Many of the top female skiers in the world will descend on Squaw Valley this March for the Audi FIS Women’s Alpine World Cup. The World Cup tour will take place March 9-12 in Lake Tahoe.
The 2017 Audi FIS Ski World Cup will mark the return of World Cup ski racing to the area after nearly 50 years. The Women’s Alpine World Cup will feature Olympic champions like Mikaela Shiffrin and Julia Mancuso, a Squaw Valley native. The Red Dog run at Squaw Valley will challenge the giant slalom skiers Friday, March 10 and a be the site of the slalom one day later. Events held will consist of a Women’s Giant Slalom on Friday, March 10 and Women’s Slalom on Saturday, March 11.
Red Dog has a definite history. It’s the same course as the women’s slalom and giant slalom events of the 1960 Winter Olympics and the 1969 World Cup. With over 1,200 feet of vertical drop in the giant slalom and nearly 700 feet in the slalom, Red Dog run is full of challenges, including fall-away pitches, side hills and bank turns, and is expected to be one of the more difficult courses on the tour.
“In keeping with our longstanding ski racing legacy here at Squaw Valley, we are honored to be chosen to host an Audi FIS Women’s Alpine World Cup event,” said Andy Wirth, President and CEO of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows. “An equally critical piece of our legacy is the way we operate as stewards of these legendary mountains.”
Squaw Valley is welcoming top international athletes and hosting numerous free events, including three free concerts on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A free Community Kickoff Parade will celebrate the region’s Olympians, U.S. Ski Team alumni and an estimated 1,000 local and regional athletes, culminating with a live artistic performance by America’s Got Talent finalist David Garibaldi.
Visitors will enjoy the flavors of the region as The Village at Squaw Valley transforms into California Way, a vendor village with some of California’s most notable and recognizable products. Race spectators can enjoy free standing room viewing near the finish arena as well as skier spectator viewing on looker’s right of Red Dog Face, and live stream viewing will also be available at select locations in The Village at Squaw Valley including KT Base Bar Sun Deck.
The World Cup events will be entirely carbon neutral. This carbon footprint analysis includes all mountain operations (snowmaking, lifts and grooming), travel emissions of the athletes, coaches, and World Cup staff to and during the event, as well as their accommodations and meals. The carbon footprint of the World Cup will be offset through the purchase of certified carbon credits as well as through a clean-energy project benefitting the local community.
For more information, visit www.squawalpine.com or call 800 403-0206.
