Will the US Rule the Birds of Prey?
Beaver Creek, a ski resort comprising three villages near Avon, Colorado, is a regular host of the Alpine Skiing World Cup events every December. It's also the venue of the 1989 and 1999 Alpine Skiing World Championship. This ski resort will host the event from February 2-15.
The US is the favorite to dominate the biennial championships, and they have never been in a better position before. At the 2013 World Championship in Schladming, Austria, Ted Ligety became the first skier to win three gold medals. Mikaela Shiffrin won her first world title in the women's slalom. Lindsey Vonn achieved a rare milestone in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy two weeks, winning the downhill and super-G races. She became the female skier with the most World Cup wins. If that wasn't enough, she finished first in the super-G in St. Moritz, Switzerland last weekend. There seems to be little doubt about her chances of winning a gold medal or two.
The US versus the best of Europe
Ligety, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, must have a good feeling of defending his titles. He won the giant slalom race in Birds of Prey, where the world championship will be held. It's his specialty, having won the Olympic gold medal at Sochi last year. But he will face a stiff competition from Marcel Hirscher. The Austrian is the current leader in the overall World Cup standing. He won the last three giant slalom races.
Kjetil Jansrud is another skier to watch out. The Norwegian won the gold medal in the super-G event in Sochi. He's second behind Hirscher in the overall, but he's leading the downhill and super-G standings. A rivalry between the two skiers is already seen by many, but Ligety may surprise home fans. Bode Miller, another decorated American skier, is expected to compete in the event. It will be his first this season after undergoing back surgery.
On the women's side, Vonn and Shiffrin can win three of the five gold medals at stake. The latter is heavily favored to defend the slalom event, which is her specialty. Vonn is at ease after surprassing Annemarie Moser-Pröll's record in Italy. She won the downhill and super-G events during the 2009 world championship in Val-d'Isère, France. Injury prevented her from racing in Schladming two years ago. Slovenia's Tina Maze will likely be her biggest competitor. The native of Slovenj Gradec is leading the overall standing in the World Cup. She's also the gold medal winner in downhill and giant slalom in Sochi. Both Maze and Vonn love the challenge - and pressure - in big events. Austria's Anna Fenninger, who won the overall title last year, is not to be discounted. She has a respectable season so far, winning one race and finishing second in five more.
Barring any surprises, expect the favorites to dominate the Birds of Prey.
