Media contact:

Photo Manager:

Main registration/Hyatt:

Online information:

Phone app:

Tom BoydChief of MediaVail Valley Foundation970-300-2126tboyd@vvf.org

Francis BompardPhoto Manager970-300-2126francis@zoom-agence.fr

970-748-5901

bcworldcup.com

BC Village Experience

Dear members of the media,

Welcome to one of the most exciting race weeks on the World Cup circuit. With millions of spectators world-wide, and a new generation of talented athletes just coming into their own, we’ve seen first-hand that ski racing is a thriving sport with passionate fans and a promising future.

That’s why, this year, race fans will have more ways than ever to get involved in a bigger, better Audi FIS Birds of Prey World Cup race week. We’ve created a new grandstand layout and Red Tail Stadium that, together with on-course viewing, remain free and open to the public.

We also welcome the premier year of the EverBank America’s Winter Opening, which will animate the Beaver Creek Village with concerts, activities, and festivities to help us welcome the start of winter. We hope you’ll join us as the event bring more races, music, excitement and festivities to both Vail and Beaver Creek in 2016 and beyond.

On behalf of the team at the Vail Valley Foundation, our incredible volunteers, our partners, Vail Resorts, Beaver Creek Resort, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, the International Ski Federation, the U.S. Forest Service and everyone who works tirelessly to put together this singular event, we welcome you to World Cup in the Rockies.

Sincerely, Mike Imhof

President and CEOVail Valley Foundation

Photo of Hannes Reichelt in 2014 by Jonathan Selkowitz.

Table of contents

General information

Notable racers

Transportation map

EverBank America’s Winter Opening schedule of events

Birds of Prey course profile

Previous Birds of Prey Winners

Birds of Prey by the numbers

Schedule

1

3

9

12

15

17

19

21

Photo of 2015 AWSC finish stadium by Logan Robertson.

General informationMedia parking:

Media transportation:

Main Press Center hours:

Main Press Center:

Parking is free at the base of Beaver Creek Resort in Avon, with access to the resort via a free bus system. Buses run every 5-10 minutes from 5:20 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Transportation from the Village to the Red Tail Finish Stadium will be via a free shuttle system. Credentialed media can show their credential to gain priority to board transportation from the Beaver Creek Village to the venue. Shuttles will depart every 5-10 minutes. Shuttles will begin running on Monday, November 30, with full bus service in place on Tuesday, December 1, for the first day of Downhill Training.

7 a.m. - 6 p.m.

The Main Press Center will located on the lower floor of the Talons Restaurant, immediately adjacent to the Finish Stadium on Beaver Creek Mountain. The Talons Press Center will open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 2, and will close at 6 p.m. each day.

Additional workstations are available at Ford Hall in the Park Hyatt for journalists who need to work past 6 p.m.

Internet access:

Phone lines:

Photo meeting:

On-course photography:

Film and video:

Complimentary wi-fi is provided to media in the Main Press Center and the Mixed Zone area. This wi-fi is 2Mbps up/down. Please do not share the wi-fi password with anyone. Please keep our wi-fi service as fast as possibly by using it for journalistic purposes only.

The deadline for ordering a phone line in advance was Nov. 24.

Monday, Nov. 30 after the Team Captain’s meeting. Ford Hall, Park Hyatt Hotel, Beaver Creek Village.

All photographers wishing to be considered for on-course photography must attend the photo meeting, and or work directly with photo manager Francis Bompard.

Infront Sports holds the international TV, radio and multimedia rights to this event, while the U.S. rights are held by the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association. International television and radio networks, production and Internet companies are requested to send a copy of the credential application form to Infront for approval of their accreditation request.

*Schedules subject to change. Check with registration for updated information.

