Beaver Creek, Colorado, has officially secured positive snow control for the 2025 Stifel Birds of Prey Men’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup, guaranteeing that racing will move ahead—though with a trimmed schedule. Snow control is FIS’s system for determining whether a race venue has enough snow to safely hold competition, and a postponement typically signals insufficient coverage on key sections of the track.
The Vail Valley Foundation confirmed on Tuesday, November 25, that the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has given the green light with modified starts and finishes. Snow control at Beaver Creek had been pushed back from Friday, November 21, to this week after the resort had seen unusual warm weather in the lead-up to the snow control. For speed events such as downhill and super-G, snow control occurs 10 days before the official racing day and Beaver Creek had the official training scheduled for Tuesday, December 2. The positive snow control by FIS allows the Local Organization Committee (LOC) to proceed with preparations for the three race days from December 5–7.
The green light comes with one notable change: the additional downhill originally planned for Thursday, December 4, has been removed. Organizers say the decision allows all resources to be concentrated on delivering the traditional downhill, super-G, and giant slalom races. The remaining downhill is scheduled for Friday, December 5, followed by super-G on Saturday, December 6, and giant slalom on Sunday, December 7. “If the weather cooperates and snow production progresses, we will revert to the original program and original track,” the LOC stated in a press release. For now, the event will run on alternative starts and finishes to ensure course safety and snow coverage.
The Birds of Prey racecourse is one of the most respected—and feared—speed tracks on the men’s World Cup circuit. Designed by Olympic champion Bernhard Russi and first introduced in 1997, the course drops roughly 2,450 vertical feet (747 meters) from the Red Tail finish area. Known for its sustained pitch, blind rollers, and technical sequences like Pete’s Arena and The Abyss, Birds of Prey rewards skiers who can combine raw speed with sharp, technical precision.
The course has hosted countless memorable moments, including Bode Miller’s iconic wins, Aksel Lund Svindal’s dominance, and Marco Odermatt’s rise as a multi-discipline powerhouse. Its reputation as one of North America’s premier speed venues makes the annual early-December stop a cornerstone of the men’s tour.
Despite the schedule reduction, all village festivities remain unchanged. Events kick off Thursday, December 4 at 12:00 p.m. with free live music on Birds of Prey Way, followed by two showings of Warren Miller’s new film SNO-CIETY at the Vilar Performing Arts Center that evening.
