Ligety Third in Solden

Obviously, the Swiss and Americans have no concern for making the home team feel special on Austria’s national holiday. Albrecht won the men’s race, while Cuche was second and Ligety third. Bode was in the hunt after the first run, but had an average second run to end up 10th—he said he broke a ski coming over the final roller.

Svindal is still trying to get rid of the rust that has accumulated from his year away from competition, but still ended up 13th. You could see a marked improvement between his first and second run, but right now, the Swiss are skiing head and shoulders above everyone else. Raich was the best Austrian on the day in fourth, much to the chagrin of “The Power Team”.

One other bit of irony—I noticed a mannequin in the window of the ski shop that is located adjacent to the press center at the glacier—it is sporting a Beaver Creek race bib. In case you’re wondering, the Maria Riesch fan club won the award last night at the parade—1,500 Euros. Bode did not drive the motor home in the parade.

Time to say goodbye to Solden and the glacier. The World Cup has officially started and now it’s off to Zurich for a date with a bowl of fondue in the Old Town. See ya Tuesday.

- JD

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Austrians go 1 - 3 in Solden...

Well....there's definitely no getting any sleep tonight--the Austrians went 1-3 with Zettel and Fischbacher, and Poutiainen in second. Zettel smoked the second run--the only one to make up time at each interval. Lindsey ended up ninth and Megan McJames was 14th, her best ever finish. Lara Gut, the 16-year-old Swiss girl that won the Europa Cup GS title last winter, started 37th and ended up 5th, while Chemmy Alcott from Great Britain led the race until the final ten skiers--she ended up 10th.

Spyder made Linsey a special pink and white GS suit in honor of her overall World Cup title. Schleper had a pretty good first run, but did not qualify for the second. She says she needs to “get her ski racing legs back and get rid of her mommy legs”. There was a guy in a bright red stunt plane doing insane aerobatic spins and loops between runs, while the fan club bands did their best to drown each other out.
















Tonight, they are shutting down the main street for a parade with all of the fan clubs. More techno pop, we need MORE techno pop. I'm afraid I was a little embarrased for the American musical contribution to the global community when they played "Wild Thing" during the second run. Off down the long and winding road down the glacier.


- JD

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First Snow!

We had a nice wet dusting of snow fall this week here in the Vail Valley. Not enough to get too excited, however, there was enough snow to warrant an impromptu trip up to the Birds of Prey World Cup finish stadium at Red Tail Camp.

We snapped a few photos and wanted to let everyone know that we are working hard in preparation for the 2008 Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week slated for December 4-7. Mark your calendars and don't miss the only World Cup stop in the U.S!

FIRST SNOW! 10.23.08:

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Techno in Solden and a Svindal Sighting

It's started....the Euro techno beat is pounding in my brain as the main stage just kicked up at 3 p.m., just a block and a half from my hotel. Not as bad as the Swedish Team, who are staying in a hotel right next to the stage. The press center is up and running as of yesterday afternoon. You have to go through the Mexican restaurant in the tourist bureau building to get to the press center, although it does have a bar with beer on tap as a primary fixture.

Town is beginning to fill up and tonight should be a dramatic departure from earlier in the week when you could have dropped a 10 Euro bill and come back to find it an hour later. Beer tents are springing up all along the main street and the Austrians seemed primed to get their money’s worth. So much for a good night's sleep from here on in.Weather has returned to being beautiful down in the valley and the forecast is good for the weekend. Saw Svindal today--he looks good and everyone says he is fully recovered and ready to rock. He says he is looking forward to coming back to Beaver Creek. It will be good to be racing after a week of meetings and press conferences, although it is humorous to see the media react likes sharks with blood in the water whenever a manufacturer starts handing out free merchandise during a press conference. Oops, the techno just started up again......gotta go.

- JD

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Alpine Press Chiefs Meeting in Solden

The alpine press chiefs meeting was this afternoon, with a good number of men’s and women’s World Cup sites represented. I am the lone American member of the conference, while Ken Kilroe from Lake Louise rounds out the North American contingent. The meetings represented a good first step in an attempt to understand the challenges that face all press chiefs, while also trying to address issues that are individualized, based on things such as geographic location and venue-specific logistics or limitations.

The major topic of discussion ended up being the FIS season media accreditation process and the determination of on-course photographers. In this regard, it was very beneficial to be able to represent the North American position, along with Ken, as this is definitely not a one-size-fits-all solution. If nothing else, Ken and my presence required that the group continues to think globally, rather than being focused only on Central Europe.

- JD

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Safe in Solden

Arrived in Solden last night after 24 hours of start-stop travel that included a cancelled flight in Denver, rerouting through Frankfurt and a seven-hour delay in getting into Zurich. With the opening World Cup races of the 2008-09 campaign still five days away, the town is both quaint and quiet, although I am fully aware that this chamber of commerce view will dramatically change come Friday when what will seem to be half of Austria heads up the windy two-lane road to occupy Solden for the weekend. Have come to be part of the first FIS conference for alpine press chiefs, which will be held on Thursday, with the annual Forum Alpinum scheduled for Friday.

I’m here with Gary Black from Ski Racing Magazine and his new editor, Lara Rosenbaum. Aside from the racers and staff of the U.S. Ski Team, our little trio may well represent the American contingent here in Solden. We went up to the glacier this morning to catch some of the U.S. women as they finished training. The Rettenbach Glacier is five miles up from the town of Solden at the top of another windy road that stretches the imagination in places to be called two-lane. Needless to say, the Europeans treat it like the Autobahn nonetheless. The training is in an area of the glacier known as “The Icebox”, basically because the sun never shines there.

- JD

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World Cup Begins!

The VVF's marketing/PR VP is on his way to Solden as we speak for the start of the 2008 World Cup. He will be blogging from the road as the World Cup gets underway over the next few days.

Check back soon and mark your calendars for the 2008 Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week December 4-7, 2008.

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