Seven months after a partial knee replacement and five and a half years since , 40-year-old Lindsey Vonn will return to ski racing.

Recently, the ski legend鈥檚 has been filled with hints: reels of her training in New Zealand and S枚lden, Austria, accompanied by captions like, 鈥淟oving the process, no matter where it leads,鈥� and 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know exactly what lies ahead, but I know I鈥檓 healthy, happy and grateful.鈥�

On Thursday, November 14, Vonn posted, 鈥淲ell, it鈥檚 off to Colorado鈥�. I hope the @usskiteam uniform still fits鈥︹��

The Stifel U.S. Ski Team confirmed Thursday that Vonn will rejoin the team currently training at Copper Mountain, Colo.

鈥淕etting back to skiing without pain has been an incredible journey,鈥� Vonn said in the press release. 鈥淚 am looking forward to being back with the Stifel U.S. Ski Team and to continue to share my knowledge of the sport with these incredible women.鈥�

Before her family moved to Vail, Colo., Vonn grew up skiing at Buck Hill, Minn., to support her ski racing dreams. She made her World Cup debut at 16, eventually tallying 82 World Cup victories and three Olympic and eight World Championship medals. Despite competing with a torn LCL and meniscus in her left knee, she concluded her career with a downhill bronze at the 2019 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Are, Sweden. Her April knee replacement has allowed her to ski pain-free for the first time in years.

鈥淚鈥檓 excited about the future because I鈥檓 finally not in pain all the time,鈥� Vonn said in September before being inducted into the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame. 鈥淚鈥檒l probably need another partial on the other side or a full replacement, but it鈥檚 changed my life completely.鈥�

Returning to ski racing means Vonn is going big. Whether she will qualify for the season鈥檚 first World Cup downhill on home turf in Beaver Creek, Colo., remains uncertain, but her U.S. teammates are eager for the possibility.

鈥淏eaver Creek is going to be so exciting,鈥� said Breezy Johnson at Copper Mountain. 鈥淚f a certain blond comes back, I just hope she puts up some Ws.鈥�

Former teammates and new U.S. skiers alike expressed support. Retired star Julia Mancuso, who often shared the spotlight with Vonn, posted, 鈥渨ow, you鈥檙e incredible,鈥� in response to Vonn鈥檚 announcement. Bella Wright, a U.S. team member, added, 鈥淚 never got the opportunity to be Lindsey鈥檚 teammate in the past, so the opportunity to ski alongside her is extremely exciting!鈥�

Since retiring, Vonn has run empowerment camps for young girls through the Lindsey Vonn Foundation, carried the torch for the 2024 Paris Olympics, and launched an Athlete鈥檚 Family Initiative as part of the 2034 Salt Lake City Games bid. Red Bull also recently facilitated her dream of skiing the Streif in Kitzb眉hel at night.

The ski world is thrilled at Vonn鈥檚 return. Milan Cortina 2026 responded to the announcement, hinting that she may compete again in the Olympics.

鈥淟indsey has made an indelible mark on alpine skiing,鈥� said U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt. 鈥淗er dedication and passion for the sport are inspiring, and we鈥檙e excited to welcome her back on snow.鈥�

The post Lindsey Vonn Returns to the U.S. Ski Team鈥擜nd She鈥檚 Ready to Win appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Surrounded by young athletes from Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, each of whom held a balloon to represent one of her 82 World Cup wins and three Olympic medals, Lindsey Vonn was inducted into the last Saturday (Sept. 8) in her former hometown of Vail, Colorado.

During the presentation, the 39-year-old downhill legend joked that she likes 鈥渢o do everything fast鈥� and would win for fastest induction speech, which she indeed did, thanking former U.S. teammate Chad Fleischer and ski industry icon Bill Jensen for nominating her, her friends, family, and everyone who helped her along the way to becoming the winningest female skier of all time.

