Birds of Prey passes snow control

FIS Race Director Helmuth Schmalzl has decreed that Beaver Creek is prepared for its scheduled World Cup races Nov. 20 through Dec. 2 and given the go-ahead for the Birds of Prey weekend.

“Our partners at Vail Resorts have certainly made the most of the temperatures and the real stuff that Mother Nature has provided,” said Michael Imhof, Vice President of Sales and Operations for the Vail Valley Foundation.  “Thanks to favorable snowmaking conditions and the natural snow we have received, everything is on track for a great weekend of racing at the Audi FIS Birds of Prey.”

Beaver Creek Mountain received close to a foot of new snow in the past week, and is scheduled to open to the public on Wednesday, November 21.

“The forecast calls for above freezing temperatures during the day,” explained Chief of Race Greg Johnson, “with good temperatures and low humidity and generally clear skies at night to complete the race venue.  I feel with this forecast, we are in good position for the events.”

The FIS requires a Snow Control inspection for all World Cup sites in advance of the competitions to ensure that good racecourse conditions exist or that the weather forecast is favorable for sufficient snowmaking.

The 2012 Audi FIS Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week gets underway Tuesday, Nov. 27, with Downhill training.  Competition kicks off Friday, Nov. 30, with the traditional Birds of Prey Downhill, followed by Super-G on Saturday, Dec. 1.  The weekend’s racing will conclude with Giant Slalom on Sunday, Dec. 2.