There will be FOUR FIS Alpine World Cup Tour races in the USA for the 22/23 season!

[Philpug]

BIG NEWS!

There will be FOUR FIS Alpine World Cup Tour races in the USA this season!
Nov. 26-27: Killington Cup at Killington Resort
Dec. 2-4: Xfinity Birds of Prey World Cup at Beaver Creek Mountain
Feb. 25-26: Palisades Tahoe
March 3-5: America's Downhill at Aspen Snowmass
Start planning your road trip now because this season is going to be FUN!

U.S. doubles the amount of domestic FIS World Cups with races at Killington Resort, Beaver Creek Resort, Aspen Mountain and Palisades Tahoe

PARK CITY, Utah (May 17, 2022) – U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the National Governing Body of Olympic skiing and snowboarding in the United States, announced today that the International Ski Federation (FIS) provisionally approved the United States’ hosting of four FIS Alpine Ski World Cup events in the 2022-23 season, doubling the amount of alpine World Cups in the U.S. in recent years. The 2022-23 FIS World Cup schedules will be confirmed on May 25 at the annual FIS Congress.

For the last five years, the U.S. has hosted two alpine World Cup events: the women’s Killington Cup in Killington, Vermont and the men’s Xfinity Birds of Prey at Beaver Creek, Colorado. Once the schedule is approved, the 2022-23 winter will mark the expansion of the domestic World Cup footprint as U.S. Ski & Snowboard will bring alpine ski racing to Palisades Tahoe in California and Aspen Mountain in Colorado, marking the most World Cups on American soil since the 1996-97 season.

Full article here:

https://skiracing.com/u-s-ski-snowboard-announces-four-u-s-alpine-world-cup-events-for-2022-23-season/?fbclid=IwAR3PBBJVuHShkNLvbSfGaAuPQF_zltQawdYPgqfR-79QkO2VxjY3eNHklqE

 

[fatbob]

I hate announcements made through faceache - it's so clunky amd unfriendly for casual click thruers.

 

[Moose32]

Looks like the last two are men and replace Bansko and Kvitfjell.
If so, sorry to see Norway lose a stop.

 

[Swede]

Kvitfjell gets women's speed after WCH:s instead. And then Åre tech weekend for a few of them that race GS or even SL, like Brignone and M Gisin.

 

[fatbob]

So has Palisades poached the men's tech from Bansko? Short swing to US after world Champsthen back to Andorra for WC finals.

 

[James]

Tbh, I’m more excited about the new downhill course in Zernatt/Cervinia at the end of October.

Aspen- What’s going on with them? Killington will have built a new base lodge by next November’s wcup races. What has Aspen done in the last six years? Is Ruthie’s Lodge going to be rehabilitated by next year?

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"Gran Becca": a spectacular run with views of the Matterhorn​

The course, which starts at 3,800 metres above sea level and finishes at 2,865 metres above sea level, was designed by Didier Défago, 2010 Olympic downhill champion. Covering 935 metres of altitude over four kilometres, the maximum speed is around 135 km/h. "In addition to the unique panorama, the unspoilt nature and of course the view of the Matterhorn, the course itself is also impressive: we have created a downhill run that has everything – from jumps to long turns and gliding sections to speed elements, it doesn't leave anything out," says the 44-year-old Valais native. All the athletes will tackle the same piste, with the women's start slightly below the men's.

In Valtournenche, Italy, the Matterhorn is often referred to in the local dialect as "Gran Becca" – the big peak. The shape of the "Gran Becca" will be visible along the full race course and will accompany the athletes all the way to the finish in Laghi Cime Bianche: "There are lots of other important peaks with the name Becca in the Aosta Valley," says OC Vice Chair and Chair of the Valle d'Aosta Regional Ski Association, Marco Mosso, "but there is only one Gran Becca." The name of the new race course is a reminder of the affection the residents of Valtournenche have developed for the Matterhorn over decades.
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"Gran Becca": The new course in the World Cup calendar | Zermatt, Switzerland

The first cross-border race in the history of the Ski World Cup will be held on the Gran Becca course. The run, which starts on Gobba di Rollin above Zermatt in Switzerland and finishes in Laghi Cime Bianche above Cervinia in Italy, stretches over four kilometres and almost 1,000 metres in...

www.zermatt.ch

 

[Tricia]

Aspen is super excited to be on!

 

[Philpug]

Palisades official release ....

