Aspen, CO – American Olympic gold medalists Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso, as well as World Cup leader, German Maria Riesch, will take center stage Thanksgiving weekend when the Visa Aspen Winternational kicks off the classic North American swing of the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup ski racing circuit.nHeavy early season snowfall has already blanketed the Colorado Rockies providing a picture perfect landscape in the fabled ski town of Aspen for Saturday’s giant slalom and Sunday’s slalom. The event will be seen nationally on NBC, Versus and Universal Sports, and beamed to millions worldwide.

“It’s always special to race in Aspen,” said Vonn. “I know all my friends from Vail will be over to see the best skiers in the world go head-to-head on Colorado snow. My two aunts are coming out from Wisconsin and they haven’t seen me ski since I was 12. Plus my great aunt and uncle will be there along with Thomas’ parents, my friends and then entire Vonntourage. We don’t get that kind of support anywhere else.”

Also expected to race in Aspen are Olympians Sarah Schleper, Megan McJames, Hailey Duke and Leanne Smith. Resi Stiegler will enter her first World Cup race in over a year and only her fourth start since late Dec. of 2007 when she when she fractured her left arm and tore ligaments in her right knee while competing in Austria. Her return was hampered further when she broke her right leg in late summer of 2008 forcing her to skip all of the 2009 season except the World Championships where she finished an incredible 19th in slalom.

After starting the first two World Cup’s last winter, Stiegler was knocked out yet again with a fractured left tibia and fibia while training for Aspen just down the road in Copper Mountain, Colo. She has been running full-length courses since early November and was back in the race start gate to forerun the FIS slalom at Copper on Nov. 19.

“It felt awesome,” said Stiegler. “I was able to put down two good runs, but I did it at Copper, almost a year to the day from the crash that ended my 2010 Olympic season. I’m still things in perspective though. It’s still going to be a while before I’m back to where I was two seasons ago, but I’m being smart and patient with the process.”

This weekend will mark the seventh consecutive season of women’s World Cup in Aspen, however the classic ski town’s storied World Cup history dates back to 1968, when the former mining community hosted its first World Cup race in only the second season of the tour. Earlier, thanks to the efforts of local skiing legend Dick Durrance, Aspen hosted the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 1950.

“World Cup ski racing has a rich history in Aspen and is a part of the fiber of this community. It is important for all of us to carry on this tradition and continue to host the very best in the world on our storied slopes,” said John Rigney, Vice President, Sales and Events for Aspen Skiing Company.

“Staging world class events in premier resorts like Aspen allows our top athletes like Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso to help our sport reach an attractive skiing lifestyle market through television exposure on NBC and globally through our worldwide TV network,” said the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association’s (USSA) Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer, Andrew Judelson.

As a continuation of its World Cup legacy, Aspen has created the Champions Grove. Each year a Colorado Blue Spruce will be planted in the Grove to honor the winners of each race. A ceremony will take place on Friday at 11:30 a.m. at the base of the Ruthie’s lift following the women’s free ski training session. Last season’s winners, Kathrin Hoelzl of Germany and Sarka Zahrobska of the Czech Republic, are expected to attend.

Thanks to a favorable blanket of early season natural snow, the U.S. Ski Team took full advantage of a rare shot to train on the race hill Friday and Saturday. The International Ski Federation allows training on the competition slope up until five days prior to a World Cup race, however in recent years, the slope hasn’t been ready in time to host the bonus training sessions.

“It’s incredible skiing here at Aspen,” said U.S. Ski Team women’s technical Head Coach Trevor Wagner as training kicked off. “The girls got in six runs of giant slalom this morning and we just finished setting slalom for a second session. We’ve got the same program running tomorrow – we’re fired up to be here.”

In addition to the athletes, fans will also receive the full Aspen experience with public events scheduled throughout the weekend. Saturday features an autograph signing with the U.S. Ski Team at 3:30 p.m. followed by a free concert featuring Blind Melon at 6:30 p.m. The concert wraps with the women’s giant slalom awards ceremony and fireworks.

Fans will even have the opportunity to go behind the World Cup scenes with free guided tours of the professional ski wax cabins on Saturday afternoon. Tours begin at 3:30 and 4 p.m. from the Mountain Chalet garage entrance.

Aspen Mountain opens to the public at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

2010 VISA ASPEN WINTERNATIONAL

Thursday, November 25

• 6-9 p.m. – Dine Around – Downtown Aspen Participating Restaurants

Friday, November 26

• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. – Sponsor Village Open – Gondola Plaza
• 6 -9 p.m. – Dine Around – Downtown Aspen Participating Restaurants
• 7 p.m. – Sneak Preview – Legend of AAHHH’s, a Film by Greg Stump – Wheeler Opera House – Cost $10 Tickets available at the Wheeler

Saturday, November 27

• 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Free Public Shuttles – Run every 20 minutes from Rubey Park – St. Regis – Venue
• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. – Sponsor Village Open – Gondola Plaza
• 10 a.m. – RACE START: Women’s Giant Slalom Run 1 – Strawpile
• 11 a.m. – Taste of Winternational featuring complimentary food tastings and beverages from Cloud 9, ASC Catering, Cliffhouse, Ullrhof, Sam’s Smokehouse, Bumps and the Lynn Britt Cabin – Finish Area
• 11:30 a.m.- Live Music – Double Diamond Band & Prize Giveaways – Finish Area
• 1:00 p.m. – RACE START: Women’s Giant Slalom Final – Strawpile
• 3:30-4:30 p.m. – U.S. Ski Team Autograph Signing – Gondola Plaza
• 3:30 and 4 p.m. – Guided Public Tours of Wax Room – Mountain Chalet Garage Entrance
• 6-9 p.m. – Dine Around – Downtown Aspen Participating Restaurants
• 6:30-8 p.m. – Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert Series featuring Blind Melon – Upper Gondola Plaza
• 8-8:15 p.m. – Awards Ceremony for Giant Slalom Winners and Presentation of Bingham Cup – Concert Stage
• 8:15 p.m. – Fireworks Extravaganza – Little Nell

Sunday, November 28

• 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Free Public Shuttles – Run every 20 minutes from Rubey Park – St. Regis – Venue
• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sponsor Village Open – Gondola Plaza
• 10:00 a.m. – RACE START: Women’s Slalom Run 1 – Strawpile
• 11 a.m. – Taste of Winternational featuring complimentary food tastings and beverages from Cloud 9, ASC Catering, Cliffhouse, Ullrhof, Sam’s Smokehouse, Bumps and the Lynn Britt Cabin – Finish Area
• 11:30 a.m. – Live Music – Double Diamond Band & Prize Giveaways – Finish Area
• 1:00 p.m. – RACE START: Women’s Slalom Final – Strawpile
• 6 -9 p.m. – Dine Around – Downtown Aspen Participating Restaurants