Prey: DH/26, SG/6, GS/3, GS/7 2010 Birds of Prey: SG/10, GS/2 2009 Birds of Prey: DH/23, SC/11, GS/5 2008 Birds of Prey: SG/19, GS/4 2005 Birds of Prey: SL/4

Klaus Kroell AGE

Ted Ligety AGE

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Hometown: Park City, Utah World Cup Wins: 23 World Cup Titles: Discipline: 5 World Championships Medals: 5 Olympic Medals: 2 Birds of Prey Wins: 4 2013 Birds of Prey: DH/42, SG/5, GS/1 2012 Birds of Prey: SG/4, GS/1 2011 Birds of Prey: DH/22, SG/DNF, GS/2, GS/1, SL/13 2010 Birds of Prey: SG/DNF, GS/1 2009 Birds of Prey: SC/DNF, GS/4 2008 Birds of Prey: GS/2, SG/7 2007 Birds of Prey: SC/8, GS/4, SG/23

Hometown: Provo, Utah World Cup Wins: 2 World Cup Titles: 0 World Championships Medals: 0 Olympic Medals: 0 Birds of Prey Wins: 0 2013 Birds of Prey: DH/21, SG/37 2012 Birds of Prey: Injured 2010 Birds of Prey: SG/25 2009 Birds of Prey: DH/31 2008 Birds of Prey: DH/7, SG/25 2007 Birds of Prey: SC/DNF, DH/2, GS/DNQ, SG/DNF

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Hometown: Oeblarn, Austria World Cup Wins: 6 World Cup Titles: Discipline: 1 World Championships Medals: Olympic Medals: Birds of Prey Wins: 2013 Birds of Prey: DH/25, SG/25 2012 Birds of Prey: DH/9, SG/23 2011 Birds of Prey: DH/3, 2010 Birds of Prey: SG/15 2009 Birds of Prey: 2008 Birds of Prey: DH/4, SG/24 2007 Birds of Prey:

Alexis Pinturault AGE

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Hometown: Moutiers, France World Cup Wins: 7 World Cup Titles: Discipline: World Championships Medals: Olympic Medals: 1 Birds of Prey Wins: 2013 Birds of Prey: SG/18T, GS/5 2012 Birds of Prey: GS/5 2011 Birds of Prey: GS/9T, GS/4, SL/DNF

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Photo: Preston Utley

Massimilliano Blardone 35

AGE

Hometown: Pallanzeno, Italy World Cup Wins: 7 World Cup Titles: Discipline: World Championships Medals: Olympic Medals: Birds of Prey Wins: 1 2013 Birds of Prey: GS/27 2012 Birds of Prey: GS/9 2011 Birds of Prey: GS/26, GS/DNF, SL/DNF 2010 Birds of Prey: GS/7 2008 Birds of Prey: GS/12 2007 Birds of Prey: GS/4 2006 Birds of Prey: GS/1

Andrew Weibrecht AGE

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Hometown: Lake Placid, New York World Cup Wins: 0 World Cup Titles: 0 World Championships Medals: 0 Olympic Medals: 2 Birds of Prey Wins: 0 2013 Birds of Prey: DH/DNF, SG/20 2012 Birds of Prey: DH/37 Birds of Prey: DH/32, SG/10 2010 Birds of Prey: SG/DNF 2009 Birds of Prey: GS/DNF, SC/19, DH/11 2008 Birds of Prey: DH/DNF, SG/35 2007 Birds of Prey: SC/14, DH/10, SG/DNF

Marcel Hirscher AGE

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Hometown: Annaberg, Austria World Cup Wins: 24 World Cup Titles: 3 Discipline: 3 World Championships Medals: 2 Olympic Medals: 1 Birds of Prey Wins: 1 2013 Birds of Prey: SG/16, GS/3 2012 Birds of Prey: GS/2 2011 Birds of Prey: GS/1, GS/2, SL/3 2010 Birds of Prey: GS/3 2009 Birds of Prey: GS/29 2008 Birds of Prey: GS/15

Marco Sullivan AGE

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Hometown: Squaw Valley, California USA World Cup Wins: 1 World Cup Titles: 0 World Championship Medals: 0 Olympic Medals: 0 Birds of Prey Wins: 0 2013 Birds of Prey: DH/28, SG/47 2012 Birds of Prey: DH/18 Birds of Prey: DH/28, SG/43 2010 Birds of Prey: SG/DNF 2009 Birds of Prey: DH/14 2008 Birds of Prey: DH/DNF, SG/22

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Photo by Jonathan Selkowitz.

COUNTDOWN TO THE 2015 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS With the countdown to the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships now being measured in weeks rather than years, the sense of excitement that permeates the Vail Valley is very real. The world is coming to Vail and Beaver Creek for the 2015 World Championships February 2-15 and you’re invited.

Approximately 600 athletes from 70 nations are expected to descend on the Vail Valley for the two weeks of competition, while 750 million people worldwide will watch their exploits over the course of the Championships.

“The racing venues are going to be world class,” explained Ceil Folz, president of the Vail Valley Foundation and head of the 2015 World Championships Organizing Committee. “Beaver Creek’s renowned Birds of Prey course is preparing to host its second World

Championships, while the new Raptor ladies’ track, is already being touted as one of the best in the world.”

