Audi Birds of Prey 2015 Event Program

At the

EVENT PROGRAM BCWORLDCUP.COM

#BCWORLDCUP

Elegance is an attitude Aksel Lund Svindal

OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER

Conquest

TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome to Beaver Creek . . . . . . . . . . 6 Schedule of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 What Makes A Champion . . . . . . . . . 10 EverBank America’s Winter Opening . 14 Racers To Watch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Birds of Prey History . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Previous Birds of Prey Winners . . . . . 27 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Results . . . . . . 28 Getting to the Races . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Thanks to our Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . 33

Photo by Eric Schramm, courtesy of USSA.

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ELEVATE YOUR LENDING

EXPERIENCE OFFICIAL BANK OF THE 2015 AUDI BIRDS OF PREY

everbank.com/lending

© 2015 EverBank. All rights reserved. EverBank NMLS ID: 399805. 15EBF0052

WELCOME TO BEAVER CREEK Dear Ski Racing Fans,

VAIL VALLEY FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Welcome to one of the most exciting race weeks on the World Cup

Andy Arnold

Mike Imhof

circuit. With millions of spectators world-wide, and a new generation of

Judy Berkowitz

Chris Jarnot

talented athletes just coming into their own, we’ve seen first-hand that

Jenn Bruno

George Johnson

ski racing is a thriving sport with passionate fans and a promising future.

Susan Campbell

Alexia Jurschak

Steve Coyer

Kent Logan

That’s why, this year, race fans will have more ways than ever to get

Jack Crosby

Doug Lovell

involved in a bigger, better Audi FIS Birds of Prey World Cup race

Andy Daly

Peter May

week. For the first time ever, we have opened up ticketed access to

Ron Davis

Brian Nolan

our hospitality areas to the general public. We’ve also created a new

Bill Esrey

Bobby Patton

grandstand layout and Red Tail Stadium that, together with course-

Johannes Faessler

Michael Price

side viewing, remains free and open to the public.

Tim Finchem

Eric Resnick

Harry Frampton,

Douglas Rippeto

chairman

Dick Rothkopf

Opening, which will animate the Beaver Creek Village with concerts,

Pete Frechette

Ken Schanzer

activities, and festivities to help us welcome the start of winter. We hope

Steve Friedman

Mike Shannon

you’ll join us as the event brings more races, music, excitement and

John Garnsey

Stanley Shuman

festivities to both Vail and Beaver Creek in 2016 and beyond.

Margie Gart

Rod Slifer

We also welcome the inaugural year of the EverBank America’s Winter

Donna Giordano

Ann Smead

On behalf of the team at the Vail Valley Foundation, our incredible

Sheika Gramshammer

Oscar Tang

volunteers, our partners, Vail Resorts, Beaver Creek Resort, the U.S.

Martha Head

Fred Tresca

Ski and Snowboard Association, the International Ski Federation, the

Michael Herman

Stewart Turley

U.S. Forest Service and everyone who works tirelessly to put together

Al Hubbard

Betsy Wiegers

this singular event, we welcome you to World Cup in the Rockies.

Bill Hybl

Directors Emeritus Adam Aron Sincerely,

Marlene Boll Bjorn Erik Borgen James Berry Craddock John Galvin

Mike Imhof

Pepi Gramshammer

President and CEO,

Steve Haber

Vail Valley Foundation

Elaine Kelton

Photo by Eric Schramm, courtesy of USSA.

