Final World Cup before PyeongChang

UPDATED 2-2-18: Due to weather conditions Friday, downhill training for the women's FIS Ski Alpine World Cup was canceled. The NEW program for Saturday is a morning downhill training run, followed by a one-run downhill from the super-G start. Thursday’s training run was also canceled due to snow and rain.

Downhill Training, Saturday, 03.02.2018 4:00 a.m. EST
Downhill 1-run, Saturday, 03.02.2018, 6:30 a.m. EST
Downhill, Sunday, 04.02.2018, 6:30 a.m. EST

While the men’s teams travel to PyeongChang, South Korea the women’s speed team has some unfinished business on the FIS Ski World Cup circuit in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany this weekend in the form of an exciting sprint downhill format on Saturday, followed by a classic downhill on Sunday.

Lindsey Vonn (Vail, Colo.) is coming off a double-podium weekend of downhill racing in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy two weeks ago, along with a solid performance in Lenzerheide, Switzerland last weekend, where she found her stride and speed in the super-G portion of the alpine combined. Last year in what was just her second race back since returning from the most painful injury of her career, Vonn grabbed her 77th career victory in the downhill on the Kandahar track.

Vonn has a long history with Garmisch, having podiumed 10 times and won seven times. She spent a lot of time in Garmisch throughout the years with best friend and former German skier/rival Maria Hoefl-Riesch, having dinner at her home and celebrating the holidays.

Fans can get excited about the new sprint downhill format FIS is introducing – which will include two shortened runs of downhill. This format requires a different approach, which could favor skiers who have technical experience and the mindset to compete in two runs, versus the one-run format. Vonn emerged victorious in the last sprint downhill, which was in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria in January of 2016. Stacey Cook (Mammoth Lakes, CA) finished eighth.

Keep an eye out for Jackie Wiles (Aurora, Ore.), who just snagged her second FIS Ski World Cup podium in Cortina d’Ampezzo, when she finished third, sharing the podium with teammate Vonn. Also watch for Laurenne Ross (Bend, Ore.), who has been making steady progress in this comeback season on the road to PyeongChang. The women’s speed team is deep, fast and furious.

The women’s speed team carried the torch passed on from the men’s speed team, continuing the tradition with a much-needed taste of home at their annual visit to the Garmisch military base. The crowd was huge and the women were stoked to sign autographs for young fans and hang with their families at the base. Vonn’s dog Lucy even came out to hang. The women also plan to watch the Philadelphia Eagles vs. the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII on Sunday at the military base before heading to PyeongChang to represent Team USA on the big stage.

See who to watch and where to catch all the action below.

WOMEN’S STARTERS

• Stacey Cook
• Breezy Johnson
• Alice McKennis
• Alice Merryweather
• Laurenne Ross
• Lindsey Vonn
• Jackie Wiles

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST

Saturday, Feb. 3
4:30 a.m. – Women’s downhill training run; Garmisch – Olympic Channel TV (LIVE)
6:30 a.m. – Women’s downhill, 1 run; Garmisch – Olympic Channel TV (LIVE)
10:30 p.m. – Women’s downhill, 1 run; Garmisch - NBCSN (same day delay)

Sunday, Feb. 4
6:30 a.m. – Women’s downhill; Garmisch – Olympic Channel TV (LIVE)
4:00 p.m. – Women’s downhill; Garmisch – NBCSN (same day delay)