The Vail Valley finds out today if it will host the world alpine ski championships in 2015. Vail previously hosted the event in 1989 and 1999. The U.S. has hosted the event three other times: Aspen, 1950; Squaw Valley, Calif., 1960; and Lake Placid, N.Y., 1980.
Vail is competing with St. Moritz, Switzerland, which hosted the event in 2003, and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, scene of the 1956 Winter Olympics.
Bidding resorts made their cases Tuesday at a meeting of the International Ski Federation in Antalya, Turkey. The Vail-Beaver Creek presentation included a videotaped message from Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn.
“I know that all of the World Cup racers on the tour today would absolutely love to come to Vail for the world championships in 2015,” Vonn said. “But the biggest impact will be on the kids. I remember when I was a side-slipper for the 1999 world championships in Vail, how much I was inspired and motivated to become a World Cup ski racer. I truly think this will make a huge impact, and kids will be really inspired.”
The U.S. delegation hopes to convince the FIS it’s North America’s turn to host the event.
“Your decision this week is less about the site you choose and more about the sport you support,” Vail Valley Foundation president Ceil Folz said in her remarks to the FIS Council. “All three sites will do a great job. But by choosing to award the championships to North America, you spread the word to continents that are hungry for that message.”
John Meyer: 303-954-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com