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1 Men’s Downhill Training 1

Birds of Prey Way

Men’s Super G Race

Entertainment, Sponsor Expo Area,

11am, Birds of Prey Racecourse

11am, Birds of Prey Racecourse

Live Music, Athlete Signings, Food &

Awards ceremony immediately follows

Drink Specials, Giveaways, Fireworks

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2 Men’s Downhill Training 2 11am, Birds of Prey Racecourse

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3 Men’s Downhill Training 3 11am, Birds of Prey Racecourse

EverBank America’s Winter Opening Kick-Off and Welcome Party Live Music, Entertainment, Sponsor Expo Area, Food & Drink Specials

10am –6pm, Beaver Creek Village

Men’s Downhill Race 10:45am, Birds of Prey Racecourse

8am, Red Tail Stadium bcworldcup.com for tickets

3pm & 7pm, Vilar Performing Arts Center $10 | vilarpac.org for tickets

Awards ceremony immediately follows

Black Diamond Ball 6pm, Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch blackdiamondball.com for tickets

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6 VIP and Club Opens 8am, Red Tail Stadium bcworldcup.com for tickets

Warren Miller’s STREIF – One Hell of a Ride

Birds of Prey Way

7pm, Vilar Performing Arts Center $10 | vilarpac.org for tickets

Food & Drink Specials

4pm, Beaver Creek Village

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4 VIP and Club Opens

Warren Miller’s STREIF – One Hell of a Ride

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5 VIP and Club Opens 8am, Red Tail Stadium bcworldcup.com for tickets

Birds of Prey Way

Entertainment, Sponsor Expo Area, 10am – 4pm, Beaver Creek Village

Men’s Giant Slalom Run 1 9:45am, Birds of Prey Racecourse

Men’s Giant Slalom Run 2 12:45pm, Birds of Prey Racecourse Awards ceremony immediately follows

Entertainment, Sponsor Expo Area, Live Music, Athlete Signings, Food & Drink Specials, Giveaways, Fireworks 10am –6pm, Beaver Creek Village

Photo by Logan Robertson

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*All events subject to change

KORBEL SALUTES NORTH AMERICA’S WORLD CUP RACES.

C E L E B R AT E R E S P O N S I B LY.

korbel.com | responsibility.org ©2015 F. Korbel & Bros., Guerneville, Sonoma County, CA. Producers of fine California méthode champenoise champagnes for 133 ears. KORBEL is a registered trademark.

Audi is a registered trademark of Audi A.G. Corp. Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc. Twitter is a registered trademark of Twitter, Inc. All rights reserved.

What does it mean to be a CHAMPION? In all the great ski racing videos, there is a moment when the ultra-slow-motion camera comes into play. The world seems to stop. The soundtrack dies away. We see the racer at the apex of a turn, the snow arcing away in a glittering wave, the gate warped, the skis grinding, and the absolute essence of determination chiseled onto the jaw of the competitor.

In a sport where every tick of the clock matters, something

images, Team members

remarkable happens when we use film to take a few milliseconds

are exploring what

and stretch them out, like a microscope zooming in on a moment

it takes to make a

in time. It gives us a view into the crucial moment of a race, the

champion as they seek

do-or-die maneuver, where all the countless hours of training,

to hold title as the

dreaming, and seeking self-mastery come together in a pinpoint

best ski team in the

of time. The racer will find his line or miss it, win the race or lose

world. They even have

it, become a champion…or not.

a mascot—the adorable rescue dog “Champ.”

These moments, and others like them, have been a topic of particular interest this year for the U.S. Ski Team via their

Being Champ seems

Connect with Champ on Instagram

#WhatMakesAChamp campaign. In video, text, words and

to come easy to the

@champforgold

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in 2007 at the World Cup on Birds of Prey and 2015 at the World Championships.

But is a champion determined solely by their rankings, medals and trophies?

Not at all, said U.S. speed racer Bryce Bennett, who measures a towering 6-foot 7-inches in height. Measuring a champion isn’t a numbers game.

Champ keeps the athletes in good spirits at the gym.

“No one truly understands every aspect of this sport,” Bennett carefree puppy, who has fast become a champion of social media

said. “That’s what drives me—to understand the ins and outs

(@champforgold on Instagram). For the humans on his team,

through self-mastery and trial and error, and one day inspire kids

defining the term ‘champion’ is a more complicated task. Each

to go after fulfillment and passion in their work, instead of just

racer has their own definition, and race fans have also sent in their

doing whatever it takes to get to the top.”

ideas via the #WhatMakesAChamp campaign.