Notable racers & past BOP resultsTed LigetyNation: USAHometown: Park City, UtahAge: 31World Cup Wins: 25Discipline titles: 5 GS overall titlesWorld Championships Medals: 7Olympic Medals: 2Birds of Prey Wins: 52014 Birds of Prey: DH/28, SG/11, GS/12013 Birds of Prey: DH/42, SG/5, GS/12012 Birds of Prey: SG/4, GS/12011 Birds of Prey: DH/22, SG/DNF, GS/2, GS/1, SL/132010 Birds of Prey: SG/DNF, GS/12009 Birds of Prey: SC/DNF, GS/42008 Birds of Prey: GS/2, SG/72007 Birds of Prey: SC/8, GS/4, SG/23

Hannes ReicheltNation: AustriaHometown: RadstadtAge: 35World Cup Wins: 8World Cup Podiums: 34World Cup Titles: 1 discipline (SG)World Championships Medals: 1Birds of Prey wins: 2 (both SG)2014 Birds of Prey: DH/8, SG/1, GS/252013 Birds of Prey: DH/2, SG/32012 Birds of Prey: DH/24, SG/3, GS/122011 Birds of Prey: DG/10, SG/5, GS/52010 Birds of Prey: SG/132009 Birds of Prey: GS/62008 Birds of Prey: DH/46, SG/10, GS/DNF2007 Birds of Prey: DH/44, SG/1, GS/7

Photo of Kjetil Jansrud in 2013 by Jonathan Selkowitz.

Kjetil Jansrud Nation: NorwayHometown: VinstraAge: 30World Cup Wins: 10World Cup Podiums: 25World Cup Titles: 2 discipline (DH, SG)World Championships Medals: 1Olympic Medals: 3Birds of Prey Wins: 12014 Birds of Prey: DH/1, SG/2, GS/152013 Birds of Prey: DH/12, SG/9, GS/17 2012 Birds of Prey: DH/3, SG/62011 Birds of Prey: DH/26, SG/6, GS/3, GS/72010 Birds of Prey: SG/10, GS/22009 Birds of Prey: DH/23, SC/11, GS/52008 Birds of Prey: SG/19, GS/42005 Birds of Prey: SL/4

Aksel Lund SvindalNation: NorwayHometown: KjellerAge: 32World Cup Wins: 25World Cup Titles: 2 Overall, 9 DisciplineWorld Championships Medals: 8Olympic Medals: 3Birds of Prey Wins: 42014 Birds of Prey: DH/6, SG/62013 Birds of Prey: DH/1, SG/7, GS/112012 Birds of Prey: DH/2, SG/2, GS/62011 Birds of Prey: DH/5, SG/2, GS/9T, GS/6, SL/DNQ2010 Birds of Prey: SG/9, GS/52009 Birds of Prey: GS/3, DH/3, SC/62008 Birds of Prey: GS/3, DH/1, SG/12007 Birds of Prey: Injured in DH Training

Marcel Hirscher Nation: AustriaHometown: AnnabergAge: 26World Cup Wins: 31 Podiums: 73World Cup Titles: 4 overall, 5 disciplineDisciplines: 3World Championships Medals: 4Olympic Medals: 1 Birds of Prey Wins: 12014 Birds of Prey: SG/DNF, GS/32013 Birds of Prey: SG/16, GS/32012 Birds of Prey: GS/22011 Birds of Prey: GS/1, GS/2, SL/32010 Birds of Prey: GS/32009 Birds of Prey: GS/292008 Birds of Prey: GS/15

Alexis Pinturault Nation: FranceHometown: CourchevelAge: 24World Cup Wins: 9World Cup Podiums: 28World Championships Medals: 1 Olympic Medals: 12014 Birds of Prey: SG/3, GS/22013 Birds of Prey: SG/18T, GS/52012 Birds of Prey: GS/52011 Birds of Prey: GS/9T, GS/4, SL/DNF

Steven NymanNation: USAHometown: Provo, UtahAge: 33World Cup Wins: 32014 Birds of Prey: DH/3, SG/DNF

Photo of Alex Pinturault in 2013 by Jonathan Selkowitz.

