After taking a year off, the women's Audi FIS Ski World Cup racing is back this weekend at Aspen in Colorado as the world Cup tour crosses the Atlantic to North America.
Aspen's 'Winternational' takes place on Aspen Mountain this Saturday, November 29 and Sunday, November 30.
The race marks 75 years since the first sanctioned races took place on Aspen Mountain in 1939 and spectators in resort will be able to view the race from the base of Lift 1A which provides prime viewing of the finish line from the grandstands. They can also attend a host of free Aspen Winternational events surrounding the races. In Britain we can watch it on Eurosport.
Giant Slalom racing will start on Saturday at 10 m local time followed by the finals at 1pm. On Sunday, the Slalom races will begin at 10 a.m. with the finals starting at 1 p.m.
US stars competing will include young U.S. Ski Team athletes Mikaela Shiffrin, the Sochi Olympic slalom gold medallist as well as two slalom overall titles, and Julia Mancuso who has four Olympic medals under her belt including one gold in the Torino giant slalom. The races will also include top international athletes from 19 other countries.
"The perfect start to our ski season always includes plenty of snow and World Cup racing on Aspen Mountain," says John Rigney, Vice President of Sales & Events, "Aspen Winternational provides an opportunity to highlight Aspen Snowmass to a global television audience, brings the best women racers to town, and rewards our passionate skiers and loyal racing fans."
The races are surrounded by an array of free activities that turn the event into a weekend-long celebration. Beginning on Friday, November 28 a World Cup Kick-Off Party will take place at the Limelight Hotel in downtown Aspen from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. featuring a U.S. Ski Team autograph signing from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. followed by a public bib draw with announcer Chris Davenport from 6:30 p.m.-6:45 p.m.
In conjunction with the World Cup races, Aspen Mountain and Snowmass will be open for skiing and riding with an abundance of natural snowfall owing to the recent storm cycle that dropped up to 60cm inches of snow across the upper peaks plus more in the forecast for this coming weekend.
The International Ski Federation has also awarded Aspen the 2017 Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals. This marks the first time the event has been held in the U.S. in 20 years. The Mar. 15-19, 2017 event will feature the best men's and women's alpine skiing athletes in the world, competing in downhill, super G, giant slalom, slalom and nation's team event.