Vonn retired from racing in 2019 after clinching her eighth World Championship medal, becoming the only alpine skier in history to win medals in six World Championships. Her record for World Cup wins has since been usurped by teammate Mikaela Shiffrin, but Vonn鈥檚 relentless and fearless approach to downhill skiing, fighting back from numerous serious injuries, will always distinguish her.

鈥淥ftentimes as an athlete, you are so focused and don鈥檛 take the time to look around and appreciate where all the hard work has gotten you,鈥� Vonn told SKI during an interview before the Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so meaningful for me to be here now, to be recognized by my peers and all of these people that I grew up with who have shaped my life in some way, shape, or form. It鈥檚 a very full-circle moment and I don鈥檛 take anything for granted.鈥�

On the Power of Hands-On Inspiration

After retiring from racing, Vonn sold her home in Vail and now splits her time between Park City, Utah and Miami, Florida. She is deeply involved in her nonprofit organization, the . Launched in 2015, the Foundation aims to support and inspire young girls to pursue their dreams, be they athletic, educational, or vocational. Since its inception, the Foundation has gifted more than a million dollars in scholarships and Vonn has personally participated in all but one Strong Girls camp, an annual event for 10- to 14-year-old girls designed to build confidence through obstacle courses, hiking excursions, and social activities.

鈥淭o be able to see the impact firsthand is what gives me so much pride and joy,鈥� Vonn said. 鈥淭he Strong Girls camp is where I get to see the transformation of a timid girl into a strong and confident girl. We鈥檙e trying to get girls who have goals and dreams that are not in your traditional female space鈥攁 lot of STEM girls, an aeronautical engineer who wants to be an engineer for NASA. Those are girls who dream big. They鈥檙e all driven in their own way. It鈥檚 about encouraging them to follow their own path and be strong enough to do that. Sometimes in this world of judgment and conformity, it鈥檚 hard to stand out. I want them to be uniquely themselves.鈥�

On the 2034 Utah Winter Olympics

This past summer Vonn was instrumental in helping Salt Lake City, Utah . Part of the host city鈥檚 bid committee, which also included 2002 Winter Olympics Chief Operating Officer Fraser Bullock, Utah governor Spencer Cox, and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhal, Vonn launched the Athletes鈥� Families Initiative to help provide lodging, ticketing, and transportation support for Olympians鈥� families attending the Games. The Initiative was inspired by a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) written by Vonn鈥檚 mother, Linda Krohn Lund, who passed away in 2022 after a battle with ALS.

鈥淲hen Fraser called me to be part of the bid, we walked through things I thought could be better,鈥� Vonn recalled. 鈥淪upporting families was the No. 1 thing. When my mom passed, I found an email she had written to the president of IOC where she was asking him to provide better support for the families. That really sparked something in me to help. I think we鈥檙e going to do incredible things for families and athletes in 2034. That鈥檚 the tip of the iceberg, really. I want to help in any way I can,鈥� she said. Plans for the first-ever Family Village are still coming together, but organizers have shared that the ideal location would be near the Athlete Village at the University of Utah.

Vonn also continues to help fellow athletes on the skiing side. Italian downhill star Sofia Goggia occasionally contacts Vonn for tactical advice and Vonn welcomes any opportunity to weigh in.

鈥淚鈥檓 really happy to support my teammates. My door is always open,鈥� she said, adding that keeping tabs on ski racing has become less emotional for her now that a few years have passed since retiring. 鈥淚 can watch races now. I鈥檓 still like aww 鈥� that turn could be a little better. It鈥檚 nice to be a mentor in that way and still helping. Seeing my friends succeed even if I can鈥檛 be there is always good to see.鈥�

On the Future of North American Ski Racing

Vonn was, of course, dismayed when her most successful racing venue, Lake Louise, Alberta鈥攄ubbed, over the course of the 18 World Cup victories she notched there over the years, 鈥淟ake Lindsey鈥濃�攚as removed from the World Cup competition calendar. Nonetheless, she is pleased that the women will instead compete on the famed Birds of Prey course at Beaver Creek this December following the venue鈥檚 long standing men鈥檚 races.