“I envision a champion more like a master craftsman,” he said.

Eight-year-old racer Auden Pankonin of Hudson, Wisconsin, won

“A craftsman gets a great deal of satisfaction from building

the #WhatMakesAChamp contest and earned a trip to Copper

his product. He works tirelessly, figuring out ways to make his

Mountain to race against Ted Ligety in November. Practice, Pankonin

products more effective, how to make them more efficiently, while

said, is the number one reason people become a champion. In fact,

never overlooking even then tiniest of details.”

he said, he “loves to practice.” And when he’s done practicing?

He practices some more. No doubt the hard-working members of

When it comes to understanding the fine details of self-mastery,

the U.S. Ski Team can identify because, well, if you don’t love to

there is perhaps no one on the U.S. Ski Team more adept than

practice, you’re not going to last long as a ski racer.

Ted Ligety—who seeks an astounding sixth Giant Slalom victory in a row at the 2015 Audi Birds of Prey Giant Slalom December 6.

“Personality, hard work, and sportsmanship,” are the three elements that make a champion, said contest runner up Colin

Ligety agrees with Bennett. Whether you’re covered in gold medals

Rathbone, of Groton, Massachusetts. And the competition’s

or still seeking your first podium, the measure of a champion

bronze medalist, Dasha Romanov of Denver, Colorado said, “A

comes down to those critical moments—the ones often captured by

champion is someone who can overcome many physical and

the super slow-motion camera—that demand your best.

mental struggles.”

“Being a champion is about doing your best in the most crucial These struggles might one day lead to glory, recognition, and

situation,” Ligety said. “Whether it’s winning or losing, it’s having

a few moments basking in the limelight, but as any big-name

all those moments come together at the perfect moment, when

athlete can attest, the vast majority of an athlete’s challenges are

you give it your all, and when you compete under high pressure

conquered in less dazzling light.

and can still be successful at it.”

Perhaps no one on the U.S. Ski Team knows this better than

At Beaver Creek this weekend, there will be as many variations

Andrew Weibrecht. A series of injuries meant that much of

on the definition of ‘champion’ as there are racers in the starting

his pre-Sochi Olympic preparation was done in quiet physical

gate. Each athlete faces his own challenges, his own demons that

therapy sessions, away from the commotion and excitement of

must be overcome, his own angels that must be embraced. All

the racecourse.

of the focus, the hours of practice, the time spent seeking selfmastery…for each of them, it will all come down to one singular

When his moment came, Weibrecht did what all champions

moment somewhere on the Birds of Prey course.

do: He performed his absolute best at the crucial moment. For Weibrecht, it was enough to earn him a second Olympic medal at

The question is: when that crucial moment comes, who will deliver?

Sochi, a silver in Super G to go with his bronze in Super G from the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. He also has two top-10

STORY BY TOM BOYD

finishes on the intimidating Birds of Prey track, which he earned Andrew Weibrecht photo by Eric Schramm, Champ photos courtesy of USSA. BCWORLDCUP.COM | #BCWORLDCUP

11

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H E L LY H A N S E N . C O M / B A S E L A Y E R

Where It Begins INAUGURAL EVERBANK AMERICA’S WINTER OPENING BRINGS NEW VISION TO WORLD CUP RACE WEEK In mountain towns across America, early

“There has always been a festive atmosphere around our races,”

December brings a building buzz of

energy into the fore.”

eagerness for the season to begin.

Imhof said. “Now, we’re taking that next step to really bring all that

In 2016 and beyond, organizers will go even bigger, and have plans to light up Vail Village and Vail Mountain as well.

