Industry News
Legendary U.S. ski racer Lindsey Vonn has competed over the weekend at the FIS Fall Festival at Copper Mountain, Colorado. The speed racing weekend at Copper Mountain’s Speed Center consisted of two Downhill and two Super-G events. While these were not World Cup events but rather FIS races without designation, many international female World Cup skiers used it as a training session ahead of the women’s speed races in Beaver Creek next weekend, December 14 and 15.
Vonn’s results were solid, with four top-30 finishes in a competitive field. She placed 24th and 27th in the two Downhill events and 19th and 24th in the Super-G event. Prior to her comeback this season, Vonn had won a total of 82 World Cup races, of which 43 were Downhill and 28 Super-G. She had also placed 15th in a Downhill training run on Saturday.
Vonn pre-empted any critics with a post on X, stating, “Today was a solid start and I had a blast being in start with my teammates again! While I’m sure people will speculate and say I’m not in top form because of the results, I disagree. This was training for me. I’m still testing equipment and getting back in the groove. This is only the beginning and the way I’m skiing is more important than the times at this point. Now I have the fis points to race World Cup so that’s a successful day! Thanks to everyone who helped put on the races! Let’s do it again tomorrow!”
— Lindsey Vonn
It is certainly a promising start for the 40-year-old athlete and with her good positions, Vonn has earned the FIS points to compete at World Cup level. Despite the wildcard introduced by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), Vonn needed to lower her FIS points to below 80 in order to rejoin the World Cup. Prior to the races at Copper Mountain, Vonn had 104.81 points in Downhill and 93.02 points in Super-G.
Vonn is expected to be a forerunner at the races in Beaver Creek, Colorado, next weekend, December 14 and 15. It has further been confirmed that the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Federation applied for a wildcard for the races in Corviglia, St. Moritz, Switzerland, on December 21 and 22. It will be exciting to see Vonn back at the World Cup in less than a week.
- Related: U.S. Ski & Snowboard Applies for Wildcard for Lindsey Vonn for World Cup in St. Moritz, Switzerland