When Beaver Creek hosted the 2015 World Championships, women competed on a downhill course adjacent to the notoriously steep and technical Birds of Prey course, but Vonn got a taste of the men鈥檚 course earlier that season when Beaver Creek hosted last-minute women鈥檚 races after they were cancelled in Val d鈥橧s猫re, France.

鈥淚 had so much fun racing that course,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 sad that Lake Louise is gone, but at least Beaver Creek picked it up. It鈥檚 amazing that it鈥檚 still in North America. I think that will really help ski racing for women in the United States. It鈥檚 a platform to get people excited about women鈥檚 ski racing. I will definitely watch in complete FOMO-jealousy mode, but just the fact there鈥檚 races there for women is meaningful for me. I鈥檓 happy to be cheering them on.鈥�

On Her Recent Knee Replacement

Following numerous knee injuries and subsequent surgeries during her racing career and beyond, Vonn made the decision in April to get a partial right knee replacement. Although she doesn鈥檛 anticipate being a surprise entry for the women鈥檚 Birds of Prey downhill race, she plans to hit the slopes hard this season.

鈥淚n the future I鈥檒l probably need another partial on the other side or a full replacement, but it鈥檚 changed my life completely,鈥� she admitted. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think about my knee. My knee doesn鈥檛 hurt. I鈥檝e been road biking, weightlifting 鈥� I can do anything. I鈥檓 finally not in pain all the time. It feels amazing. I鈥檓 going to do a lot of skiing. I鈥檓 excited for it.鈥�

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Arapahoe Basin has always been about .

It鈥檚 a place where the entire staff shows up at 5:30 a.m. to shovel snow on a powder day, where you鈥檒l find the chief operating officer parking cars or taking out the trash, and where all proceeds from its most popular events go to a local charity or individual in need. During the week, you can park and walk to the chairlift in less than five minutes. You can grab a prime spot in the base area parking lot (鈥渢he beach鈥�) by either staking a claim during the pre-dawn hours or reserving it and tailgating with a group of friends all day. Even on a busy weekend, you can park for free on said beach if you carpool, get on the chairlift in 10 minutes or less, and ski some of the steepest, most technical terrain in Colorado. It鈥檚 a place with a devout, multigenerational staff and loyal regulars who not only choose over its popular megaresort neighbors鈥擪eystone, Breckenridge, and Copper Mountain鈥攂ut hold birthdays, weddings, and funerals there.

Every aspect of the Basin鈥檚 culture is anti-corporate. So, when news hit this February that , there were some strong feelings among the Basin鈥檚 die-hards. And, well, some crying.

鈥淲hen the headline came through, my visceral reaction was tears,鈥� says Kim Jardim, an A-Basin passholder of 30-plus years. 鈥淚t was just a few tears, but yes, I cried. It was like, oh no 鈥� the Basin. My Basin. My second home. It scared me that the place would change and the vibe would change.鈥�

Nobody knows what鈥檚 to come under Alterra ownership. The acquisition is not yet complete and until it is (April at the earliest), Alterra representatives will not speak or speculate about plans. Arapahoe Basin leadership, however, is confident that the vibe鈥攖he warm and distinctive culture that makes A-Basin what it is鈥攚ill not change.

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鈥淚 think Alterra is buying A-Basin because they understand what a Colorado gem it is,鈥� says COO Alan Henceroth, who has worked at Arapahoe Basin for 36 years and who, in addition to still partaking in grunt work like shoveling, parking cars, and changing trash bags, also writes almost daily with insider information for Basin followers.

鈥淎 number of their senior people ski here regularly. I think they know how special it is and they want to keep it that way.鈥�

Although she reiterated that the company wouldn鈥檛 speak to plans until after the deal is finalized, Alterra Vice President of Communications Kristin Rust admits that she holds A-Basin close to her heart.