In the Vail Valley, the anticipation is so forceful that it almost becomes a corporal

Recently, the legacy of the American Ski Classic came to an end.

thing. It feels like you could pull it down from

bring back some of the elements that made the Ski Classic a

the shelf and serve it to your kids at the

success. Current plans for 2016 and beyond include a legends

dinner table. If it were an apple, you could

Beaver Creek, a dining with the stars social event, and the creation

slice it. If it were a wave, you could surf it. If it

of a permanent location for the International Ski Hall of Fame.

were a horse, you could ride it, and if it were a

There are significant changes at the Red Tail Finish Stadium as

dog, you could pet it.

well. For the first time ever, hospitality at the races is open to the

However, in 2016, the EverBank America’s Winter Opening will

race under the lights at Golden Peak, headliner concerts in Vail and

general public via a daily, ticketed system that offers both the EverBank Finish Line VIP section and the Club section.

Woof.

The EverBank Finish Line VIP area includes access to fine For years, the Vail Valley Foundation has been barking up the

breakfast and lunch cuisine, as well as beverage service, on the

right tree by hosting the Audi Birds of Prey World Cup race week.

top floor of the Talons restaurant. EverBank Finish Line VIPs can

Now, with a surrounding series of events, parties, music and more

also enjoy race action from the viewing platform on skier’s left of

called the EverBank America’s Winter Opening, the Vail Valley

the finish area.

Foundation has pinned the tail directly onto the donkey.

The Club also offers breakfast, lunch, and beverage service.

“This is an event that’s meant to take all of the early-season

Located at the base of the finish area, the Club section is the

excitement and energy, and give folks a place to come together

ultimate in hospitality experience with guaranteed seating in its

with their families and really enjoy every aspect of what we have

own tent and private viewing deck along the course-facing side of

going on in the Valley during this time of year,” said Vail Valley

the structure.

Foundation President and CEO Mike Imhof. “This is the time and place to celebrate the opening of the winter season. This is where

Taken together, these new elements of early December offer a

it begins.”

whole new set of reasons to enjoy race week in Beaver Creek. In years to come, the event is set to become the premier celebration

Indeed, #WhereItBegins is the hashtag for this new event which, in year one, will animate Beaver Creek Village with parties, music, givaways, a bier garden, and all of the other accoutrements that rightly belong at one of the premier venues on the World Cup tour.

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of winter’s opening in the nation.

Photo by Logan Robertson.

BCWORLDCUP.COM | #BCWORLDCUP

15

TED LIGE T Y

OVER

Photo by: Ted Ligety

MOUNTS

ACCESSORIES

MANAGE + SHARE

GOPRO APP + GOPRO STUDIO

#BEAHERO

Proud to support TEAM USA and the athlete in all of us.

RACERS TO WATCH:

SIX IN A ROW Can Ted Shred Win an Astounding Six Birds of Prey Giant Slalom Races in a Row?

Ted Ligety Age: 31 Hometown: Park City, Utah World Cup Wins: 25 Discipline titles: 5 GS overall titles World Championships Medals: 7 Olympic Medals: 2 Birds of Prey Wins: 5 2014 Birds of Prey: DH/28, SG/11, GS/1 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

Dominik Paris Age: 26 Hometown: Merano World Cup Wins: 4 World Cup Podiums: 10 World Championships Medals: 1 2014 Birds of Prey: DH/4, SG/5 2013 Birds of Prey: DH/9, SG/DNF 2012 Birds of Prey: DH/5, SG/29 2011 Birds of Prey: DH/49 2010 Birds of Prey: SG/DNF 2009 Birds of Prey: DH/23, DH/36

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Alexis Pinturault Age: 24 Hometown: Courchevel World Cup Wins: 9 World Cup Podiums: 28 World Championships Medals: 1 Olympic Medals: 1 2014 Birds of Prey: SG/3, GS/2 2013 Birds of Prey: SG/18T, GS/5 2012 Birds of Prey: GS/5 2011 Birds of Prey: GS/9T, GS/4, SL/DNF