2013 Birds of Prey: DH/21, SG/372012 Birds of Prey: DH/332010 Birds of Prey: SG/252009 Birds of Prey: DH/312008 Birds of Prey: DH/7, SG/252007 Birds of Prey: SC/DNF, DH/2, GS/DNQ, SG/DNF

Andrew WeibrechtNation: USAHometown: Lake Placid, New YorkAge: 29World Cup Top 10s: 3Olympic Medals: 22014 Birds of Prey: DH/30, SG/102013 Birds of Prey: DH/DNF, SG/202012 Birds of Prey: DH/37Birds of Prey: DH/32, SG/102010 Birds of Prey: SG/DNF2009 Birds of Prey: GS/DNF, SC/19, DH/112008 Birds of Prey: DH/DNF, SG/352007 Birds of Prey: SC/14, DH/10, SG/DNF

Dominik ParisNation: ItalyAge: 26Hometown: MeranoWorld Cup Wins: 4World Cup Podiums: 10 World Championships Medals: 12014 Birds of Prey: DH/4, SG/5 2013 Birds of Prey: DH/9, SG/DNF2012 Birds of Prey: DH/5, SG/292011 Birds of Prey: DH/492010 Birds of Prey: SG/DNF2009 Birds of Prey: DH/23, DH/36

Marco SullivanNation: USAHometown: Squaw Valley, CaliforniaAge: 35World Cup Top 10s: 5World Cup Wins: 1World Cup Podiums: 42014 Birds of Prey: DH/382013 Birds of Prey: DH/28, SG/472012 Birds of Prey: DH/18Birds of Prey: DH/28, SG/432010 Birds of Prey: SG/DNF2009 Birds of Prey: DH/142008 Birds of Prey: DH/DNF, SG/22

Photo of Marco Sullivan in 2012 by Jonathan Selkowitz.

2015 EverBank America’s Winter Opening Schedule of Events This year, the Vail Valley Foundation and Vail Resorts announced the phase one launch of a new festival of culture and music designed to surround and compliment the iconic Audi Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week (visit AmericasWinterOpening.com for more).

The new event is called “EverBank America’s Winter Opening,” with a tagline, “Where It Begins,” and it ushers in a new vision for what early winter can become in Vail and Beaver Creek, with multiple concerts, festivities, ski races and other activities throughout the Valley. EverBank is the official bank of the event.

Thursday, December 3, 4-6 p.m. • EverBank America’s Winter Opening Kick-Off Party @

Photo by Jack Affleck Vail Resorts

• Sponsor Expo Areas • Food & Drink Specials at the Pumphouse Bar.

Friday, December 4:• 8 a.m.: VIP & Club Open, Red Tail Finish Area • 10:45 a.m.: Men’s Downhill Race, Birds of Prey Racecourse• Birds of Prey Way Activities in Beaver Creek Village:• 10 a.m.: Birds of Prey Way opens with sponsor expo areas• 12 p.m.: Free ice skating• 1 p.m.: Pumphouse Bar opens with food & drink specials• 2 p.m.: Free Concert with Funky Johnson • 2 p.m.: Downhill Dash Interactive Racecourse• 4 p.m.: Free Concert with Natural Geometry• 4 p.m.: Athlete Autograph Signings (ends at 4:30pm)• 5:45 p.m.: GoPro, SkiPodz, VIP & US Ski Team giveaways• 6 p.m.: Fireworks over Beaver Creek Village (time

approximate)• 6 p.m.: Black Diamond Ball, Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch

(tickets required)• 7 p.m.: Warren Miller’s STREIF: One Hell of a Ride, Vilar

Performing Arts Center (tickets required)

Saturday, December 5:• 8 a.m.: VIP & Club Open, Red Tail Finish Area • 11 a.m.: Men’s Super G Race, Birds of Prey Racecourse• Birds of Prey Way Activities in Beaver Creek Village:• 10 a.m.: Birds of Prey Way opens with sponsor expo areas• 12 p.m.: Free ice skating• 1 p.m.: Pumphouse Bar opens with food & drink specials• 2 p.m.: Free Concert with First Chair • 2 p.m.: Downhill Dash Interactive Racecourse• 3 p.m.: Warren Miller’s STREIF: One Hell of a Ride, Vilar

Performing Arts Center (tickets required)

Birds of Prey Way in Beaver Creek Village• Free Concert with Colorado Bluegrass band, Hardscrabble• Kettle Kurling World {Tea} Cup Tournament with VIP,

GoPro, SkiPodz & US Ski Team Grand Prizes*

• 6 p.m.: Fireworks over Beaver Creek Village (time approximate)

• 7 p.m.: Warren Miller’s STREIF: One Hell of a Ride, Vilar Performing Arts Center (tickets required)