鈥淚 grew up skiing A-Basin in the 鈥�70s and 鈥�80s, so it is a special place to me, indeed.鈥�

Embracing Its Natural Limitations

The biggest fear among long-time A-Basin fans is that Alterra will shift the ski area into the model of so many on the Ikon or Epic Pass, in which the aim seems to be to bring as many people onto the slopes as possible. Some of that trepidation was assuaged last week when , and that A-Basin will continue to offer five days on the Base Pass and seven days on the full Ikon Pass, as it has since it joined in 2019.

This is a huge relief to many diehard Basin fans. Due to its location (bordering the Continental Divide with a summit elevation above 13,000 feet) and limited parking, the Basin can only logistically accommodate so many visitors before it starts to feel overrun. The Basin鈥檚 parking lots accommodate about 1,800 vehicles. There are plans for next season (pre-dating the Alterra acquisition) to add about 350 more spots.

鈥淚 feel like it鈥檚 going to be preserved because you can鈥檛 expand it much,鈥� says Tara Richard, who was in the midst of a Basin beach party with girlfriends in early March and was an 鈥淎-Basin-only鈥� skier during the 10 years that her kids grew up learning to ski. 鈥淭he only thing that keeps me from being devastated about the new regime is the fact that they can鈥檛 bring in condos. They鈥檙e not going to be able to bring in fur coats and shopping.鈥�

Henceroth confirms that there are no condominium or base area construction plans in store. After all, the land on which the Basin sits is governed by the U.S. Forest Service.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 blame anybody for being uncertain or asking if things are going to change,鈥� Henceroth says. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 totally fair. It鈥檚 such a special place. People want it to continue that way. We don鈥檛 want to go back to the days of being crazy overcrowded.鈥�

He鈥檚 referring to when A-Basin was owned by Dream (formerly known as Dundee Resort Development) and partnered with Vail Resorts to allow unlimited access on the Epic Pass. For a few winters, especially from about 2015-鈥�18, the Basin鈥檚 weekend parking was overflowing to the point that visitors were hitchhiking and parking illegally on U.S. Highway 6.

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Realizing that the overcrowding was cramping the Basin鈥檚 vibe, the . In 2019-鈥�20, with access limited to either five or seven days depending on whether you opt for the full or the Base Pass. That same season, the Basin also began limiting its own season pass sales with a cap of around 4,100. The resort recently announced that it will again offer a Basin-only season pass (plus a few days at Monarch) for 2024-鈥�25, 鈥減riced very closely to this season鈥檚 pricing.鈥�

The Future of Ikon

Currently on weekends, the beach parking lot is only available to those who have reserved (or staked out early morning) spots or vehicles with three or more people. The big question is whether, under Alterra ownership, Ikon Pass holders will eventually be permitted more days or even鈥攇asp鈥攗nlimited access at the Basin.

鈥淟ooking back five, six, seven years ago, we were rough around the edges. We got a little busy. At that point, we didn鈥檛 have good controls to manage how many people were here at once,鈥� Henceroth says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e happy with the way we manage our weekends the last couple of years. We鈥檙e going to have to keep doing that. Regardless of this sale, we鈥檇 continue to do that.鈥�

When asked how A-Basin could maintain its uncrowded, grassroots vibe under Alterra ownership, many loyalists believe continuing to limit access for Ikon Pass holders would be integral.

鈥淚鈥檇 say they鈥檇 have to limit so many days for Ikon Passes鈥攎aybe just weekdays,鈥� says longtime Basin passholder Tom Perry. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what else they can do to keep the vibe the same, whatever they can to not impact its legendary status.鈥�

鈥淭o keep A-Basin as the A-Basin we love, the limited aspects of Ikon Pass are great,鈥� adds JR Nolan, an A-Basin passholder 鈥渙ff and on鈥� since 1988. 鈥淚 think because there are no condos and because parking is limited, the Basin can only take so many people. This hill can become as overcrowded as any of them, but I think keeping Ikon Pass days limited would be one of the major ingredients that would make the transition successful.鈥�

Ron Rosso, a longtime Basin passholder who lives in the Denver suburbs and only skis on weekdays, doesn鈥檛 think A-Basin will have to limit Ikon Pass access to maintain its status.

