Come out starting tomorrow to watch some of the best up and coming racers in the world compete on Golden Peak. The FIS alpine NorAm Cup is a gateway to the World Cup, where athletes like Lindsey Vonn, Bode Miller, Ted Ligety and Julia Mancuso challenge the best ski racers from across the globe. A limited quota for each country qualifies athletes to participate in the NorAm Cup races each season. Discipline and overall winners from the winter-long series will earn a coveted World Cup start next year for their efforts.

The NorAm series consists of 28 contests: four downhills, six super-gʼs, eight giant slaloms, eight slaloms, and two super combinedʼs hosted by ski resorts in the United States and Canada. This year the teams kicked off the series in Colorado at Loveland, Aspen and Copper Mt. Then they travelled to Canada where Panorama, British Columbia hosted the next set of races. The athletes return to the U.S. in February to race at Vail. Their final leg for the men goes north to British Columbia and Alberta, Canada to compete at Apex and Nakiska, and the ladies finish up in California at Squaw Valley and Sugar Bowl.

U.S. athletes in 2012 won over half the NorAm titles. As an important step in their journey to the World Cup, World Championships, and Olympics, notable past overall title winners include Thomas Biesemeyer (2011), Leanne Smith and Andrew Weibrecht (2007), Megan McJames (2006) and Jake Zamanski (2006), Stacey Cook (2004), Marco Sullivan (2001) and Jake Fiala (2000). Discipline titles winners include, Ryan Cochran-Seigle of the famed ski racing Cochran family (SG 2011, Overall, DH and SG, 2012), Ski and Snowboard Club Vail members Will Gregorak (GS 2011) and Julia Littman (DH 2006), three-time World Cup GS titlist and Olympic Champion Ted Ligety (Slalom 2004), World and Olympic Champion Julia Mancuso (Slalom 2002, GS 2000), and Olympic Gold Medalist Picabo Street (DH 2001).

Ski and Snowboard Club Vail is proud to host 2 Giant Slaloms and 2 Slaloms on Golden Peak for approximately 140 men and 100 women from Jan. 31-Feb. 5, 2013. Volunteers are still needed. If you are interested in helping please e-mail volunteers@skiclubvail.org. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you at the races.

Race Dates: Jan. 31-Feb. 5, 2013 – All races on Golden Peak in Vail
Thurs. Jan. 31:
Men’s GS

Fri. Feb. 1
Men’s GS

Sat. Feb. 2

Men / Ladies SL

Sun. Feb. 3
Men / Ladies SL

Mon. Feb. 4
Ladies GS

Tues. Feb. 5
Ladies GS

To see the current NorAm standings head over to http://www.fis-ski.com/.

Ski & Snowboard Club Vail athletes to watch:

Abby Ghent
Katharine Irwin
Paula Moltzan
Erika McCormick
Katie Talbot
Devon Clarke
Montana Marzario
Seppi Stiegler
Nick Cohee
Colin Hayes
Alex Leever
Dylan Brooks
Tanner Mottau
Conner McDonald
Sean McCormick
Scott Cooper
Nick Braun

To watch the event, park in the main Vail Parking Structure and take the 3-minute ride on the Town of Vail bus to Golden Peak located on the eastern-most part of Vail Mt.

There is no admission for this event. Come on out to Golden Peak and cheer for some of the U.S Ski Team Members as well as local favorites.