Colorado was a big winner when the International Ski Federation finalized its 2005-06 schedule last weekend, signifying the state’s influence in World Cup ski racing continues to grow.
For the second year in a row, Beaver Creek will host men’s races in all four disciplines, Nov. 29-Dec. 4. Any Olympic medal contender who isn’t injured can be expected to compete on Beaver Creek’s acclaimed Birds of Prey race course.
Aspen will host women’s races in super-G, giant slalom and slalom Dec. 9-11.
Those are the only alpine World Cup dates scheduled in the United States. The only other North American races will take place at Lake Louise, Alberta. That resort in the Canadian Rockies will host the men Nov. 25-27 and the women Dec. 2-4.
The World Cup schedule begins as usual with men’s and women’s giant slalom races on a glacier high above Soelden, Austria, Oct. 22-23. It then goes into hiatus until the Lake Louise races on Thanksgiving weekend.
The Turin Winter Olympics are scheduled Feb. 10-26. Ski racing will take place at Sestriere (about 60 miles from Turin) and nearby San Sicario.
