Industry News
Ötztal Tourism sent imaginations into overdrive today, October 18, with a press release that somewhat casually mentions Lindsey Vonn. According to the press release by the region’s tourism board, “A great variety of international languages can currently be heard in the glacier ski area. In addition to the presence of professionals from major ski nations such as Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France, Norway and the USA, even athletes from Brazil, Albania and Argentina are relying on the perfect conditions for their last preparation units. Among them Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who wants to bring Brazilian samba to the race slope, all-time ski hero Marcel Hirscher, Frenchman Alexis Pinturault as well as Lindsey Vonn and Lara Gut-Behrami.”
The news was quickly snapped up by In the Snow and Snow Forecast, which concluded that Lindsey Vonn would be starting at the FIS World Cup season opener in Sölden, Austria. However, SnowBrains views this news as a potential misinterpretation or blooper in light of the absence of any official press release by either U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the American ski association which would have to apply for a wild card for the retired skier, or Lindsey Vonn and her press team herself.
The 40-year-old Olympic champion, who retired in 2019, has been rumored to return to the World Cup circuit and is said to be starting as a forerunner in Beaver Creek, Colorado, in December. Forerunners start before World Cup racers to ensure the timing functions properly and there are no issues with the course. In addition, their grooves ski out the course a little, taking away any unfair advantage for the first starter in a race.
Vonn’s potential return comes after a five-year hiatus and follows her partial knee replacement surgery in April. Sources close to the athlete report that her recovery has been remarkably successful, with Vonn stating that her knee “feels incredible.”
The four-time overall World Cup champion, accompanied by HEAD race department personnel, has been spotted training on the Rettenbachferner glacier in Sölden. However, the press release by Ötztal Tourism does not mention anything about Vonn competing at the World Cup opener but rather her presence in the glacier ski area, which has been confirmed by several sources.
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Vonn’s illustrious career, which includes 82 World Cup victories and 137 podium finishes, has left an indelible mark on the sport. Her potential return would excite fans and significantly boost the profile of international ski racing.
Celebrating her birthday today, Vonn posted a message on Instagram, saying, “I will never have regrets, and I will always stay true to myself. So I might as well jump in and get to it!” There is no mention of any intention to compete at the FIS World Cup in Sölden.
Since Vonn has not officially confirmed any comeback to competitive skiing, SnowBrains will assume for the time being that this was a potential blooper by the Ötztal Tourism board. Considering Shiffrin was not mentioned and Vonn’s return would drum up more furore than a byword, we assume someone mixed up the two famous American skiers or was merely mentioning her presence on the glacier rather than inadvertently sharing something as big as Lindsey Vonn’s comeback to competitive skiing. We have reached out to Ötztal Tourism for an official statement.
Confirmed to be returning to competitive skiing is Austria’s Marcel Hirscher, who hung up his skis five years ago. While it is still unsure whether Hirscher will compete at the men’s Giant Slalom in Sölden on Sunday, October 27, the dual citizen has been issued with a wild card by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).
Perhaps the most unexpected return is that of Norway’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen. The young phenom shocked the skiing community when he retired at just 23 years old in October 2023. Now, Braathen is set to make his comeback, trading in his Norwegian colors for the gold and green of Brazil, his mother’s native country.
