Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostMikaela Shiffrin holds the crystal globe trophy for the overall World Cup, right, and the smaller crystal globe for the World Cup slalom title, left, at the bottom of Aspen Mountain after the 2017 Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals at Aspen Mountain on March 19, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostMikaela Shiffrin of the United States skis her first run of the Ladies' giant slalom during the 2017 Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals at Aspen Mountain on March 19, 2017 in Aspen.
Mikaela Shiffrin, USA, holds up the crystal globe trophy as she celebrates her World Cup slalom championship on Aspen Mountain on March 18, 2017 in Aspen. Shiffrin, took second in the race but the overall World Cup slalom title.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostPetra Vlhova, SVK, screams in jubilation after winning the women's World Cup Slalom race on Aspen Mountain on March 18, 2017 in Aspen. Mikaela Shiffrin, USA, right, took second and Frida Hansdotter, SWE, left took third
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostMikaela Shiffrin, USA, makes her first run on the women's World Cup Slalom race on Aspen Mountain on March 18, 2017 in Aspen. Shiffrin came in second to Petra Vlhova, SVK, in the race but took the overall Slalom World Cup champion title.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostFans cheer at the World Cup Slalom race on Aspen Mountain on March 18, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostMikaela Shiffrin, USA, walks onto the podium to celebrate her World Cup slalom championship on Aspen Mountain on March 18, 2017 in Aspen. Shiffrin, took second in the race but the overall World Cup slalom title.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostPetra Vlhova, SVK, makes her way down the World Cup slalom course on the first run during the World Cup Slalom race on Aspen Mountain on March 18, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostPetra Vlhova, SVK, throws her poles in jubilation after winning the women's World Cup Slalom race on Aspen Mountain on March 18, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostFans cheer for local favorite Mikaela Shiffrin at the World Cup Slalom race on Aspen Mountain on March 18, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostMikaela Shiffrin, middle, holds the World Cup crystal globe trophy after winning the slalom race on Aspen Mountain on March 18, 2017 in Aspen. Veronika Velez Susulova, of Slovakia, left, took second and Wendy Holdner, of Switzerland, right, took third.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostPetra Vlhova, SVK, cries and waves to the crowd on the podium after winning the women's World Cup Slalom race on Aspen Mountain on March 18, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSkiers, course officials and athletes make their way up the chairlift before the sunrises in preparation for the World Cup Slalom race on Aspen Mountain on March 18, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSlovenia's Ilka Stuhec celebrates after her run at the Women's Downhill World Cup race on Aspen Mountain on March 15, 2017 in Aspen. Stuhec won the overall Women's downhill World Cup.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostUnited States' Lindsey Vonn falls at the end of the Women's downhill and slides into a barrier after finishing the women's World Cup downhill race at World Cup race on Aspen Mountain on March 15, 2017 in Aspen. Vonn placed second in the race.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostLindsey Vonn, USA, waves to the crowd after her second place finish at the women's World Cup downhill ski race on Aspen Mountain on March 15, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostFans wave Colorado and American flags in the grandstands during the men's and women's Downhill World Cup races on Aspen Mountain on March 15, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSecond place finisher Lindsey Vonn, USA, left, first place finisher Ilka Stuhec, SLO and third place finisher Sofia Goggia, ITA celebrate their wins at the Women's Downhill World Cup race on Aspen Mountain on March 15, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostPeter Fill, of Italy, celebrates winning the Mens Downhill World Cup as he screams and holds up the World Cup Crystal Globe on Aspen Mountain on March 15, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostFirst place overall men's world cup downhill champion Italy's Peter Fill, center, celebrates with second place overall finisher Norway's Kjetil Jansrud, left, and third place overall finisher Italy's Dominik Paris on the podium after the men's World Cup downhill ski race race on Aspen Mountain on March 15, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostStephanie Venier, of Austria, flies over Zig Zaugg jump on the women's downhill course during a training run a day before the start of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals on March 14, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostA racer checks out the conditions of the snow and the course during pre-inspection of the downhill course on Aspen Mountain for training runs for the downhill race of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals on March 14, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostDan Kendryna, left, and Will Hirschfeld, right, get ready to throw down large black netting to cover the back of the World Cup Finals grand stands at the base of Aspen Mountain on March 14, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostBeau Harris, with Alchemy Production Company, hangs lights on a stage in World Cup Village in Wagner Park, where crews are in the process of getting the park prepared to open for the World Cup Finals festivities on March 14, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostCourse workers ski beneath a setting moon as they head out to slip the downhill course on Aspen Mountain for training runs for the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals on March 14, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostIlka Stuhec, of Slovenia, flies over Zig Zaugg jump on the women's downhill course during a training run a day before the start of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals on March 14, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostErik Guay of Canada makes his way down on a training run of the men's downhill course during a training run a day before the start of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals on March 14, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostStacey Cook, USA, picks up speed as she flies over Zig Zaugg jump on the women's downhill course during a training run a day before the start of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals on March 14, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostEric Doheny, left, and Jan Estes, right, with Aspen Skiing Company, get prepared to hang specialized street signs in World Cup Village in Wagner Park, where crews are in the process of getting the park prepared to open for the World Cup Finals festivities starting tomorrow on March 14, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostJames Austin V, with Clif Bar, tests out some hammocks the company offered to people to relax in, on March 14, 2017, at World Cup Village in Wagner Park in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostGriffin Hartley, 10, sits in an oversized chair as he waits for his father to finish helping crews who are in the process of getting the park prepared to open for the World Cup Finals festivities starting tomorrow on March 14, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostCourse workers check out the setting moon over Aspen Highlands before heading out to the downhill course on Aspen Mountain for training runs for the downhill Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals on March 14, 2017 in Aspen.
