SlopeViews At The 2009 Birds of Prey World Cup Races In Beaver Creek

We are excited to announce our presence at the 2009 Birds of Prey World Cup Races, December 4-6th at Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado. Anyone who pays attention to ski racing or is involved with the ski industry is very familiar with the Birds of Prey World Cup Races. Beaver Creek's Birds of Prey race course was first built in the summer of 1997 in preparation for the 1999 World Alpine Ski Championships. Designed by Olympic Downhill gold medalist Bernhard Russi of Switzerland, the course features a vertical drop of 757 meters and contains an average gradient of 27 percent, increasing to 45 percent in the middle of the course and again in the final third. The course is widely recognized as one of the top three race courses in the world, and is the only venue in the United States to hold a men's World Cup Event. It is the fourth stop of the men's Audi FIS World Cup tour and one of alpine racing's marquee events of the season. With the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver this winter, the Birds of Prey provides the best opportunity for U.S. fans to see the U.S. Ski Team and the world's top racers before the February 12th Opening Ceremonies, making this year's Birds of Prey World Cup Races even more exciting. Adding to this excitement is the fact that Beaver Creek and Vail are the official U.S Candidate Applicants for the FIS World Alpine Ski Championships in 2015, which will be announced on June 3rd, 2010. With the help and leadership of the nonprofit Vail Valley Foundation, which is responsible for enhancing and sustaining the spirit of the Vail Valley through its educational, athletic, and cultural endeavors, the Birds of Prey World Cup Races is an annual treasured event. In addition to the Vail Valley Foundation, 300+ dedicated volunteers, known as the Talon Crew, work extremely hard to prepare the course and get it in top shape for the world-wide audience. The Talon Crew is recognized around the world as one of the most proficient, capable, and willing race course crews in the ski racing community. The Vail Valley is proud to be home to such an enthusiastic ski culture and the Talon Crew reflects this. We hope that by showing all the excitement, energy and revelry surrounding the Birds of Prey World Cup Races, in addition to the preparation and hard work that goes into making the Birds of Prey happen, we can do our part in helping secure the 2015 FIS World Alpine Ski Championships for the Vail Valley.