This weekend marks the 2017-18 FIS World Cup slalom kickoff in Levi, Finland for both the men and the women. Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, Colo.) will go for her third win on Lapland soil—and therefore her third reindeer to join the herd along with Rudolph (2013) and Sven (2016). Listen to Shiffrin's thoughts ahead of Saturday's race.

The Northern Lights have been bright up in northern Finland, giving World Cup athletes quite the show as they head into what will, no doubt, be an action-packed weekend. Though the temps have been a bit on the warmer side, the piste is hard and the word on the street is the snow is "perfect." On the men's side, David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, Colo.) will look to make moves in an incredibly deep men's slalom field. Chodounsky snagged one of his best finishes on the World Cup in Levi in 2014, with a fifth place.

U.S. Ski Team alumni Steve Porino and Will Brandenburg will call the race for this weekend's broadcasts. See who to watch and where to catch all of the action.

WOMEN’S STARTERS
Megan McJames
Mikaela Shiffrin
Resi Stiegler 

MEN’S STARTERS
Michael Ankeny
Dave Chodounsky
Mark Engel
AJ Ginnis
Robby Kelley
Hig Roberts

HOW TO WATCH (times ET)
Saturday, Nov. 11
4:00am – women’s first run – streamed LIVE on the Olympic Channel app // olympicchannel.com
7:00am – women’s second run – LIVE on NBCSN // NBC Sports app // nbcsports.com

9:00am – women's slalom (encore) – Olympic Channel

Sunday, Nov. 12
4:00am – men’s first run – streamed LIVE on the Olympic Channel app // olympicchannel.com
7:00am – men’s second run – LIVE on the Olympic Channel // Olympic Channel app // olympicchannel.com

The temperatures are dropping, snow guns are revving their engines and it’s almost time for the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center at Copper Mountain to open its doors to the best alpine ski racers in the country. Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin and Ted Ligety are among the Olympic champions, World Cup winners and World Champions that plan to descend on the amazing facilities Copper Mountain provides.

November 17 marks 83 days left until the 2018 Olympics kicks off in PyeongChang, so we’re opening the doors to 83 people to come to a private meet-and-greet with the U.S. Ski Team athletes training at Copper. We’ll provide the bibs and posters to be signed.

To enter:

1. Like @usskiteam and @coppermtn on Instagram (we’ll be checking!)
2. Like this photo
3. Tag two friends in the comments

We’ll pick the winners and see you at Copper Mountain!

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IN ORDER TO ENTER THIS CONTEST YOU MUST AGREE TO ALL THE RULES, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS LISTED BELOW:

1. No Purchase Necessary To Enter Or Win. A Purchase Will Not Increase Your Chances Of Winning.

To Enter: Like the U.S. Ski Team and Copper Mountain’s Instagram pages and submit a comment tagging two other Instagram accounts. 1. The sweepstakes is open between Nov. 6 and Nov. 15. Limit one entry per person. 2. Drawings: 83 winners will be selected in random drawings from among all eligible entries received, by the U.S. Ski Team and Copper Mountain, whose decisions in all matters relating to this sweepstakes are final. Winners will be notified via both public and private message, and instructed on how to receive their prize. Should winner not comply with instructions in a timely manner, alternate winners may be selected. Odds of winning are dependent upon the total number of eligible entries received. 3. Prizes: Entrance into a private autograph signing session with U.S. Ski Team athletes. Prizes may not be transferred or redeemed for cash. No substitution for prizes. Each winner is solely responsible for all applicable Federal, State, and local taxes on the value of his/her prize. 4. Eligibility: the sweepstakes is open to all entrants. If under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must be present at venue. Must provide own transportation to specified venue. Void where prohibited by law or regulation. Not open to employees and their families of U.S. Ski & Snowboard and Copper Mountain, their subsidiaries, affiliates, participating retailers, prize suppliers, advertising and production agencies. All Federal, State, and local laws and regulations apply. 5. Limitation of Liability: sponsor and judging organization are not responsible for typographical errors in any sweepstakes-related materials; for technical, hardware, software, or telephone failures of any kind; or for lost or unavailable network connections or failed, incomplete, garbled, or delayed computer transmissions that may limit or interfere with a participant’s ability to take part in the sweepstakes. Entrants agree that the Sponsor, its promotional partners, related companies, agencies, respective employees or officers shall not be liable for losses, injury, death, damages or costs of any kind resulting from participation in this sweepstakes or acceptance of or use or misuse of a prize or parts thereof. By entering, participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules. 6. Disclaimer of Correspondence: we value your privacy. We do not sell or provide any of the information you provide us to unaffiliated companies, marketers, magazines or any other unaffiliated third parties. By officially entering you consent to be contacted by U.S. Ski & Snowboard and Copper Mountain and/or our affiliates to include (but not limited to) the prize providers.
 
