Birds Schedule Shifts to Primetime

PARK CITY, UT (Oct. 19) - The Audi Birds of Prey Race Week scheduled for Dec. 4-6 in Beaver Creek, CO announced a schedule shift as organizers, sponsors and FIS officials collaborated to bring America's men's alpine World Cup event to a bigger global audience.

Originally slated to open with the Birds of Prey downhill on Friday, the event will now kick off with super combined, followed by the treacherous Birds of Prey downhill on Saturday and giant slalom on Sunday. The move allows European broadcasters to air the entire men's super combined during prime air times, resulting in a significantly increased audience for Beaver Creek, a candidate for the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

The U.S. Ski Team has a storied record of success in Beaver Creek with 15 podiums, including five wins since 2003. Bode Miller (Franconia, NH) accounts for three of those victories, plus an additional two more top three finishes, while Olympic gold medalist Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) and Steven Nyman (Sundance, UT) have multiple top 3 finishes at Birds.

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.

Additionally Universal Sports will stream the super combined and giant slalom live at www.UniversalSports.com.

2009 Audi Birds of Prey Schedule (all times local)
Thursday, Dec. 3
5:30 p.m. MT: Public Bib Presentation and U.S. Ski Team autograph signing

Friday, Dec, 4
11 a.m. MT: Men's super combined - downhill, 2:30 p.m. men's super combined - slalom

Saturday, Dec. 5
11 a.m. MT: Downhill

Sunday, Dec. 6
9:45 a.m. MT: Men's giant slalom run one, 12:45 p.m. men's giant slalom run two

For complete information on the Audi Birds of Prey Race Week, check out www.bcworldcup.com.