World Cup Ski Racing Returns to Palisades Tahoe​

• The resort will host Men’s FIS Alpine Ski World Cup giant slalom and slalom races on Feb. 25-26, 2023
• Seven Team Palisades Tahoe alumni have been named to the 2022-23 U.S. National Ski Team

Olympic Valley, Calif. [May 20, 2022]—The International Ski Federation announced this week that Palisades Tahoe has been given the honor of hosting a FIS Alpine Ski World Cup men’s event next season. The resort is among four U.S. ski resorts on the international tour schedule this coming season, which is the most stateside events in 26 years. The event will be held February 25-26, 2023.

Palisades Tahoe has a long history of ski racing prowess, beginning in 1960 with hosting the Winter Olympics, and continuing through today. The resort’s challenging terrain and dedication to snowsports has produced countless Olympians and World Cup champions; just last week seven Team Palisades Tahoe alumni were named to the U.S. National Team for next season. Next year, the legacy will continue when Palisades Tahoe hosts a weekend of men’s giant slalom and slalom events. The resort last hosted an alpine world cup event in 2017, and hasn’t hosted a men’s event since 1969. The races will be held on the main trail off of the Red Dog chairlift, making for a steep race course with much of the action visible from the base area—a prime location for spectators. This was the same trail used in 2017 for the women’s alpine world cup races; Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin described it as one of, if not the toughest venue on the women’s circuit.

“Palisades Tahoe looks forward to continuing our tradition of hosting the greatest international winter events and we couldn’t be more proud to welcome the international ski community back to our resort,” said Dee Byrne, president and COO of Palisades Tahoe. “The excitement that the World Cup brought to Tahoe in 2017 was palpable, and we are looking forward to once again feeling that energy across our community, and seeing our entire team work together to put on an event of this magnitude with the same incredible success we had in 2017.”

Team Palisades Tahoe Alumni Named to National Team

Last week, seven Team Palisades Tahoe alumni were named to the U.S. National Alpine Ski Team, an increase over the resort’s representation on the team last season. Team Palisades Tahoe is known for being one of the best teams in the country and has produced dozens of elite skiers and riders across ski racing, big mountain and freeski events. For the 2022-23 season, Team Palisades Tahoe will be represented by team veterans Travis Ganong, Bryce Bennett, Keely Cashman, AJ Hurt, Nina O’Brien, Alix Wilkinson and newcomer Erik Arvidsson, amounting to 17 percent of the team hailing from Palisades Tahoe.

“We are so proud to see so many of our athletes receiving this amazing honor; to represent their home country on the national team,” said Bill Hudson, director of Skier Services at Palisades Tahoe. “We’ve watched these skiers grow up on our slopes and in our ski team program since they were children, and we look forward to now cheering them on as they compete across the globe on the World Cup circuit to be the very best.”

About Palisades Tahoe

Palisades Tahoe is the largest ski resort in the Lake Tahoe region, boasting 6,000 skiable acres across eight peaks. The more than 70-year-old resort celebrates a rich history as the host of the 1960 Winter Olympics, the Spring Skiing Capital, and home mountain to dozens of Olympic and World Cup athletes across multiple snow sports. With an average annual snowfall of 400 inches, Palisades Tahoe frequently operates the longest ski and snowboard season in Lake Tahoe. The Village at Palisades Tahoe offers year-round events and dozens of bars, restaurants and boutiques, many of which are locally owned and operated. Palisades Tahoe is on the Ikon Pass, which offers access to 50 international ski destinations. In 2021 the resort changed its name, trading in a harmful slur for a name that better reflects its values and legacy. Visit the Palisades Tahoe website or call 1.800.403.0206 to learn more. You can also visit us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Vimeo.

 

[Brian Finch]

Not certain why Killington race is always silly early - I'll go against the grain & say that spending hundreds of thousands of $$ on snowmaking in marginal weather is just dumb. Then K makes ya feel guilty about it all year long. Has no one heard that its -27 in January here?!

 

[Philpug]

Has no one heard that its -27 in January here?!

Sugarbush in January...

No matter the time of year.

 

[dbostedo]

Not certain why Killington race is always silly early

I always got the impression that it was early, or it wouldn't be held. I.e. it doesn't make sense to shuffle any other events around to put Killington later. It's Thanksgiving weekend which presumably really helps get the crowds to show up. It also links up with Lake Louise for whichever of the women are skiing both events where it is now, so they only make one trip to North America. But that's just my gut from things I've read... I don't know much.