If you do not wish to accept these Terms & Conditions do not enter the contest. Your data will not be saved.

NEW YORK (Nov. 3, 2017) - A tense energy wafted across the starlit ballroom in New York City’s Ziegfeld Theater Thursday. A day earlier, the Times Square countdown clock ticked down to just 100 days until the opening ceremony of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang. As almost three dozen U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes gathered for the New York Gold Medal Gala, one theme was omnipresent: It was go time.

For an organization that goes up against heavily national-funded teams every weekend, the 51st annual New York soirée is a vital fundraising tool as well as an opportunity for athletes to exchange their snow boots for dress shoes and high heels to hang out with over 650 passionate fans. The gala raised well over $1 million net to support American athletes - the biggest night of its kind in Olympic sport. Next door in a unique ice bar at a local hotel, nearly a hundred more U.S. Ski & Snowboard ambassadors raised a toast to the team on its road to PyeongChang.

Athletes gather in front of the crowd. (Getty Images) 

Guests arrived at the midtown venue to the tune of pleasant chords from the strings of a Korean gayageum. TV crews scrambled for the arrival of stars like Lindsey Vonn, Gus Kenworthy and Ashley Caldwell. There were over a dozen Olympic medals in the house - including seven gold - plus countless world champions. The thunder of ceremonial Korean drums brought everyone's eyes to the stage as emcee and Olympic champion Jonny Moseley took to the stage.

"Do you notice a heightened level of intensity here tonight?" said Moseley. "I can tell you, the athletes feel it now - just 99 days from the biggest event of their lives. And all of you - our fans - you're paying closer attention right now, aren't you?"
 

Jonny Moseley MCs the event. (Getty Images)

U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Tiger Shaw - himself a two-time Olympian - recognized that, as well. "What's on everyone's mind right now is how to make that Olympic team," said Shaw. "It will be tough. That's what this year is about."

Shaw also paid tribute to young Mikey Lillis - just 17 - who passed away in his sleep two weeks earlier. Lillis' older brothers - world champion Jon and World Cup winner Chris - were there as well as their mom Jamie. It was a poignant moment for a tight-knit family. "We really have something to ski for this year," said the boys.

Alex Deibold thanks the crowd. (Getty Images)

The gala capped a week of Olympic celebrations from team uniform unveilings by The North Face and Burton to a day of fun for fans meeting athletes in Times Square, along with snowboardcross Olympic bronze medalist Alex Deibold ringing the closing bell alongside team supporters at Nasdaq while action videos played on skyscraper-sized big screens outside in Times Square.

“I feel really lucky to be here,” said Deibold addressing the crowd at Ziegfeld. “I remember coming here for the first time in 2013 and what a thrill it was. I’ve appreciated the support that I’ve had from you.”

Lindsey Vonn echoed the feeling. “We can’t do what we do without your support,” said the two-time Olympic medalist. “This is what you do, New York, and we appreciate it.”

Lindsey Vonn smiles for the cameras. (U.S. Ski & Snowboard)

Strobe lights flashed and videographers jostled for position as media looked to grab that insightful quote that would foreshadow what was to come this February in PyeongChang. Supporters clamored for a photo with the ski and snowboard stars.

Auctioneer John Curley revved up the crowd. Skiing with Tommy Moe at Tordrillo Mountain Lodge in Alaska - bam, $30k. Making turns with Jonny Moseley at Squaw Valley - bam, bam, $22k. A weekend at Julia Mancuso's place on Maui - bam, $12k.

The the real meaning of the evening is the impact New York brings to the fledgling careers of athletes with stars in their eyes. No one said it better than world moguls champion and NFL star Jeremy Bloom. The Colorado native told the story of being inspired when, as a young boy, he watched the Olympic debut of moguls skiing in 1992.