Steven Nyman Age: 33 Hometown: Provo, Utah World Cup Wins: 3 World Cup Podiums: 6 2014 Birds of Prey: DH/3, SG/DNF 2013 Birds of Prey: DH/21, SG/37 2012 Birds of Prey: DH/33 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

Aksel Lund Svindal

Marco Sullivan

Age: 32 Hometown: Kjeller

Age: 35 Hometown: Squaw Valley, California

World Cup Wins: 25 World Cup Titles: 2 Overall, 9 Discipline World Championships Medals: 8 Olympic Medals: 3 Birds of Prey Wins: 4 2014 Birds of Prey: DH/6, SG/6 2013 Birds of Prey: DH/1, SG/7, GS/11 2012 Birds of Prey: DH/2, SG/2, GS/6 2011 Birds of Prey: DH/5, SG/2, GS/9T, GS/6, SL/DNQ 2010 Birds of Prey: SG/9, GS/5 2009 Birds of Prey: GS/3, DH/3, SC/6 2008 Birds of Prey: GS/3, DH/1, SG/1 2007 Birds of Prey: Injured in DH Training

Marcel Hirscher Hometown: Annaberg Age: 26 World Cup Wins: 31 Podiums: 73 World Cup Titles: 4 overall, 5 discipline Disciplines: 3 World Championships Medals: 4 Olympic Medals: 1 Birds of Prey Wins: 1 2014 Birds of Prey: SG/DNF, GS/3 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

Andrew Weibrecht Age: 29 Hometown: Lake Placid, New York World Cup Top 10s: 3 Olympic Medals: 2 2014 Birds of Prey: DH/30, SG/10 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

World Cup Top 10s: 5 World Cup Wins: 1 World Cup Podiums: 4 2014 Birds of Prey: DH/38 2013 Birds of Prey: DH/28, SG/47 2012 Birds of Prey: DH/18 2011 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

Kjetil Jansrud Age: 30 Hometown: Vinstra World Cup Wins: 10 World Cup Podiums: 25 World Cup Titles: 2 discipline (DH, SG) World Championships Medals: 1 Olympic Medals: 3 Birds of Prey Wins: 1 2014 Birds of Prey: DH/1, SG/2, GS/15 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

Hannes Reichelt Age: 35 Hometown: Radstadt World Cup Wins: 8 World Cup Podiums: 34 World Cup Titles: 1 discipline (SG) World Championships Medals: 1 Birds of Prey wins: 2 (both SG) 2014 Birds of Prey: DH/8, SG/1, GS/25 2013 Birds of Prey: DH/2, SG/3 2012 Birds of Prey: DH/24, SG/3, GS/12 2011 Birds of Prey: DG/10, SG/5, GS/5 2010 Birds of Prey: SG/13 2009 Birds of Prey: GS/6 2008 Birds of Prey: DH/46, SG/10, GS/DNF 2007 Birds of Prey: DH/44, SG/1, GS/7 Photos by Jonathan Selkowitz BCWORLDCUP.COM | #BCWORLDCUP

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PLAY WELL

Escape this winter to Beaver Creek’s award-winning Westin Riverfront, home to Spa Anjali, Maya by Chef Richard Sandoval and a state-of-the-art Athletic Club. Enjoy spacious studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom suites and direct skier access via the Riverfront Express Gondola.

Ski season rates start at $299 per night. westinriverfrontbeavercreek.com | 866.949.1616 ©2014–2015 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Preferred Guest, SPG, Westin and their logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates. For full terms & conditions visit westin.com

THE WESTIN RIVERFRONT RESORT & SPA AT BEAVER CREEK MOUNTAIN 126 Riverfront Lane, PO Box 9690, Avon Colorado 81620

WORLD-CLASS CARE FOR A WORLD-CLASS EVENT Flight For Life Colorado—the nation’s first hospital-based air ambulance service— is proud to serve as the official air medical sponsor for this year’s Audi Birds of Prey competition. We are Colorado’s non-profit air medical provider, delivering Critical Care to remote areas, serving a 10-state area and supporting high-country search and rescue teams. We share your commitment to stellar performance.

