(This story by Cherise Madigan appeared in the Manchester Journal on Nov. 14, 2017.)
[K]ILLINGTON — For the second year in a row the region will welcome some of the world’s top skiers for the Audi FIS Women’s Ski World Cup, to be held Nov. 24-26 at Killington Ski Resort.
The World Cup, which drew 30,000 spectators over two days in 2016, will once again feature slalom and giant slalom competitions. Throughout the weekend the resort will also be offering a number of free concerts and film screenings, with the band Dispatch headlining a free concert Nov. 25.
“We are thrilled Dispatch will headline our full weekend of World Cup Race festivities,” said Mike Solimano, president and general manager of Killington Resort. “We hope the public comes out to enjoy the concerts, movie premieres, opening parades, fireworks, and our unique dining experiences and autograph signings, in addition to the women’s giant slalom and slalom races.”
Before the 2016 World Cup, also hosted by Killington, an alpine World Cup skiing event had not been held in Vermont since the 1978 competition, held at the nearby Stratton Mountain Resort.
Nearly 90 athletes, representing 20 countries, are slated to race in the slalom and giant slalom competitions, and races will be broadcast to an audience of 2.1 million people in 60 countries.
Killington will allow the general public to watch the competition from free general admission areas, though premium grandstand tickets are also available. The resort says it anticipates approximately 12,000 spectators during the event.
“We are very excited that Vermont will once again be welcoming many of the world’s best skiers and their fans to Killington,” said Vermont Tourism and Marketing Commissioner Wendy Knight. “We can think of no better way to kick off the winter snow sports season in the Green Mountain State than with the Audi FIS Women’s Ski World Cup in Killington.”
Two free concerts will be held during the World Cup as well. Kicking off the weekend is Woodstock’s Troy Ramey, who appeared on season 12 of “The Voice” and will perform Nov. 24.
Dispatch, a band that formed at Middlebury College, will take to the stage Nov. 25 for a free concert at Killington’s K-1 Base area. Dispatch is returning to the road with its first national tour in five years, and the performance at Killington is the band’s only scheduled appearance in Vermont.
Two separate movie premieres will also be hosted a Killington’s Snowshed Base Lodge over the weekend, including new releases from Teton Gravity Research and Warren Miller Entertainment. Proceeds from these showings will benefit the Pico Ski Club and the Killington Ski Club, respectively.
The World Cup Expo Village, located at the K-1 Base Area, will feature more than 40 sponsors, ranging from artisan Vermont craft and food vendors to the latest ski industry hardware and technology companies.
Opening parades Nov. 25 and 26 will feature youth racers marching with their ski clubs carrying participating nations’ flags, culminating in the finish area to kick off the competition each day. The resort expects more than 1,000 youth racers over the weekend, with Vermont ski clubs featured on Saturday and ski clubs from across the Northeast on Sunday.
More information and a full schedule for the weekend are available online.
