Aspen May Host World Cup Skiing Schedule to be Announced May 22 Wednesday, May 6, 1998 Aspen The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) today announced the U.S. Ski Team will formally submit Aspen as a host site for two World Cup races at the FIS (International Ski Federation) Congress in Prague, Czech Republic later this month. The announcement was made in Aspen by Bill Marolt, USSA president and CEO. The final World Cup schedule is expected to be announced in Prague on Friday, May 22. "Bringing Aspen back onto the World Cup schedule gives me a special feeling of satisfaction," said Marolt, an Aspen native who grew up racing on Aspen Mountain before making the 1964 Olympic Team. "Aspen has a great mountain and there's a great racing tradition in the town and the region. World Cup ski racing belongs here in this community." "I'm especially excited about the continuing partnership we have with Aspen Skiing Company and this community to bring the World Cup back," Marolt said. "Bringing Aspen back onto the World Cup schedule gives me a special feeling of satisfaction..." — Bill Marolt, USSA president and CEO "This is a win-win-win for Aspen Skiing Company and the community," said Aspen Skiing Company President and CEO Pat O'Donnell. "Not only does World Cup provide extensive international exposure for Aspen, but this race will help drive early-season business. And, with several world-level skiing competitions scheduled in the United States over the next few years, the timing is also ideal," he added. USSA will request a men's slalom and super-g to be held on November 27-28, 1998. Slalom training runs will be held Thursday, Nov. 26, with Sunday reserved as a weather date. The Aspen race will be the opening super G of the season. World Cup events typically attract more than 20 million television viewers internationally, the USSA reported. The races will be held on the Ruthie's/Aztec area of Aspen Mountain, where Aspen World Cup races have traditionally been held. Historically, the Aspen course is widely considered to be one of the most challenging on the tour, due to its pitch and terrain changes. Aspen Skiing Company, the USSA reported, will invest $800,000 in new snowmaking equipment to guarantee early season conditions. In 1950, Aspen hosted the first FIS World Alpine Ski Championships held in the United States. Aspen is one of the oldest World Cup sites in the country; the first Aspen Roch World Cup was held in 1968, just a year after the series began. The 1998 World Cup races will mark the 47th awarding of the Roch Cup. The Hermannator Austrian Hermann "The Hermannator" Maier, international speed-event star and the 1998 overall World Cup champion, is expected to compete at Aspen, as is top U.S. Ski Team super G racer Daron Rahlves. "If we hope to be competitive internationally, we must expose our young racers to the very best race courses and the very best ski racers," Marolt said. Aspen is one of three U.S. sites being proposed by USSA. Park City, Utah is expected to be the host for Nov. 19-22 men's and women's giant slalom and slalom, while Mammoth Mountain, California is scheduled for a Dec. 5-6 women's super G and slalom, the USSA reported. The World Championships are set for Vail and Beaver Creek, Colorado, Jan. 31-Feb. 14.

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