To learn more, visit flightforlifecolorado.org.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING– The Legacy of the Birds of Prey Course Ski racing fandom seems to rise and fall in a particular pattern. Every four years, the sport rockets into the top echelon of international television ratings at the Winter Olympics.

Then, in non-Olympic years, the sport becomes the domain of die-hards, where only core fans from the world’s mountainous regions follow the sport.

Or, that’s how the old story goes.

In 2015, Vail and Beaver Creek proved that there’s a lot more to the story, as Colorado and the world showed record-setting support for the FIS 2015 Alpine World Ski Championships. More than 220,000 spectators came to the races in person, and the event had an overall media impact of more than 800 million with more than 70 hours of live coverage in 27 nations—all supported by more than 2,200 volunteers.

The stands were filled, race fans were out en force, and the world watched one of the most dramatic, inspiring displays of athletic talent that ski racing has ever seen.

The excitement surrounding ski racing in the Vail Valley is no anomaly. In fact, it finds its roots on a sunny weekend on Vail Mountain in March 1967, when Jean-Claude Killy (FRA) and Nancy Greene (CAN) topped the Giant Slalom podiums in one of the first-ever World Cup ski racing competitions.

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He’s now the President and CEO of the USSA, but in 1989, Tiger Shaw was a racer for the United States at the 1989 World Alpine Ski Championships held in Vail and Beaver Creek. Vail and Beaver Creek went on to host the 1999 World Championships, as well as the 2015 World Championships this past February.

On that weekend, the Vail Valley marked its place on the World Cup circuit, and forty-nine seasons later it remains one of only a handful of original locations that are still part of the venerable World Cup tour.

Beaver Creek is a relative newcomer to the World Cup scene.

The course was built in the summer of 1997 in preparation for the 1999 World Alpine Ski Championships.

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).

Designed by Olympic Downhill gold medalist Bernhard Russi of Switzerland,

During the 1999 Championships, Birds of Prey was the site

Birds of Prey starts west of the top of Chair

of the first ever World Championships gold medal tie as Maier

#8 and finishes at the bottom of Red Tail

and Norway’s Lasse Kjus each mined gold for their Super G

at the confluence of Chairs #10 and #11.

efforts, with times that were identical down to the thousandth of a second. Maier’s Austrian teammate Hans Knauss finished third, a

The course features a vertical drop of 710

mere one-hundredth of a second off the pace.

meters and contains an average gradient of 27 percent, increasing to 45 percent in

An estimated 20,000 spectators were on hand February 6, 1999

the middle of the course and again in the

to witness the World Championships men’s Downhill competition.

final third of the course.

At the time, it was the largest crowd in U.S. ski racing history. Not surprisingly, the race was won by Austria’s Hermann Maier, one of his record eight victories on Birds of Prey.

Photo courtesy of Greg Johnson.

BCWORLDCUP.COM | #BCWORLDCUP

23

Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves of the USA went 1-2 at the 2004 Birds of Prey Downhill, one of the all-time great performances by

In 2009, Switzerland’s Carlo Janka became the only racer to win all

American speed racers.

three races on Birds of Prey World Cup race week.

The fastest World Cup or World Championships Downhill race

podium in Downhill and Giant Slalom respectively, while Lindsey

time ever recorded on Birds of Prey is 1:39.59, courtesy of the

Vonn etched her name in the history books with her Super G win,

U.S. Ski Team’s Daron Rahlves in 2003. That win also ended a

becoming the first woman to win a race on Birds of Prey.

19-year American Downhill victory drought on U.S. soil, marking the first time since Bill Johnson’s 1984 Downhill win in Aspen

The stars and stripes was again on display again in 2013 as

that an American male had stood on the top step of a World Cup

Mikaela Shiffrin posted her first career World Cup Giant Slalom

Downhill podium in the United States.

podium with a third place showing, while Ligety and Miller combined for a one-two Giant Slalom finish.

