Fast Women Converge on Aspen for World Cup Super G and Slalom

The prestige and excitement of World Cup ski racing returns to Aspen November 23-25, 2000, with the season’s first women’s speed event during the 2000 Chevy Truck Aspen Winternational. The event will take place on legendary Ajax (Aspen Mountain).

More than 100 of the world’s top-ranked female ski racers representing 24 countries will descend on Aspen over Thanksgiving weekend to compete in super G and slalom races. The women’s super G race is set for Friday, Nov. 24, with the slalom races following on Saturday, Nov. 25.

U.S. standouts include Kristina Koznick, who won the final two World Cup slaloms last season and Aspen’s own Alex Shaffer. America’s 1998 Olympic super G Gold Medalist, Picabo Street, is expected to compete in Aspen, returning to ski racing on the World Cup circuit after a two year absence.

Top-seeded international slalom race standouts include Spela Pretnar (Slovenia), Christel Saioni (France), Anja Paerson (Sweden) and Trine Bakke (Norway). Women to watch in the super G are Renate Gotschl (Austria), Melanie Turgeon (Canada), Isolde Kostner (Italy) and Martina Ertl (Germany).

"The U.S. Ski Team is very excited to have Aspen back on the World Cup calendar in what we hope will be a regular early season position," said Bill Marolt, U.S. Ski

and Snowboard Association President and CEO. "We’ve always maintained that Aspen is a classic World Cup stop, steeped in history and excitement. With the women’s super G this year, it will be the perfect spot for our athletes to shine and a wonderful hometown venue for Aspen’s Alex Shaffer."

The super G race is considered one of the most challenging alpine skiing events, requiring courage, strength and finesse. It combines the speed of a downhill with the technical turns of a giant slalom. Unlike a downhill, competitors are allowed only one run, and once gates are set, their only opportunity to inspect the course is by side slipping, not skiing, the course. The super G course on Ajax starts on Ruthie’s, follows a hair-pin turn into Spring Pitch and spills out into Strawpile.

The slalom race demands a combination of aggressiveness and agility as racers negotiate between 45 and 65 gates on a vertical drop of between 120 and 200 meters. All the racers run the course once. Only the top 30 qualify to return for a second run on a reset course to determine the overall winner. The slalom course starts near the top of Strawpile on Ajax’s west side. Both the super G and slalom courses on Ajax are considered among the most challenging on the World Cup circuit.

"The steep, technical terrain of the intimidating World Cup course on Ajax makes the super G and slalom events two of the most thrilling and impressive internationally televised ski events of the season," says Jimmy Hancock, chief of race. "This is a great prelude to the excitement of the 2002 Winter Olympics."

More than 600 million people worldwide will receive live television race coverage from Aspen. In addition, ESPN will televise the races for two hours nationally.

Beginning Friday, Nov. 24, the Gondola Plaza at the base of Ajax will offer two days of free, fun activities open to the public. There will be a festive winter carnival with autograph signings by the World Cup racers, an après street party, live music and entertainment, sponsor and merchandise expo booths, and more. The prestigious Bingham Cup will be awarded to the winner of that day’s super G race Friday evening, followed by a fireworks extravaganza over Ajax.

Aspen’s international acclaim for World Cup racing dates back to 1950 when it hosted the first-ever World Championships in the United States. Ajax has hosted 18 World Cup races; the last race, in 1998, showcased an Austrian podium sweep with Stephan Eberharter taking first, Hermann "the Hermannator" Maier in second place and Christian Mayer in third.

The Chevy Truck Super Series Women’s super G race will follow on Sunday, Nov. 26. The Super Series is the highest level of international racing in the USA below World Cup.