Beaver Creek
Aug 31, 2018·Alpine Skiing
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The Birds of Prey racecourse was built during the summer of 1997 in anticipation of the 1999 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. It was designed by Olympic Downhill gold medalist Bernhard Russi of Switzerland.
The course recently played host to the FIS World Alpine Ski Championships in Vail and Beaver Creek in February, 2015.
The first competition on Birds of Prey took place on December 4, 1997, with two World Cup men’s Downhills and a Super-G. The course was officially opened with a ceremonial Native American blessing, performed by tribal elder Red Ute.
Germany’s Stefan Krauss was the first racer down Birds of Prey in the opening day of training, while Italy’s Kristian Ghedina was the first race winner. The remaining two competitions were won by Austrians Andreas Schifferer and Hermann Maier.
During the 1999 World Championships, Birds of Prey was the site for the first ever gold medal tie as Maier and Norway’s Lasse Kjus earned Super-G gold
The fastest World Cup or World Championships Downhill race time from the top start ever recorded on Birds of Prey is 1:39.59, courtesy of American Daron Rahlves.
Austria’s Hermann Maier owns a record eight career victories on Birds of Prey.
In 2009, Switzerland’s Carlo Janka made history, winning all three races contested in Beaver Creek. The feat marked the first time a racer has been victorious in three World Cup races on three consecutive days since Jean Claude Killy turned the trick in 1967.
In 2011, American Lindsey Vonn became the first woman to win a World Cup race on Birds of Prey, capturing the transplanted Super-G from Val d’Isere, France.
Beaver Creek has organized FIS World Cup competitions since 1988, while Vail’s involvement with World Cup racing dates back to the inaugural year of the World Cup tour in 1967.
The transplanted Val d’Isere Super-G race in 2011 was won by Lindsey Vonn (USA), while Fabinenne Suter (SUI) placed second and Anna Fenninger (AUT) finished third.
For news and latest information see: http://www.vvf.org/athletics/birds-of-prey-world-cup.aspx?cmpid=soc00190
Beaver Creek's Official Social Media platforms are:
Audi Birds of Prey
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