History was also made on Birds of Prey in 2004 with the one-two American Downhill finish of Bode Miller and Rahlves, marking

Yet another Birds of Prey Giant Slalom victory in 2014 means Ligety

the first time that U.S. men have claimed the top two spots in a

has won five straight Giant Slalom races in a row on Birds of Prey, a

World Cup Downhill and the first time since Phil and Steve Mahre

mark of skiing dominance not seen in Beaver Creek since the career

captured gold and silver medals in slalom at the 1984 Olympics

of the legendary Hermann Maier, who retired in 2009.

in Sarajevo that Americans had gone one-two in any discipline.

This weekend, Ligety will aim for an astounding six Giant Slalom The 2009 Birds of Prey made history as well as Switzerland’s

victories in a row on the course, which would put him in a tie for

Carlo Janka captured all three races contested in Beaver Creek.

wins on the course with Maier. Ligety’s teammate Bode Miller and

The feat marked the first time that a racer has been victorious

Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal also have an impressive number of

in three World Cup races in three consecutive days since the

wins on the course, with both tied at four.

legendary Frenchman Jean-Claude Killy turned the trick in 1967.

Miller, who is attending the races as an NBC analyst, is retired.

Janka’s heroics also marked the first time since 1999 that one

Svindal, however, is still racing, and with victories in both Downhill

racer has won three Birds of Prey events in the same year. That

and Super G, could potentially leap to the front of the pack

mark was set by Hermann Maier of Austria, who won the Giant

alongside Ligety and Maier.

Slalom, Downhill and Super G that winter.

Special thanks to John Dakin for his contribution to this story.

The Americans earned back home turf bragging rights in 2011 when Bode Miller and Ted Ligety claimed the top step of the Photos by Jonathan Selkowitz.

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SYMMETRY 18 WINTER PACK 2015 EDITOR’S CHOICE BACKPACKER MAGAZINE Adventure this way. www.highsierra.com

SYMMETRY 12 SYMMETRY 18 SYMMETRY 22

PREVIOUS BIRDS OF PREY WINNERS 1997

DH Kristian Ghedina, ITA DH Andreas Schifferer, AUT SG Hermann Maier, AUT

1999

SL Didier Plaschy, SUI GS Hermann Maier, AUT DH Hermann Maier, AUT SG Hermann Maier, AUT

2000

DH Hermann Maier, AUT SG Fredrik Nyberg, SWE

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

2007

No races held

SC Daniel Albrecht, SUI DH Michael Walchhofer, AUT GS Daniel Albrecht, SUI SG Hannes Reichelt, AUT

2002

2008

2001

DH Stephan Eberharter, AUT SG Didier Cuche, SUI

2003

DH Daron Rahlves, USA DH Hermann Maier, AUT SG Bjarne Solbakken, NOR

2004

DH Bode Miller, USA SG Stephan Goergl, AUT GS Lasse Kjus, NOR SL Benjamin Raich, AUT

DH Aksel Lund Svindal, NOR SG Aksel Lund Svindal, NOR GS Benjamin Raich, AUT

2009

SC Carlo Janka, SUI DH Carlo Janka, SUI GS Carlo Janka, SUI

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

2014

DH Kjetil Jansrud, NOR SG Hannes Reichelt, AUT GS Ted Ligety, USA

2010

SG Georg Streitberger, AUT GS Ted Ligety, USA

Photo by Logan Robertson BCWORLDCUP.COM | #BCWORLDCUP

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2015 FIS ALPINE WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS Men’s Downhill Patrick Küng, SUI Travis Ganong, USA Beat Feuz, SUI

Men’s Super G Hannes Reichelt, AUT Dustin Cook, CAN Adrien Theaux, FRA

Men’s Alpine Combined Marcel Hirscher, AUT Kjetil Jansrud, NOR Ted Ligety, USA

Men’s Giant Slalom Ted Ligety, USA Marcel Hirscher, AUT Alexis Pinturault, FRA

Photo by Logan Robertson

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Men’s Slalom Jean Baptiste Grange, FRA Fritz Dopfer, GER Felix Neureuther, GER

