Alpine Ski Championships Open in Colorado -- On the Scene

(ATR) Returning to the United States for the first time since 1999, the International Ski Federation (FIS) Alpine World Ski Championships kick off in Vail/Beaver Creek, Colorado.

The FIS showcase event takes place on the slopes of Beaver Creek Resort, Feb. 2-15, with the opening ceremony in Vail on Monday evening. The world championships slogan is "Dream It, Live It, Share It."

Following his trip to the NFL Super Bowl in Arizona where he discussed the Boston 2024 bid with NBC’s Bob Costas, IOC president Thomas Bach is expected to arrive in Colorado and attend Monday night’s opening ceremony.

Bach, USOC chairman Larry Probst and CEO Scott Blackmun and several IOC members plan to stay in Vail/Beaver Creek to watch the women’s super G on Feb. 3.

Expectations are high for the U.S. Ski Team at the home championships following a strong showing at the Sochi Olympics last February. U.S. skiers won five medals, second only to Austria’s nine, including gold medals by Ted Ligety in giant slalom and teenage phenom Mikaela Shiffrin in slalom.

2010 Olympic downhill gold medalist and Vail resident Lindsey Vonn will be among the favorites in the speed events following an impressive return to racing this season having recovered from a second major knee injury.

"I’m ready for Vail. I feel confident," Vonn said. "I’m skiing well and hopefully it will be a good World Championships for me. I have a lot of confidence after having a few days of training at Beaver Creek. It’s a very difficult hill and one that requires a lot of tactics."

Vonn recently surpassed the longstanding World Cup victories record formerly held by Austrian Annemarie Moser-Proell with her 63rd career win in Cortina, Italy on Jan. 19.

Six-time Olympic medalist Bode Miller is still recovering from ambulatory back surgery in November, and while he has been named to the U.S. squad, his competition status remains questionable.

The men will race on the renowned Birds of Prey piste, which was initially developed for the 1999 championships, while the ladies will race on the new Raptor course. Both courses connect on the lower mountain and share the Red Tail Stadium finish area.

FIS race directors Hannes Trinkl and Markus Waldner are expected to set a straighter, faster and more exciting Birds of Prey course than seen at previous World Cups in Beaver Creek.

"We will seek to make the downhill courses a bit faster and somewhat straighter, and the jumps a little bigger to underline the main characteristics of a downhiller: Courage, or guts, and the ability to push one’s own boundaries but also respect and self-responsibility," said Waldner, who is in his first season as chief men’s race director.

"In the first place, the skiers should race against the mountain, not each other," he said.

Medal ceremonies will take place at Championships Plaza at Solaris in neighboring Vail. Free concerts will follow the awards each night.

The 2015 championships mark the third time that Vail/Beaver Creek is hosting the marquee event. Previous championships were held at the Colorado resort in 1999 and 1989.

FIS secretary general Sarah Lewis addressed the importance of the event returning to the United States after a 16-year hiatus.

"It is a great opportunity for Alpine Skiing in the U.S which is a key market for the sport from a recreational skiing standpoint, as well as sponsor engagement," Lewis told ATR.

"The timing is ideal on the back of the great excitement during the Olympic Winter Games 2014 in Sochi which really raised the profile of the very successful U.S athletes at home," she said.

Lindsey Vonn and her challengers will get their first taste of the new Raptor course as a ladies’ downhill training run is scheduled for Monday morning, ahead of the evening opening ceremony.

Eleven gold medals, including one to be awarded in the dual-gender nations team event, will be at stake at the championships. Some 700 skiers from more than 70 countries are expected to participate in the fortnight of races.

Written by Brian Pinelli in Vail/Beaver Creek

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