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Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt skis during a men’s World Cup downhill training run Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Beaver Creek, Colo. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
United States’ Jacqueline Wiles speeds down the course during a training run at the women’s World Cup downhill ski race Monday, March 13, 2017, in Aspen, Colo. (AP Photo/Nathan Bilow)
US Ski Team member Lindsey Vonn ski-race trains at Copper Mountain Resort in Copper Mountain, Colorado in November 2024.
Mikaela Shiffrin, of the United States, crashes during the second run of a women’s World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
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Digital Producer
It’s early December in Colorado and for ski racing fans that means one thing: Stifel Birds of Prey at Beaver Creek is here.
Over the next two weekend, men’s and women’s World Cup ski racing will be flying down the Birds of Prey course, and if you don’t have tickets already, get some. But for those who just want to watch the races, that’s fine too. They are thrilling beyond thrilling.
Jonathan Ingraham is back to tell you about the latest in Colorado winter sports.
World Cup ski racing starts with the men’s downhill races at 11 a.m. Friday, then Super-G races at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, and the weekend concludes with giant slalom races at 10 a.m. Sunday.
For the men, lots of eyes will be on Swiss skier Marco Odermatt, who’s won Super-G at Beaver Creek twice and snagged three, No. 2 podium spots (two Super-G, one Downhill) since 2019.
Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt skis during a men’s World Cup downhill training run Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Beaver Creek, Colo. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
The men’s races are fast, too — like 80 mph fast.
Plus the Birds of Prey course is known for its jumps, including the Golden Eagle, Harrier, and Red Tail, where skiers can sometimes take to the air for almost the length of a football field.
Birds of Prey World Cup kicks off this weekend with men’s downhill, followed by the women’s event next weekend. Catch up with some of the racers on what it means to be returning to@beavercreekmtn. pic.twitter.com/pvxxNVXnZB
“Thanks to the incredible work of the Beaver Creek Mountain Operations Team, Race Department, and Mother Nature delivering more than three feet of natural snow since Nov. 1, we are excited to say that the Birds of Prey course is ready to host the fastest alpine ski racers in the world,” said Birds of Prey Event Director Sarah Franke of the nonprofit Vail Valley Foundation.
That quote came from Lindsey Vonn on X. According to Vonn, she’s ready to race — and guess what, she will be racing this weekend.
The Queen of Speed has been on her way to a return to racing Alpine World Cup eventually, teasing race fans on social media posts for months now while training at Copper Mountain for most of November.
US Ski Team member Lindsey Vonn ski-race trains at Copper Mountain Resort in Copper Mountain, Colorado in November 2024.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Vonn — having already announced last month that she was coming out of retirement — will race lower-level FIS Downhills and Super-Gs on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, in Copper Mountain, U.S. Ski Team head coach Paul Kristofic told The Associated Press.
The AP reported Vonn needs some decent results to improve her long-dormant ranking so she can enter World Cup races this season under a new wild card rule.
“Obviously her history speaks for itself and she’s definitely the most decorated speed skier out there and has done amazing things throughout her career,” Kristofic said. “So it will be really, really fun and interesting to see what she can do.”
I can feel it …. Can you? #onestepatatime @usskiteam @redbull pic.twitter.com/hRNN8ADCDB
It’s likely that many of the current World Cup racers will be competing alongside Vonn at Copper Mountain.
Vonn has shown signs of a full recovery and seems nearly ready to race again, but no official word on when she’ll return to an actual race-course for 2025 has been made.
Mikaela Shiffrin, of the United States, crashes during the second run of a women’s World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Vail Valley’s Queen of Ski Racing Mikaela Shiffrin is nursing an injury, saying in part, “Oh look, I’ve been impaled, just like Olaf” after crashing and sustaining an abdominal puncture wound Saturday at Killington during her second run in the Giant Slalom race of the Killington Cup, a race she was leading after the first run.
Quick update. Thank you for your cheers and support. Wishing the best of luck to my teammates tomorrow!! I’ll be cheering from the sidelines on this one.🙏❤️ pic.twitter.com/5siYwSFxMT
Shiffrin said she’ll be more than likely out a few weeks minimum while she heals. Shiffrin also announced Wednesday on social media she will not be racing Birds of Prey at Beaver Creek next weekend because of her injury.
A little update…it’s so nice to be back home and in my own bed, feeling a bit more human now 😅, but I unfortunately won’t be ready to race at @bcworldcup this year, which I was really looking forward to…instead I’ll look forward to cheering on my teammates!🫶 #MovingRightAlong pic.twitter.com/eBSWGtBR26
Fear not though, fellow American female ski racers Nina O’Brien (not racing at Beaver Creek) has been climbing up the FIS ranks this season, and Jackie Wiles who is a speed ski-races contender, could be women to watch in the interim while Shiffrin heals and going forward through the rest of the season.
Since 2017 Wiles has four, Top 5 finishes in Downhill and could contend next weekend for a podium spot.
United States’ Jacqueline Wiles speeds down the course during a training run at the women’s World Cup downhill ski race Monday, March 13, 2017, in Aspen, Colo. (AP Photo/Nathan Bilow)
For O’Brien, she’s emerging on the Slalom and Giant Slalom scenes this season so far with a 7th place finish in Giant Slalom at Soelden to start the season and a 6th place finish in Giant Slalom at Killington last weekend.
Yep, the Aspen local had a birthday on Monday and to celebrate he took to the slopes at Aspen and posted on social media a message to all.
A post shared by Obermeyer (@obermeyer)
“Another beautiful day today with blue sky and great snow. It’s just terrific. We’re so thankful for it and it’s my birthday today, 105, so getting up there. Have a lot of fun.”
Obermeyer was born in 1919 in Oberstaufen, Germany, a small Bavarian village.
He started skiing on his family’s property at age 3.
Obermeyer fashioned his first pair of skis by tying a flexible orange chestnut crate to his feet with string.
Known for being a pioneer in outdoor ski apparel, Sport Obermeyer was founded in Aspen in 1947 by Obermeyer, and the company has been a staple in the outdoors industry for more than 75 years.
Check out the Whiteout page on the Denver Gazette’s website for great skiing, snowboarding, and snow news, plus weather forecasts and resort information at denvergazette.com/outdoors/whiteout.
Lindsey Vonn is going to enter an official ski race for the first time in nearly six years this weekend at age 40. Vonn announced last month that she was coming out of retirement and she will race lower-level FIS downhills and super-Gs on Saturday and Sunday in Copper Mountain, Colorado. Vonn needs some decent results to improve her long-dormant ranking so she can enter World Cup races this season under a new wild card rule. U.S. Ski Team head coach Paul Kristofic says that “obviously her history speaks for itself and she’s definitely the most decorated speed skier out there.” He adds that “it will be really, really fun and interesting to see what she can do.”
Digital Producer
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