Come join the U.S. Ski Team on the road this winter and get a behind–the–scenes look at the competitive life – on–course and off – of America’s best athletes while you also enjoy the winter wonders of the Old World! The Team is offering three trips to high–energy World Cup competitions during the 2008 season, including the 1956 Olympic resort town of Cortina d’Ampezzo in the spectacular Dolomites to watch women alpine racers take on one of the toughest downhill courses – and one where U.S. skiers have had major success in recent years; experience the "nordic tailgate party" in Otepaeae, Estonia – one of the newest and most festive atmospheres on the cross country World Cup calendar; or visit the hallowed "Yankee Stadium" of nordic skiing (cross country, jumping, nordic combined) and share the exhilaration of tens of thousands of fans at Norway’s fabled Holmenkollen, the hilltop park overlooking Oslo. All trips offer personal guides from USSA staff and other industry pros, special dinners and celebrations with the Ski Team, and even special guest appearances including local skiing celebrities. Trip price includes all transportation to/from each airport, each venue and an assortment of fun activities, most meals, guides, VIP credentials at each site, lodging (double occupancy), lift tickets where applicable, tips, and other one–of–a–kind adventures. Airfare is not included. |
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La Dolomites Vita Valbruna & Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy January 13-22, 2008 |
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| Experience the sweet life of the Italian Dolomite mountain region and see why Julia Mancuso and Lindsey Kildow love Cortina! Is it because they’ve tackled the hardest downhill on the women’s circuit with pose and a collection of podium results, the boutiques of Cortina, one of Europe’s – not just Italy’s – most trend–conscious mountain resorts, the incredible Italian delicacies or all the above? | |||||
| This special alpine trip blends the old with the new and will be hosted by extreme skiing star and 17–time Warren Miller ski film veteran Chris Anthony, along with Marco Tonazzi, former Italian World Cup racer and national champion. You’ll spend the first half of the trip hitting the slopes in Marco’s hometown of Valbruna where you will experience the life of an Italian local ski hero as never before. Then the group will move across the valley to celebrate the annual women’s World Cup speed races (a downhill and a super G); the agenda also calls for more skiing, exploring the mountain and the Olympia speed run...and cheering on the Team as a VIP spectator for the weekend. | |||||
| This trip includes five ski areas in the photogenic Dolomites, spelunking, World War II ruins, and other adventures. | |||||
| Cost $15,000/two people | |||||
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Caviar & Cross Country Otepaeae, Estonia February 6-11, 2008 |
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| Since its break away from the old Soviet Union, Estonia has become one of the most rabid cross country ski regions in Europe – and the World Cup visit to Otepaeae (pop., just 2,200) each winter is the center of the frenzy. More than one person has called it a "nordic tailgate party," equal to any NFL parking lot scene. (What’s the Estonian word for "yee–haw!"?) | |||||
| Torin Koos and Andy Newell put an American flavor to the excitement last season, finishing 3–4 in a World Cup sprint race there. The U.S. Team would relish the chance to hear American voices in the throngs along the trails that will be packed with wildly energetic spectators. Bring your skis and get a firsthand look at the courses and the preparation that goes into a World Cup race. In addition, the group will visit Tallin, one of the best–preserved medieval cities in not just the Baltics but Europe. | |||||
| U.S. Ski Team Nordic Director Luke Bodensteiner, a two–time Olympian, will be with us for the week, providing knowledgeable commentary and insight to not only the U.S. athletes but the World Cup. And, a special addition to our tour staff for Otepaeae is Estonia’s double–gold Olympic champion Kristina Smigun, who normally hears the crowds exhorting her to victory. She will have invaluable insight – for the races, for the visit. Don’t forget your skis because there will be plenty of opportunity to ski; a special feature will be a fully supported tour of the famed Tartu Marathon course, which will be packed a week later with nearly 5,000 athletes in the marathon. | |||||
| Cost: $6,500/two people | |||||
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Nordic Nights in Norway Holmenkollen – Oslo, Norway March 4-10, 2008 |
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| Holmenkollen is the hallowed of all nordic skiing venues. It looks out over the City of Oslo and the beautiful Oslo Fjord. This will be a week with a buffet of World Cup competition – cross country races (sprints in Drammen, not far from Oslo, and marathons at Holmenkollen), ski jumping and two nordic combined events. Can Worlds medalist Billy Demong reach the Holmenkollen nordic combined podium again, as he did last March to end the 2007 season? | |||||
| King Harald, whose late father King Olav V was an Olympic ski jumper, and members of the royal family will be on hand as spectators throughout the festivities – with up to 100,000 of their closest friends, who will attend the nordic festival at Holmenkollen. A must–see attraction: the Holmenkollen Ski Museum, which is tucked in under the huge ski jump, which dominates the skyline. The schedule includes a day trip to the 1994 Olympic village (just over 20,000) of Lillehammer as well as a day trip to Drammen for the final World Cup sprint of the season. | |||||
| U.S. Ski Team Nordic Director Luke Bodensteiner, who raced in the ‘94 Olympics in Lillehammer, will play tour guide, providing Cliffs Notes, as it were, on the venues. You won’t believe the wealth of tracks, which spider–web all over Holmenkollen. It’s Yankee Stadium, the Super Bowl and Kentucky Derby all in one when it comes to heritage, atmosphere and excitement – except you can’t run the bases at the Stadium, you can’t get on the field to talk with players and you can’t ride a Derby horse – but you can ski the trails of Holmenkollen; you can get firsthand updates from the athletes, and you can – well, okay, you can’t compete in a World Cup, but two out of three ain’t bad! | |||||
| Cost: $7,500/two people | |||||
| Contact Information: For further information please call 435.647.2023 or email: bwoolley@ussa.org | |||||
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