Snow Flies on Birds of Prey
Doug Haney October 29, 2009
Beaver Creek, Colo. - Well before the recent snow storm hit the Colorado Rockies, the race crew at Beaver Creek had the guns blasting the Audi Birds of Prey slope ensuring incredible conditions for the Dec. 4-6 Audi FIS Alpine World Cup event.
"Early snow and cold temperatures have come right at the start of the traditional snowmaking period and give the Beaver Creek team a great head start in the preparation of the Birds of Prey race course," said U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association Vice President, Events Calum Clark. "The buzz of excitement can be felt throughout the Birds of Prey family, from race workers and volunteers to U.S. Ski Team athletes and coaches."
Harnessing that excitement is two-time Birds of Prey downhill podium finisher Steven Nyman (Sundance, UT), who has received the green light from U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association Medical Director Richard Quincy to begin his on-snow preparation following a double knee scope in early summer. Nyman will travel to Colorado on Nov. 1 with teammate TJ Lanning (Park City, UT) to begin training for the start of World Cup speed season.
"There's nothing like racing in Beaver Creek," said Nyman. "It's our time to shine on our race hill. And thanks to the work that NBC and Universal Sports have done, it gets bigger and bigger each year. With this being an Olympic year, it should be especially exciting."
As the only men's World Cup stop in America prior to the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Birds of Prey provides the best opportunity for U.S. fans to see the U.S. Ski Team and the world's top racers prior to the Feb. 12 Opening Ceremonies.
"Beaver Creek is the most well rounded hill on the World Cup circuit," said Nyman. "From jumps, to steeps to high speed turns, there's nothing like racing Birds. It also probably compares closest to the Olympic hill at Whistler more than any other World Cup. It's going to be a good tune up."
American men own 15 podiums at Beaver Creek since 2003 with Bode Miller (Franconia, NH) accounting for three of those victories, plus an additional two more top-three finishes. Miller plans to race in Beaver Creek en route to what he hopes to be his fourth Olympic Winter Games. Olympic combined champion Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) has added three Birds podiums to the tally including a second in last winter's giant slalom.
"We're taking advantage of every opportunity that Mother Nature provides to ensure that the Birds of Prey racecourse is in outstanding condition when the world arrives in Beaver Creek for the 2009 Audi Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week," explained Michael Imhof, Vice President of Sales and Operations for the Vail Valley Foundation. "Our partners at Vail Resorts are among the best in the world at preparing race courses and I have no doubt that this fact will again be reflected with a superb week of racing on Birds of Prey."
The Audi Birds of Prey downhill will air Sunday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC with replay Sunday, Dec. 13 at 4 p.m. ET on Versus followed by super combined at 5 p.m. ET. Versus will also air giant slalom on Sunday, Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. ET.
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