After countless years of discussion and preparation, the first downhill training session for women on the famous Birds of Prey course was held Wednesday, with Italy’s Federica Brignone posting the fastest time of 1:34.13. The 34-year-old was .39 seconds ahead of Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami, the defending World Cup overall and downhill champion. Another Italian, Marta Bassino, was third, just one one-hundredth of a second behind Gut-Behrami.
And in a rare feat, Lindsey Vonn took another step in her attempt to come back to World Cup competition by forerunning the day’s session (forerunners ensure all aspects of the course — from gate placement to snow conditions and timing — are ready before the first racer pushes out of the start). The 40-year-old, who holds the most career downhill wins of all time (43), is following a progression of steps for her return.
“It was really fun. It’s also normal to be standing in the starting gate,” said Vonn, of her first official run on the course that has been used since 1997 for men’s races. “Definitely the first run of any new downhill is a little awkward. Some turns I skied well; some turns I was a little bit conservative, but it felt really good. Inspecting with my teammates and getting back into the rhythm, everything felt as it should.”
Vonn, who held the women’s record for most World Cup wins with 82 before it was eclipsed by Mikaela Shiffrin in 2023, took the day in stride. While it’s unusual to have a decorated ski racer like Vonn in a forerunning spot — something typically assigned to up-and-coming racers — she understands the steps she has to take to make her revitalized dream a reality. “It feels normal in the progression that I’m making,” said Vonn, who first came to Vail as a young racer, and called it her home for several years. “I would prefer to be racing here, but beggars can’t be choosers. It’s a natural progression, and it feels good. I have only positive things to say.”
Another Vail local and former World Cup racer, Sarah Schleper, also foreran the course.
Women have been pushing to have a race on the Birds of Prey course for several years, and have had the support of the Vail Valley Foundation, which organizes the races, in their quest. “This is something we’ve been working on since shortly after the 2015 World Championships,” noted VVF president Mike Imhof.
“It was a lot more fun than I thought it would be,” said Jacqueline Wiles, one of seven Americans in the field. “When you first look at the course it can be intimidating, but it definitely links really well. First run down, I think it kind of gets the nerves out of the way and a feel of the hill.”
Birds of Prey has long been one of the most challenging races on the men’s World Cup circuit, and certain course features are especially critical. Speaking about The Brink, a steep, sometimes bumpy section where a mistake can have grave consequences, Wiles said, “I’ve heard it’s intimidating, and it definitely lived up to what I’ve been told.”
An adjacent course, Raptor, was used for the women’s speed events for the 2015 Alpine World Ski Championships, the last time women raced in the Vail/Beaver Creek area. When talks began regarding hosting a women’s World Cup event, a main focus was on using the same course as the men.
“Now to be on the famous Birds of Prey it’s more special,” said Wiles. “Birds of Prey has a more aggressive and intense steep than the Raptor [course] had. And a lot more terrain. There is more coming at you.”
The Americans, who typically spend the bulk of their time in Europe racing from October to March, are excited for the opportunity to race on home snow.
“We’re really lucky to finally get the home [snow] feel. The last couple of years, especially, have been fully in Europe. Getting to have friends here and that patriotism of being in the U.S. is going to be incredible. The Talons Crew [which prepares the course] does an amazing job.”
Training continues Thursday and Friday. Vonn will forerun both training runs as well as Saturday’s downhill and Sunday’s super-G. For more information, visit bcworldcup.com.
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