鈥淭hey have avoided the trap of the big resort thing and they should continue doing that,鈥� Rosso says. 鈥淭he stuff they鈥檝e done in recent years is awesome鈥擬ontezuma [Bowl] is awesome. The Beavers are amazing. That needed to be done, but that鈥檚 all you need. If you need the big stuff, go to Copper Mountain. Go to Breck. Go to Vail.聽 From people I know who have Ikon, they want big mountains, but they like coming to The Legend.鈥�

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Even then, Russo says, he doesn鈥檛 think that the average Ikon Pass skier wants to visit A-Basin more than five, six, or seven times. 鈥淭hey love Winter Park, Mary Jane,鈥� says Russo. 鈥淲hen those areas close, a lot of people want to get away from skiing. They have kid stuff or they go golfing. Even if it鈥檚 still bashing [snow] up here in May, only so many people are into skiing.鈥�

In addition to insinuating that the Basin already has all the weekend crowd it wants or can handle, Henceroth indicated that weekdays and early season (the Basin has historically boasted one of the world鈥檚 longest ski seasons, often lasting from late October through early June) were the only times the resort would be interested in bolstering crowds.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got soft periods, but we鈥檙e doing fine,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e stable on our feet all the time, but we鈥檝e been tinkering to figure out weekdays and how to get fall busier.鈥�

A History of Corporate Ownership

As far as regulars panicking that the Basin is going to sell out or lose its soul under Alterra ownership, Henceroth reminds me that there have been other times throughout the ski area鈥檚 long life (dating back to 1946), that its die-hards were bracing for the worst. He pulls out an A-Basin history book and turns to a page depicting a sticker created in 1978 when Ralston Purina purchased the resort from former A-Basin operator Joe Jankovsky, who had purchased the area in 1972 from original owners/founders Larry and Marnie Jump.

The sticker names May 30, 1978 (the last day before the Ralston takeover) as 鈥淒esperado Day, the last of what will be 鈥榯he good old days.鈥欌��

鈥淎 lot of people think it鈥檚 a mom-and-pop area, but it鈥檚 not,鈥� Henceroth says. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been part of big corporations for a half-century.鈥�

It makes the fact that the Basin has, despite its half-century corporate ownership and the terrain expansions, lift improvements, restaurant additions, and makeovers that came with it, always managed to pass itself off as a mom-and-pop sort of place that much more impressive.

The End of an Era? Unlikely.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just a really special place, especially when your kids grow up skiing there,鈥� Jardim says. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 tell you how many times my boys left a fleece behind in the lodge or skis on the rack. I鈥檇 get a call from an employee who recognized the fleece or drive back up to see if the skis were still on the rack and they were. That doesn鈥檛 happen everywhere. And it鈥檚 only part of what makes that place so special.鈥�

It is of great comfort to many Basin-for-lifers that Henceroth and his team will likely continue calling at least some of the shots under Alterra ownership.

鈥淚 think those tears I cried were just hoping that this is not the end of an era,鈥� Jardim says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 no guarantee that it鈥檚 going to change or change for the worse. There鈥檚 a very good chance it could keep the vibe. With Alan leading the way, I feel like all of us who love that place so much have a voice through him. I know how passionate he is about the Basin. I know he鈥檒l do everything in his power to keep it as much the same as he can.鈥�

Standing firmly at the helm, Henceroth himself is optimistic.

鈥淚 do know that the folks at Alterra really care about this place and they鈥檙e buying it because they think it鈥檚 so special. They don鈥檛 want to blow it up,鈥� he says. 鈥淔rom what I understand, they鈥檙e not a top-down organization. Each resort has a lot of autonomy. We鈥檙e in a period where we have to be patient.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 confident that the Basin is going to be as great if not better than it鈥檚 always been.鈥�

The post Alterra Bought Arapahoe Basin. Can the Resort Keep Its Soul? appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.