ASPEN, CO - MARCH 16: Alexsander Aamodt Kilde, NOR, makes his way down the men's World Cup Super G course on Aspen Mountain on March 16, 2017 in Aspen, Colorado. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
ASPEN, CO - MARCH 16: Hannes Reichelt, AUT, makes his way down the men's World Cup Super G course on Aspen Mountain on March 16, 2017 in Aspen, Colorado. Reichelt won the Super G. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
ASPEN, CO - MARCH 16: Vincent Kriechmayr, AUT, makes his way down the men's World Cup Super G course on Aspen Mountain on March 16, 2017 in Aspen, Colorado. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
ASPEN, CO - MARCH 16: Nils Alphand, FRA, makes his way down the men's World Cup Super G course on Aspen Mountain on March 16, 2017 in Aspen, Colorado. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
ASPEN, CO - MARCH 16: Lindsey Vonn, USA, looks dejected as she skis down the course of the women's World Cup Super G race after falling midway through the race on Aspen Mountain on March 16, 2017 in Aspen, Colorado. She did not finish the race. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
ASPEN, CO - MARCH 16: Travis Ganong, USA, makes his way down the men's World Cup Super G course on Aspen Mountain on March 16, 2017 in Aspen, Colorado. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostFans gather on the hillside and watch from the chairlift as they cheer on skiers taking part in the World Cup Slalom race on Aspen Mountain on March 18, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostFans gather on the hillside to watch as Zan Kranjec, of Slovenia, makes his way down the second run of the men's World Cup giant slalom race on Aspen Mountain on March 18, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostMarcel Hirscher, of Austria, makes the first run of the World Cup men's slalom race during the 2017 Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals at Aspen Mountain on March 19, 2017 in Aspen. Hirscher took 4th in the race but was the overall World Cup champion.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostFederica Brignone, #4, middle, from Italy, celebrates her victory in the World Cup ladies giant slalom along with her teammates Sofia Goggia, #5, left, who came in second and Marta Bassino, #2, right, who came in third for an Italian sweep of the race during the 2017 Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals at Aspen Mountain on March 19, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostWorld Cup overall champion Mikaela Shiffrin, second from right in the back, holding her two crystal globe trophies, stands with her Team USA at the base of Aspen Mountain after the World Cup the 2017 Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals at Aspen Mountain on March 19, 2017 in Aspen. The team is: bottom left to right: Mike Day, Eileen Shiffrin, and Megan Harrod. Back left to right Magnus Andersson, Lyndsay Young-Smith, Kilian Albrecht, Karin Harjo, Paul Kristofic, Mikaela and her dad Jeff, right. Shiffrin won the overall World Cup crystal globe trophy and the World Cup slalom title. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostOverall World Cup champion Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States, right, celebrates her win with overall World Cup champion Marcel Hirscher, left, of Austria, on the podium during the awards ceremony after the 2017 Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals at Aspen Mountain on March 19, 2017 in Aspen.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
1 of 44
Mikaela Shiffrin holds the crystal globe trophy for the overall World Cup, right, and the smaller crystal globe for the World Cup slalom title, left, at the bottom of Aspen Mountain after the 2017 Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals at Aspen Mountain on March 19, 2017 in Aspen.
Expand
By Helen H. Richardson | hrichardson@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
The greats of ski racing have competed on Aspen Mountain for 70 years. With Mikaela Shiffrin , the EagleVail phenom will be performing on slopes that have held a special place in the sport since the 1950 world championships gave the fledgling resort international exposure only three years after the first chairlift opened. But the history of the former silver mining town and ski racing have been intertwined even longer, going back to the first race on Aspen Mountain in 1937.
