In
1950, thanks
to the efforts of Dick Durrance and a group of ski racing advocates,
Aspen hosted its first important international race — the Federation
Internationale de Ski (FIS) World Alpine
Championships, which drew top ski racers in every
discipline.
In
1967, the
World Cup circuit was born, thanks to former U.S. Ski Team coach and
Aspen resident Bob Beattie, French coach Honoré Bonnet, and
Swiss journalist Serge Lang, the influential columnist for
L’Équipe newspaper. World Cup, a season-long
series of races, provided the means of bringing consistent
international ski racing to the U.S., and determining the best skiers
in the world.
Aspen
hosted its first World Cup in 1968,
attracting considerable attention and prestige. Winternational became
the week-long pageant in which World Cup’s “White
Carnival” is celebrated by the Aspen community.
Seventeen World Cup events have been held in
Aspen in 1968, 1976, 1981-1989, 1991-1995 and most recently in 1998.
World Cup ski racing in Aspen
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