Vonn to forerun upcoming women’s Beaver Creek downhill

Lindsey Vonn arrives in Paris before the Opening Ceremonies on July 26, 2024. Photo: AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko

After six years the Olympic Champion will mark one more notch in her return to World Cup skiing

BEAVER CREEK, Colo. – After six years of retirement, skiing legend and Park City resident, Lindsey Vonn, is cautiously charting her return to competitive racing. To meet the minimum 80-point requirement to compete in World Cup events, Vonn raced this past weekend in FIS-level races at Copper Mountain, aiming to reduce her points—now over 100 after years away.

She finished 24th and 27th in two downhill races and 24th and 19th in two super-g races, stacked with a strong international field ahead of this weekend’s upcoming World Cup races in Beaver Creek.

While critics noted her times were slower than her prime, Vonn found the experience rewarding. “I haven’t raced in six years, but my skiing level is right there,” she said in an Instagram post, adding that she’s been training with her teammates who are top World Cup skiers and testing equipment.

 

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Her next step is forerunning the World Cup downhill at Beaver Creek, one of the most challenging tracks on the circuit. Although her body has held up well, with no knee pain or swelling, Vonn is proceeding cautiously. “I’m testing it out step by step. When I’m ready, I will enter,” she said.

For Vonn, Beaver Creek will serve as a litmus test, allowing her to assess her readiness for a full return while enjoying the thrill of kicking out of the starting gate on one of the most difficult courses in the world in front of a home crowd.

The full schedule for the Women’s World Cup in Beaver Creek can be found here.