Aspen to Host 2017 Alpine World Cup Finals

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06 June 2014

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SAM Magazine—Barcelona, Spain, June 6, 2014—Aspen has been chosen to host the 2017 FIS Alpine World Cup Finals, which include men's and women's competitions in downhill, super G, giant slalom, slalom and nation's team event. The Finals, set for Mar. 15-19, 2017, will be the first to be held outside Europe since 1997, and mark the return of the men's World Cup tour to Aspen for first time since 2001.

Aspen was selected by the FIS Council over Lenzerheide, Switzerland and the mountain nation of Andorra. Aspen has a long history of World Cup ski racing; it hosted the first World Championships held outside of Europe, in 1950.

The Finals will attract a global broadcast audience of tens of millions, with the USSA partnering with NBC to provide extensive coverage of the five-day event including live broadcast and digital streaming.

“The selection of Aspen for World Cup Finals illustrates the confidence the FIS Council has in Aspen as a classic World Cup community. Our team at the USSA has worked closely with Aspen and FIS for several years in preparing an outstanding bid to welcome the world to America,” said FIS Council member Bill Marolt, who is also former president and CEO of USSA.

“To have the World Cup Finals coming to Aspen in 2017 is a long awaited homecoming,” said Aspen Skiing Co. president and CEO Mike Kaplan. “Aspen became an iconic brand in the late 40s by attracting world class athletic and cultural events, beginning with the 1950 FIS Championships in what was then a sleepy little town. … We are incredibly excited to host the world's best athletes in the Roaring Fork Valley in 2017. Thanks to Bill Marolt, [current USSA president] Tiger Shaw, the FIS, and the community for the support, it's going to be a great event.”