Audi FIS World Cup Skiing returns to U.S. soil for the second year in a row this November 24-26 at Killington Resort in Vermont, and if last year’s event was any indication, the excitement for ski racing in the States is enough to power a 1970s hot rod. With Women’s Giant Slalom and Slalom races set to run this Thanksgiving weekend, American favorite and current overall leader Mikaela Shiffrin will aim to earn precious points toward securing a back-to-back World Cup title.
As top competitors from around the world, including Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova, Switerland’s Wendy Holdener and Germany’s Viktoria Rebensburg, gather in the Green Mountains to bash gates at high speed down the Superstar Trail, Killington’s base village will be buzzing with energy—and, of course, the endless ringing of cowbells. In preparation for the event, Killington resort management and FIS officials go to great lengths to ensure the race course, first and foremost, is in world-class condition, while the spectator experience is also one to remember.
With hundreds of volunteers enrolled to help, tens of thousands of spectators expected, completely free admission, a concert by Dispatch and top-class skiing the 2017 FIS World Cup races at Killington will be a sight to behold. We’ve worked with the team at Killington to crunch the numbers on what it takes to make sure this year’s World Cup event goes off without a hitch.
0 – Fans can attend the World Cup event at no cost by enjoying free access to viewing areas of the World Cup event at the base of the Superstar trail that includes two jumbo screens for viewing of the full race course, as well as free parking and shuttles around Killington Resort.
3 – The number of days World Cup activities and entertainment are held at Killington, beginning on Friday, November 25.
22 – Age of Mikaela Shiffrin, 2016 World Cup slalom winner, who is also the reigning Olympic slalom gold medalist and youngest Olympic slalom champion ever.
Mikaela Shiffrin is the reigning 2016 FIS Women’s World Cup Champion and is a favorite to win multiple events this year at Killington. The Vail-native always draws a big crowd when skiing on her home turf. Photo by David Young.25 – 2016 was the first time in 25 years that an Alpine World cup event was hosted in the eastern US, and because of its success, World Cup ski racing will return to Killington in 2017 and 2018.
60 – The number of acres that can be covered by a foot of fresh snow every 24 hours using Killington’s snowmaking system.
73 – Killington boasts 73 miles of diverse snow sports terrain.
75 – Many World Cup competitors will compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang just 75 days after at Killington.
87.95 – Shiffrin’s 1 minute 27 second gold medal-winning total slalom time at the 2016 World Cup.
93 – Last year, the field of competitors featured 93 of the top alpine ski racers in the world.
For the second year in a row, top skiers from around the world will converge on the Green Mountains. Photo by David Young.155 – Killington offers a total of 155 trails.
200 – More than 200 media personnel from 60 countries covered the World Cup at Killington last year.
201 – The number of days Killington was open for skiing in 2016/17, the longest season in the east.
240 – 240 snow guns will be used during snowmaking for the World Cup.
Race officials and snowmakers will work long hours to ensure both the Slalom and Giant Slalom courses are in world-class condition for the event to be held November 24-26. Photo courtesy of Killington Resort.300 (based on 2016) – Number of volunteers Killington enlisted for the World Cup.
1,200 – The World Cup event will take place on Killington’s Superstar Trail which has a vertical drop of 1,200 feet.
1987 – The year Killington’s Superstar Trail debuted in its current form.
3,050 – The largest vertical drop in New England is at Killington and is 3,050 feet.
3,200 – Competitors will ski down the famed Superstar trail which is 3,200 feet long.
Killington’s Superstar Trail will be focus of everyone’s attention. Photo by David Young.4,241 – Killington Resort has seven mountain peaks, the highest being Killington Peak at 4,241 feet.
7,500 – The free general admission viewing area will accommodate approximately 7,500 spectators.
30,000 – The 2016 World Cup drew an estimated 30,000 spectators to Killington Resort.
720,000 – Gallons of water will be used.