Ladies’ Downhill Tina Maze, SLO Anna Fenninger, AUT Lara Gut, SUI

Ladies’ Super G Anna Fenninger, AUT Tina Maze, SLO Lindsey Vonn, USA

Ladies’ Alpine Combined Tina Maze, SLO Nicole Hosp, AUT Michaela Kirchgasser, AUT

Ladies’ Giant Slalom Anna Fenninger, AUT Viktoria Rebensburg, GER Jessica Lindell-Vikarby, SWE

Ladies’ Slalom Mikaela Shiffrin, USA Frida Hansdotter, SWE Sarka Strachova, CZE

©2014 Implus Corporation. Yaktrax® is a registered trademark of Implus Corporation. 10.14

RUN WITH CONFIDENCE THIS WINTER

Eric Larsen, Polar Adventurer - Boulder, CO

1.866.YAKTRAX | WWW.YAKTRAX.COM

#Conquerwinter

GETTING TO THE RACES Parking & Arrival at Red Tail Stadium Free spectator parking is available in the resort parking lots at the base of Beaver Creek. Regularly scheduled free shuttles will bring spectators to the Vilar Performing Arts Center and Birds of Prey Way expo area. Free race shuttles depart from the Covered Bridge, every 5-10 minutes throughout training and race days. Skis and snowboards are not permitted on the race shuttles.

From the race shuttle drop off location, there is a five-minute on-snow walk to Red Tail Stadium. Please allow one hour of travel time from the base of Beaver Creek Resort to Red Tail Stadium to avoid missing any of the action! ADA access to the venue is available on request. Please contact Birds of Prey Registration at 970.748.5901.

Spectator Access & Viewing The Birds of Prey Racecourse has a mid-mountain finish and all race events are free and open to the public. Public concessions and restrooms are available. For the first time ever, two ticketed hospitality and viewing experiences are available for all race fans. Club & EverBank Finish Line VIP tickets may be purchased at bcworldcup.com or on-site at the Red Tail Finish Stadium.

Snowshoe/Skier Access – Snow Dependent Spectators may snowshoe up the Beaver Lake Trail from Beaver Creek Village to the to the Red Tail Finish Stadium. (About a 30-45 minute hike, with possible construction taking place near the trailhead.) Please consult the Beaver Creek Village Experience Mobile App for updated snowshoe information and maps. Please note that snowshoers are not allowed on Dally Road.

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2015

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SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS Access Commercial Real Estate Allegria Spa Beaver Creek Resort Properties Beaver Creek West Cirque Mountain Apparel Colorado Mountain Express Creekside at Beaver Creek Dean Johnson Management Eisbar FITS Socks Hank Bernbaum

HiDow International Hotel Gasthof Gramshammer Jacuzzi KZYR The Zephyr Little Hotties Lodge at Avon Center Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa PowerShares QQQ Ski Podz Slifer, Smith & Frampton Real Estate

SportsInsurance.com Starbucks SYNC Performance The Charter at Beaver Creek The Christie Lodge The Steadman Clinic Vail Daily Vail Resorts Retail Vail Valley Getaway Zehren and Associates

High Country Copiers Jack Daniels LifeProof MillerCoors Motorola Solutions Mountain Communications Nestle Water Northside Coffee & Kitchen Pac Van PepsiCo Food Service Reliable Racing

RLN Consulting Starbucks Svedka Vodka Vail Honeywagon Wagner Rents Western Slope Supplies Whitehorse Solutions

OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS Alpine Party Rentals Agave Restaurant Bagito Boulder Organic Foods Chums Clos du Bois Crazy Mountain Brewery Cross Propane Gas & Supply, Inc. Freshies Gosling’s Rum Holy Cross Energy

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