Lindsey Vonn and the U.S. Women’s speed team started off the New Year in the fast lane with Giant Slalom and Super-G training on Raptor, courtesy of Beaver Creek Resort and the 2015 World Championships Organizing Committee. The four-day camp marked the first runs that Vonn and teammate Alice McKennis have taken on the Raptor World Championships speed course.
“Every part of this course is hard,” offered Vonn following the first day of Super-G training. “You can win or lose the race on any gate. It’s in your face the entire way down and it’s going to be a very, very challenging World Championships.”
In addition to Vonn and McKennis, the Beaver Creek camp included Julia Mancuso, Stacey Cook, Laurenne Ross, Leanne Smith, Katie Ryan and Jackie Wiles.
Also training in the Vail Valley was American star Bode Miller, who is attempting to return to form for the 2015 Championships following back surgery in mid-November. Miller is still uncertain of his status for the Vail/Beaver Creek Championships.
“If I don’t race Wengen or Kitzbuhel, or at least do the training runs and feel that I got myself up to speed and was able to test things a little bit, I’m not sure that I would want to take a World Championships spot from a guy, even if they would put me in.”