Jeremy Bloom speaks to the crowd. (Getty Images)

"Seeing Edgar Grospiron win gold on TV that day changed my life," said Bloom. "I told my parents that night, 'this is what I want to do.' They said, 'put your mind to it and you can do anything.'"

Bloom had the audience spellbound as he recounted the day he was in the football locker room at the University of Colorado when he got a call from his moguls coach. The team had found some funding for him to go to Chile. It was his one-shot chance to get a result that would eventually lead him to making the U.S. Olympic Team. At his football coach's encouragement, he took a break from CU and went to Chile. At camp he skied 30-50 runs every day - first up and last off the hill. He got that result and later made the Olympic team. And he capped his career with a world championship.

"If it wasn't for what the U.S. Ski Team did for me," said Bloom, now a highly successful businessman, "this little C teamer wouldn't be standing in front of you today. It changed my life."

In 95 days, around 100 U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes will walk into PyeongChang Olympic Stadium with big eyes, broad smiles and Olympic dreams. For many, that night at the New York Gold Medal Gala will resonate in their mind and push them further to achieve their dreams. 

SOELDEN, Austria (Oct. 29, 2017) - A fruitful two weeks of solid training on the Rettenbach Glacier ended in disappointment Sunday, as wind and snow swept through Soelden forcing International Ski Federation officials to cancel the men's giant slalom. The cancellation delayed Olympic champion Ted Ligety's return to action.

Teams had been aware of the potential storm from weather forecasts that had been predicting high winds and snow. The race jury was on the glacier in the pre-dawn hours, making the final decision just prior to 7:00 a.m. local time - three hours before the scheduled start. Athletes were in their hotels down in the valley, preparing to head up to the race, when they received the news - frustrated at losing to mother nature.

"We feel sorry for the organizers in Soelden who put so much energy into producing the race today," said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Alpine Director Patrick Riml. "It was the only decision to protect the safety of both athletes and the spectators. We had two weeks of excellent training on the glacier and a great yesterday for the women (Mikaela Shiffrin was fifth). We appreciate the opportunity to come here to Soelden."

American Ted Ligety was prepared and ready for his first start since having back surgery last January. He had been training on the glacier since last week. Ligety is expected to compete in the super G at Lake Louise, Alberta in a month and will be showcased in the giant slalom at Beaver Creek, Colo. when the World Cup tour rolls into Colorado in early December.

SOELDEN, Austria (Oct. 28, 2017) – Kicking off the Olympic season and 2017-18 FIS World Cup, Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, Colo.) took fifth place at the annual giant slalom in Soelden, Austria.

Steep and relentless, the GS track was set tight and turny on the Rettenbach Glacier. Shiffrin sat in second place after first run and put it all on the line for second run. But a bobble on the pitch set her back and she couldn’t make up the time—dropping to fifth place.

"The biggest competition I have right now is with myself," said Shiffrin after the race. "I feel really good with where my GS is right now. I’m disappointed because I didn’t make turns today like I know I can. I’m now looking forward to the next GS in Killington—that’s really a cool hill and it will be great to be racing again in the USA."

Shiffrin skis to fifth place. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Alexis Boichard)

Viktoria Rebensburg of Germany took the win in Soelden, with last year’s giant slalom crystal globe winner Tessa Worley of France just .14 seconds behind her in second. Manuela Moelgg of Italy was third.

Also skiing the Soelden giant slalom was Lindsey Vonn (Vail, Colo.), racing in Soelden for the first time since 2012. A speed skier by trade—it had been 637 days since her last giant slalom race—she was happy to have her first start of the season. “It was nice to get a start in," said Vonn, who did not qualify for second run. "I’m always really nervous in the first race. It was good to get that out of the way and now I’m ready for Lake Louise."

Foreste Peterson (Squaw Valley, Calif.)—who was racing her first World Cup—and Megan McJames (Park City, Utah) also did not qualify for the second run.

The World Cup weekend will finish Sunday with Ted Ligety (Park City, Utah) making his comeback after back surgery in January. He’s won in Soelden four times and has podiumed seven times. See how to watch the race here.

RESULTS
Women’s giant slalom