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Aspen Awarded World Cup Finals

By U.S. Ski & Snowboard
June, 6 2014
BARCELONA, Spain (June 6) – Aspen has been awarded one of the most prestigious events on the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup as site of the 2017 World Cup Finals. The longtime World Cup community was selected by the International Ski Federation for the March 15-19, 2017 races that will bring both the men’s and women’s tour to Aspen. The Finals will be the first outside Europe since 1997 and the return of men’s World Cup for first time since 2001. Aspen was selected by the FIS Council over Lenzerheide, Switzerland and the mountain nation of Andorra.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
  • Aspen has been awarded the 2017 Audi FIS Alpine World Cup Finals by the International Ski Federation.
  • The March 15-19, 2017 World Cup Finals will bring the best athletes in both the men’s and women’s tours to Aspen for a season finale with competitions in downhill, super G, giant slalom, slalom and nation’s team event.
  • The Finals will mark the first time the men’s tour has come to Aspen since 2001 and first Finals in the USA since 1997. It will be the first speed event for either gender since 2007.
  • The World Cup Finals feature the presentation of crystal globes, honoring stars like recent U.S. Ski Team titlists Ted Ligety, Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn. It's the largest event in ski racing outside the Olympics and World Championships.
  • Aspen has a long history of World Cup ski racing and hosted the first World Championships outside of Europe in 1950. One of the hallmarks of Aspen’s tenure as an iconic World Cup tour stop is the strong embracing of ski racing by the entire Aspen community.
  • The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association put Aspen forward as a candidate in what became a very close race between perennial World Cup Finals site Lenzerheide, Switzerland and the small mountain nation of Andorra.
  • The World Cup Finals will attract a global broadcast audience of tens of millions, with the USSA partnering with NBC to provide extensive coverage of the five-day event including live broadcast and digital streaming.
 
QUOTES
Bill Marolt, FIS Council (former President and CEO, USSA)
The selection of Aspen for World Cup Finals illustrates the confidence the FIS Council has in Aspen as a classic World Cup community. Our team at the USSA has worked closely with Aspen and FIS for several years in preparing an outstanding bid to welcome the world to America.
 
Mike Kaplan, President and CEO, Aspen Skiing Company
To have the World Cup Finals coming to Aspen in 2017 is a long awaited homecoming. Aspen became an iconic brand in the late 40’s by attracting world class athletic and cultural events, beginning with the 1950 FIS Championships in what was then a sleepy little town. Fast forward to present day and this community exudes vibrancy and the pursuit of excellence and we are incredibly excited to host the world’s best athletes in the Roaring Fork Valley in 2017. Thanks to Bill Marolt, Tiger Shaw, the FIS, and the community for the support, it’s going to be a great event.
 
John Rigney, Vice President Sales and Events, Aspen Skiing Company
This is outstanding news for Aspen Snowmass. Our community has avidly supported ski racing for over 60 years and the World Cup Finals brings tremendous excitement, a giant spotlight, and the very best athletes in the world to Aspen yet again. We can't wait.

Steve Skadron, Mayor, Aspen, CO
I'm thrilled. I love that the world's best ski town hosts the world's greatest skiers, competing on the world's finest ski mountain. On behalf of all Aspenites, thank you to the FIS, to the local lodging community and especially to the Aspen Ski Co for the huge effort. 
 
Alice McKennis, U.S. Ski Team Athelte and Audi FIS Alpine World Cup downhill winner
As a club athlete racing at Aspen, I would always dream that someday I'd be able to race a World Cup on my home mountain. But as a female speed skier, it didn't seem likely. Now, it is extremely motivating to know that if I work hard, I'll be able to race World Cup downhill and super G on home snow in 2017.
 
Katie Ryan, 2014 NorAm downhill champion and Aspen local
I probably had the first race of my career at Aspen and we've been racing NorAm's there for a long time, but I've only been able to dream about racing World Cup at home. I'm so thrilled this community continues to support ski racing and especially at the level where we'll host the World Cup Finals the year before the next Olympics in Pyeongchang.