 

[James]

Killington is early because it replaced Aspen, which was early. Not more complicated than that.
The year it was cancelled due to Covid they might have had to cancel due to lack of cold in November. People were dining outside that month it was so warm.

. The races will be held on the main trail off of the Red Dog chairlift, making for a steep race course with much of the action visible from the base area—a prime location for spectators. This was the same trail used in 2017 for the women’s alpine world cup races; Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin described it as one of, if not the toughest venue on the women’s circuit.

What’s the trail like?

 

[Philpug]

Killington is early because it replaced Aspen, which was early. Not more complicated than that.
The year it was cancelled due to Covid they might have had to cancel due to lack of cold in November. People were dining outside that month it was so warm.




What’s the trail like?

@ScotsSkier to the SkiTalk Courtesy Phone

 

[Brian Finch]

Resort asks town for help to attract World Cup - The Mountain Times

Killington Resort got a big start to the 2016-2017 winter with some of the skiing world’s top skiers crashing the gates on Superstar in front

mountaintimes.info

 

[robertc3]

Does anyone have a link to the full calendar? I can't find it on the FIS website. Thank you.

 

[S.H.]

Does anyone have a link to the full calendar? I can't find it on the FIS website. Thank you.

not yet finalized, technically.

schedule will be finalized on May 25 at FIS Congress

 

[ScotsSkier]

Killington is early because it replaced Aspen, which was early. Not more complicated than that.
The year it was cancelled due to Covid they might have had to cancel due to lack of cold in November. People were dining outside that month it was so warm.




What’s the trail like?

@ScotsSkier to the SkiTalk Courtesy Phone

It is a full on world class race trail. For the GS Apart from the first couple of hundred yards out of the start there is good pitch all the way. And coming into the top dogleg where the set usually brings you into a hard right footer across a steep pitch is a real challenge. The slalom uses the bottom half of the same hill and is pitch all the way, no letup for a breather. There will probably be a few adjustments at the bottom of the trail because of the new gondola but still just as challenging. And for spectators you can see pretty much the whole slalom course from the finish area.

i was fortunate enough to be on the slip crew for the womens WC in 2017 and it gives you a great close up. Planning for the same for this one.

 

[4ster]

What’s the trail like?

I have never raced on Red Dog but I have skied it a bunch & watched Shiffrin train GS there a few years ago. It is at the bottom of the mountain so that could be good or bad. The end of February probably makes it good.
Like @ScotsSkier says some steep, exciting fall-aways will keep it interesting. Super fun hill to freeski, challenging for racing.

This is the bottom pitch, it winds back up there aways…

 

[S.H.]

not yet finalized, technically.

schedule will be finalized on May 25 at FIS Congress

official schedule is out now, FYI.

Men: https://assets.fis-ski.com/image/upload/v1653563483/fis-prod/assets/2223men_25.05.2022.pdf

Beaver Creek is SG, 2DH
Palisades Tahoe is GS/SL
Aspen is SG, 2DH

Men still go to Lake Louise even with the new Zermatt/Cervinia speed opening
Alta Badia gets 2GS
Garmisch gets a midweek night SL, and then 3.5 weeks later there's a now-traditional DH-GS weekend.

No Zagreb for the men (but women get 2SL)
No Kvitfjell for the men, which is a surprise to me (but the women are going!)
No AC on world cup, but there will be one at FIS World Champs.

14 DH, 7 SG, 10 GS, 10 SL, 1 PAR (Lech). I'm surprised there aren't more SG, tbh.

Women: https://assets.fis-ski.com/image/upload/v1653563456/fis-prod/assets/2223women_26.05.2022.pdf

Women at Zermatt/Cervinia for 2 DH the week after the men; for some reason I thought that was going to be men only, glad I was wrong
Killington is the now standard GS/SL on Thanksgiving weekend
Lake Louise stays 2DH/SG
Zagreb gets 2SL
Looks like they finally jettisoned the pretend idea of Maribor, and have scheduled 2GS at Kransjka Gora
Women will race at Kvitfjell for the first time in a while, I think (DH/SG)

No world cup stop at Courchevel, which isn't much of a surprise.
No women's world cup races in France, which is a bit of a surprise.
No AC on world cup, but there will be one at FIS World Champs.

More balanced schedule than the men: 11 DH, 9 SG, 10 GS, 11 SL, 1 PAR (Lech)

 

[Tricia]

Well, here's a fun little stoke clip. @Daron Rahlves