Sunday, December 6:• 8 a.m.: VIP & Club Open, Red Tail Finish Area • 9:45 a.m.: Men’s Giant Slalom Run 1, Birds of Prey

Racecourse• 12:45 a.m.: Men’s Giant Slalom Run 2, Birds of Prey

Racecourse• Birds of Prey Way Activities in Beaver Creek Village:• 10 a.m.: Birds of Prey Way opens with sponsor expo

areas, Beaver Creek Village• 12 p.m.: Free ice skating• 1 p.m.: Pumphouse Bar opens with food & drink specials

* Schedule subject to change

• 4 p.m.: Free Concert with Renegade Sons • 4 p.m.: Athlete Autograph Signings (ends at 4:30pm)• 5:45 p.m.: GoPro, SkiPodz, VIP & US Ski Team giveaways

1997DH Kristian Ghedina, ITADH Andreas Schifferer, AUTSG Hermann Maier, AUT

1999SL Didier Plaschy, SUIGS Hermann Maier, AUTDH Hermann Maier, AUTSG Hermann Maier, AUT

2000DH Hermann Maier, AUTSG Fredrik Nyberg, SWE

2001 No races held

2002DH Stephan Eberharter, AUTSG Didier Cuche, SUI 2003DH Daron Rahlves, USA DH Hermann Maier, AUTSG Bjarne Solbakken, NOR

2004 DH Bode Miller, USA SG Stephan Goergl, AUT GS Lasse Kjus, NOR SL Benjamin Raich, AUT

2005DH Daron Rahlves, USASG Hannes Reichelt, AUT

GS Bode Miller, USASL Giorgio Rocca, ITA

2006SC Aksel Lund Svindal, NORDH Bode Miller, USAGS Massimiliano Blardone, ITASL Andre Myhrer

2007SC Daniel Albrecht, SUI DH Michael Walchhofer, AUT GS Daniel Albrecht, SUI SG Hannes Reichelt, AUT

2008DH Aksel Lund Svindal, NORSG Aksel Lund Svindal, NORGS Benjamin Raich, AUT

2009 SC Carlo Janka, SUIDH Carlo Janka, SUIGS Carlo Janka, SUI

2010SG Georg Streitberger, AUTGS Ted Ligety, USA

2011DH Bode Miller, USASG Sandro Viletta, SUIGS Marcel Hirscher, AUTGS Ted Ligety, USA

2012DH Christof Innerhofer, ITA

Previous Birds of Prey winners

SG Matteo Marsaglia, ITAGS Ted Ligety, USASG Lindsey Vonn, USASL Ivica Kostelic, CRO

2013DH Lara Gut, SUISG Lara Gut, SUIGS Jessica Lindell-Vikarby, SWEDH Aksel Lund Svindal, NORSG Patrick Kueng, SUIGS Ted Ligety, USA

2014DH Kjetil Jansrud NORSG Hannes Reichelt AUTGS Ted Ligety, USA

Photo of Bode Miller in 2012 by Jonathan Selkowitz.

1.9

10.05

85

2034’

28,000

1,775

1,700

17

2,500

7

31,000

01:39.59

3.5+

22,500’

2,250’

6,000’

Birds of Prey by the numbers

Miles of A-Net with slip-skirt

Miles of B-Net

Net Towers

Length in feet of the longest A-Net in the

world: Net #1, ‘The Big Kahuna Net’ (and it

could get 500’ longer some day…)

Feet of A-Net Rigging Cable

“Cookies” for net anchoring

Carabineer/Pully set-ups for net suspension

Number of times course has been run as Birds

of Prey

Crowd Control Fence poles for 4 miles of fence

Winch Cats

Annual course maintenance & construction

hours put in by volunteers and professional

staff

DH Course Record: Daron Rahlves, USA

Miles of climbing on A-Net towers to rig all the

A-Nets each year

2” Interduct

4” Interduct

Timing cable

Photo by Greg Johnson.

2015 AUDI BIRDS OF PREY TV SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES MST)

Fri., Dec. 4 – 10:30 a.m. – Men’s downhill – NBCSN – LIVE *Sat., Dec. 5 – 11:00 a.m. – Men’s super G – NBCSN – LIVE *Sun., Dec. 6 – 3:00 p.m. – Men’s giant slalom – NBC