Let the celebration begin in the Vail Valley, as Vail and Beaver Creek Resorts were selected by the International Ski Federation (FIS) Council to host the 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships. This will be the third FIS World Championships for the resorts, which previously hosted the 1989 and 1999 Championships.
"Vail and Beaver Creek Resorts are honored to be selected as the hosts for the 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships by the International Ski Federation," said Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer of Vail Resorts. "Our resorts and the Vail Valley have demonstrated a meaningful commitment to the sport of ski racing producing the best competitions in the world. We are thrilled to focus international attention on our iconic slopes and community during the winter of 2015. We are especially appreciative of the efforts put forth by Ceil Folz and the Vail Valley Foundation in securing this nomination and we are thankful to the delegates who cast their votes in favor of bringing the 2015 Championships to Vail and Beaver Creek."
Vail and Beaver Creek Resorts have been supporting and hosting international ski racing events and World Cups since the circuit began in 1967. Today, the Birds of Prey World Cup at Beaver Creek stands as one of the most highly respected and most difficult stops on the men's World Cup tour and it is the only men's event held in the U.S. The course was built during the summer of 1997 in preparation for the 1999 World Championships. The first men's World Cup took place in December 1997 and speed and technical events are held annually at Beaver Creek each December.
With the 2015 announcement, Beaver Creek plans to upgrade the Birds of Prey venue, increasing the finish area for the men's events, building a new Red Tail Camp Restaurant and building a new women's speed course which will rival the men's course. This run also will serve the combined events and the nation's team event during the 2015 Championships. The women's technical events, including the giant slalom and slalom will be held at Vail which will have a new, dramatic stadium located in the heart of Vail Village. Opening and closing ceremonies also will take place in Vail.
"I'm thrilled that the 2015 Alpine World Championships will take place on my home turf at Vail and Beaver Creek," said Lindsey Vonn, Olympic gold medalist and defending World Cup Overall Champion. "As a young racer I slipped the race course at Vail during the 1999 Championships and I'm really excited to take on the challenge of a tough new women's course at Beaver Creek and finish in front of a hometown crowd at both venues."
It is also fitting for Vonn who recently had the "International" trail on Vail Mountain renamed in her honor after her successful Olympic and World Cup season. "Lindsey's" trail was part of the women's race courses for the 1989 and 1999 Championships and she will be competing on a trail adjacent to her namesake run in 2015.
Plans for the 2015 World Championships will begin immediately as World Cup racing action returns to the Vail Valley Dec. 3-5, 2010 for the Men's Birds of Prey World Cup. Follow the action at www.beavercreek.com, www.vail.com and www.bcworldcup.com.
