IT’S OFFICIAL

Bode Miller will be racing at Vail Beaver Creek 2015!

USSA announced that 14 male and 12 female athletes have been named to the 2015 FIS Alpine World Championships team to represent the United States at Vail/Beaver Creek, Colo., from Feb. 2-15.

“We’re proud to bring a strong group of athletes to the World Championships in our team’s home country,” said U.S. Ski Team Alpine Director Patrick Riml. “Vail/Beaver Creek will put on a great show for the world and we expect our athletes to be competitive for medals for our home country fans.”

Men

  • Will Brandenburg – Spokane, WA, 1/1/87, Schweitzer Alpine Racing (2011, 2013)
  • David Chodounksy – Crested Butte, CO, 6/25/84, Crested Butte Ski Team (2011, 2013)
  • Tommy Ford – Bend, OR, 3/20/89, Mt. Bachelor Ski Education Foundation (2011)
  • Travis Ganong – Squaw Valley, CA, 7/14/88, Squaw Valley Ski Team (2011, 2013)
  • Jared Goldberg – Holladay, UT, 6/15/91, Snowbird Sports Education Foundation
  • Tim Jitloff – Reno, NV, 1/11/85, Park City Ski Team (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013)
  • Ted Ligety – Park City, UT, 8/31/84, Park City Ski Team (2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013)
  • Nolan Kasper – Warren, VT, 3/27/89, Burke Mountain Academy (2011)
  • Tim Kelley – Starksboro, VT, 5/20/86, Cochran Ski Club
  • Bode Miller – Franconia, NH, 10/12/77, Carrabassett Valley Academy (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011)
  • Steven Nyman – Sundance, UT, 2/12/82, Park City Ski Team (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013)
  • Brennan Rubie – Salt Lake City, UT, 4/8/91, Snowbird Sports Education Foundation
  • Marco Sullivan – Squaw Valley, CA, 4/27/80, Squaw Valley Ski Team (2003, 2007, 2009, 2013)
  • Andrew Weibrecht – Lake Placid, NY, 2/10/86, New York Ski Education Foundation (2009, 2013)

“It’s awesome having the World Champs in the U.S. It’s something I’ve never experienced before, so it’s going to be a lot of fun having a big event in the U.S.,” said Ligety. “It’s always nice to take the Euros out of their element a little bit and have them living in their duffle bags for a couple of weeks. … Beaver Creek has always done an amazing job preparing hills for us and it’s been a place where I’ve had a good amount of success as well.”

World Championships veteran Steven Nyman is also looking forward to putting it all on the line down one of his favorite speed tracks.

“Finishing fifth in Kitzbuehel was a good step forward and confidence builder going into Beaver Creek. I love that hill – Birds of Prey! I want to give it everything and see what I got,” said Nyman. “Hopefully I can win or get a medal. I’m stoked. It’s Worlds, so you gotta risk everything. It’s about the medal.”

Women

  • Stacey Cook – Mammoth Mountain, CA, 7/3/84, Mammoth Mountain Ski Team (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013)
  • Hailey Duke – Boise, ID, 9/17/85, Park City Ski Team, (2009)
  • Lila Lapanja – Incline Village, NV, 12/3/94, Diamond Peak Ski Team/Sugar Bowl
  • Julia Mancuso – Squaw Valley, CA, 3/9/84, Squaw Valley Ski Team (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013)
  • Megan McJames – Park City, UT, 9/24/87, Park City Ski Education Foundation (2009, 2011)
  • Alice McKennis – Glenwood Springs, CO, 8/19/89, Rowmark Academy
  • Paula Moltzan – Lakeville, MN, 5/7/94, Buck Hill Ski Team
  • Laurenne Ross – Bend, OR, 8/17/88, Mt. Bachelor Ski Education Foundation (2009, 2011, 2013)
  • Mikaela Shiffrin – Eagle-Vail, CO, 3/13/95, Burke Mountain Academy (2013)
  • Resi Stiegler – Jackson Hole, WY, 11/14/85, Jackson Hole Ski Club (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013)
  • Lindsey Vonn – Vail, CO, 10/18/84, Buck Hill/Ski and Snowboard Club Vail (2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013)
  • Jackie Wiles – Aurora, OR, 7/13/92, Pacific Northwest Ski Association/White Pass Ski Club

“I’m ready for Vail! I feel confident, I’m skiing well and hopefully it will be a good World Championships for me. I have a lot of confidence after having a few days of training at Beaver Creek. It’s a very difficult hill and one that requires a lot of tactics. I’m going to go in and ski my best like I always have and hopefully it will work out,” said Vonn. “I have more pressure on myself because I want to perform well for my family. Everyone is going to be there. I want to have it be a really fun World Championships for them and have something to celebrate.”

Technical specialist Mikaela Shiffrin will look to defend her 2013 World Champs slalom gold medal from Schladming on home turf.

“I’m realizing being home that everybody is working in Vail/Beaver Creek right now to get it to go off without a hitch. It’s pretty incredible, because it’s going to be really big and special – like a mini Olympics. And I’m really excited to be a part of it,” said Shiffrin.