Vail’s Golden Peak will serve as the venue for the Nations Team Event, a parallel Giant Slalom, along with men’s Qualification Races for Giant Slalom and Slalom. Vail will also be “Party Central”, serving as the home for the free Opening Ceremony, free nightly medals presentations, spectacular light shows, fireworks displays and a full slate of free concerts.

“As a special gift to fans,” continued Folz, “the majority of the stadiums in both Beaver Creek and Vail will also be available free of charge for all races, with admission on a firstcome, first-served basis. Access to the stadiums will be just as easy via the free shuttles, on skis or snowboards and on foot.”

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There could be a lot to cheer for as the U.S. Ski Team will come in to Vail and Beaver Creek with one of the strongest World Championships teams in history, featuring hometown girls Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin, along with teammates Julia Mancuso, Ted Ligety, Andrew Weibrecht and Bode Miller. Combined, this elite group has accounted for five Olympic and five World Championship medals over the past two seasons, six of them gold.

In addition to the action on the race course, the 2015 World Championships will also feature a full slate of festival activities, including free and ticketed concerts, one-of-akind culinary events, the Sierra Nevada Winter Beer Camp and a full complement of that special international energy that comes along with a World Championships.

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“Even if you don’t catch the day’s racing action,” Folz added, “there will be plenty to experience throughout Vail and Beaver Creek Villages to remind you that you’re at a very special international event. The two weeks of the 2015 World Championships will be the absolute best time to be in the Vail Valley this winter.”

So don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to get caught up in the excitement of the world’s best ski racers and alpine skiing’s premier event. Mark your calendars for February 2-15 of 2015. The world is coming to Vail and Beaver Creek for the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

For additional information on the 2015 World Championships, visit www.vailbeavercreek2015.com.

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Einfach schneller unterwegs.

Einfach A1.

Mainsponsor of the Austrian Ski Federation.

PREVIOUS BIRDS OF PREY WINNERS 1997 DH Kristian Ghedina, ITA DH Andreas Schifferer, AUT SG Hermann Maier, AUT 1999 SL GS DH SG

Didier Plaschy, SUI Hermann Maier, AUT Hermann Maier, AUT Hermann Maier, AUT

2000 DH Hermann Maier, AUT SG Fredrik Nyberg, SWE 2001 No Races Held 2002 DH Stephan Eberharter, AUT SG Didier Cuche, SUI 2003 DH Daron Rahlves, USA DH Hermann Maier, AUT SG Bjarne Solbakken, NOR 2004 DH SG GS SL

Bode Miller, USA Stephan Goergl, AUT Lasse Kjus, NOR Benjamin Raich, AUT

2005 DH Daron Rahlves, USA SG Hannes Reichelt, AUT GS Bode Miller, USA SL Giorgio Rocca, ITA 2006 SC Aksel Lund Svindal, NOR DH Bode Miller, USA GS Massimiliano Blardone, ITA SL Andre Myhrer, SWE

Photo: Preston Utley

2007 SC Daniel Albrecht, SUI DH Michael Walchhofer, AUT GS Daniel Albrecht, SUI SG Hannes Reichelt, AUT 2008 DH Aksel Lund Svindal, NOR SG Aksel Lund Svindal, NOR GS Benjamin Raich, AUT 2009 SC DH GS

Carlo Janka, SUI Carlo Janka, SUI Carlo Janka, SUI

2010 SG Georg Streitberger, AUT GS Ted Ligety, USA 2011 DH Bode Miller, USA SG Sandro Viletta, SUI GS Marcel Hirscher, AUT GS Ted Ligety, USA SG Lindsey Vonn, USA SL Ivica Kostelic, CRO 2012 DH Christof Innerhofer, ITA SG Matteo Marsaglia, ITA GS Ted Ligety, USA 2013 DH SG GS DH SG GS

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Lara Gut, SUI Lara Gut, SUI Jessica Lindell-Vikarby, SWE Aksel Lund Svindal, NOR Patrick Kueng, SUI Ted Ligety, USA

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Photo: Preston Utley

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Photo: Preston Utley

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Unlock the Gold 2015 Gold Pass Program

Support the Journey Contribute to the 2014-2015 Gold Pass program and hit the slopes at over 250 resorts across the country! Support of The Gold Pass program provides athletes with best in the world support staff, the ability to compete internationally at the elite level, a world class team of sport scientists and sports medicine staff and access to our state-of-the-art training and education center.

Your generous gift will provide you: • One of only 450 Gold Passes for the 2014-15 season • Unlimited exclusive access to over 250 resorts across the U.S. with direct to lift access • Fully-transferrable providing the ability to entertain clients and share with friends and family • Invitations to special clinics, World Cup competitions and events with Olympians • One year subscription to Ski Racing Magazine • VIP tour of the Center of Excellence in Park City, UT • Recognition in the USSA’s Annual Report • Team insider information via eNewsletters

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Please consider joining the team behind the team and donate to the Gold Pass program this season. As I have experienced, it takes a village to help an athlete climb to the top of the podium and for certain that village is built around our participation.

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-Mikaela Shiffrin , 2014 Olympic Gold Medalist