Greenlight means go!
The Xfinity Birds of Prey ski races passed a key course-quality test today, known as “snow control,” that determines whether or not the course will be ready for action when the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup comes to town for training and racing beginning November 28.
The “positive snow control” announcement by the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) means that the course is in good condition and will be ready to host the world’s best men’s downhill and super G racers in Beaver Creek, Colorado, Nov. 28 – Dec. 3.
“Beaver Creek is known for its incredible early-season conditions, and we are happy to have official word that our course is once again in excellent shape for racing,” said Event Director Sarah Franke of the nonprofit Vail Valley Foundation, which hosts the event each year. “A huge congrats and thank you goes out to our partners at Beaver Creek Mountain and our amazing race crew, known for creating one of the best racecourses in the world. We can’t wait to welcome the world’s fastest men back to this iconic course in the upcoming weeks.”
“I have a huge amount of gratitude for our employees and the Talon crew for putting this epic racecourse together,” said Beaver Creek Resort Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Bobby Murphy. “We can’t wait to host incredible talent from around the world at our resort, and welcome fans from near and far to our unique Beaver Creek experience.”
“We’re thrilled to be heading to the Xfinity Birds of Prey in just a couple of weeks,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt. “We can’t wait to see the Stifel U.S. Ski Team ski in front of such an incredible hometown crowd. A huge thank you to VVF and Beaver Creek for preparing the storied course for the fastest men in the world.”
The nonprofit Vail Valley Foundation serves as the local organizing committee (LOC) for the Xfinity 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.
Racing schedule
Nov. 28-30 Downhill training
Dec. 1, 10:45 a.m., Downhill 1
Dec. 2, 10:45 a.m., Downhill 2
Dec. 3, 10:45 a.m., Super G
*Race times subject to change.
Domestic television schedule*
Friday, Dec. 1
10:45 a.m. – Downhill, live on Outside (free)
Saturday, Dec. 2
10:45 a.m. – Downhill, live on Outside (free)
12:00 p.m. – Friday’s downhill (delayed) on CNBC
3:00 p.m. – Saturday’s downhill (delayed) on NBC
Sunday, Dec. 3
10:45 a.m. – Super G, live on Outside (free)
2:30 p.m. – 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, ski films, the Beers of Prey beer tasting, VIP opportunities, and more. Learn more about the festivities at bcworldcup.com/events and learn more about the event at www.bcworldcup.com. Learn more about the nonprofit Vail Valley Foundation, which organizes the Xfinity Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup each year, at vvf.org.
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