Industry News
Lindsey Vonn’s comeback to competitive skiing was announced last month in a press release by U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Now, we have official confirmation on which race the legendary ski racer will compete in first. In an interview with the Associated Press (AP) on Wednesday, December 4, U.S. Ski Team Head Coach Paul Kirstofic confirmed that Lindsey Vonn will be competing at the FIS Fall Festival at Copper Mountain, Colorado, from December 6-8.
The FIS Fall Festival consists of an official Downhill training day on Friday, December 6, a Downhill race on Saturday, December 7, and a Super-G race on Sunday, December 8. Despite the wildcard introduced by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), Vonn needs to perform at these FIS races in order to lower her FIS points to below 80 in order to rejoin the World Cup. Currently, Vonn has 104.81 points in Downhill and 93.02 points in Super-G.
Kristofic shares that Vonn has shown strong performance in training sessions but cautions that a comeback will not happen overnight. “Obviously, her history speaks for itself, and she’s definitely the most decorated speed skier out there and has done amazing things throughout her career,” Kristofic said. “So it will be really, really fun and interesting to see what she can do.”
Her strong performance was also attested by the 2023-24 Overall World Cup title winner Marco Odermatt. The Swiss ski racer was able to observe Vonn at training in Copper Mountain and admitted in an interview with the Swiss newspaper Blick, “I saw Lindsey live in Copper Mountain. She made a really good impression. Lindsey skis technically cleaner than I remembered from her active years.” However, not all views on Vonn’s comeback to competitive skiing are positive. Several retired skiers, including Austria’s Franz Klammer, have come out publicly and called her crazy or reckless.
The oldest competitive World Cup Alpine skier to date has been Johan Clarey, who holds several age-related records. In 2022, Clarey became the oldest Olympic Alpine medalist when he claimed Silver at age 41. He also holds the record for the oldest Alpine skier to podium at a FIS World Cup. Clarey retired in 2023, after a career spanning 20 years, at age 42.
Vonn’s pathway to a World Cup comeback at 40 hinges on several factors. If the races at Copper Mountain go as planned, she will be a forerunner at the World Cup races in Beaver Creek on December 14 and 15, a critical test of her readiness for top-level racing. Her premier as competitor on the World Cup circuit could come just a week later on the famed slopes of Corviglia near St. Moritz, Switzerland, where a Downhill and Super-G race will be held on December 21 and 22.
Further down the road, all eyes are on Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, where Vonn has won 12 World Cup races and is therefore often referred to as her “living room.” Patience and preparation remain her guiding principles as she works toward a return to the World Cup circuit.
