Avon, CO – The alpine legacy of Colorado’s Vail Valley gained power and grace Friday as the 2015 World Championships Organizing Committee introduced “Raptor” as the name of the newly constructed women’s speed track at Beaver Creek Resort.

“Given its proximity to Birds of Prey, the natural inclination was to try to find a name that would be both complementary and that could stand alone. We definitely feel that Raptor is a name that works well with Birds of Prey and, given the majesty of the raptor family, I think we have accomplished both goals,” said Ceil Folz, President of the Vail Valley Foundation and the 2015 World Championships Organizing Committee.

The home of the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, Raptor will get its first test  Nov. 29-Dec. 1 during the opening races of the women’s World Cup speed season, featuring a downhill, super G and giant slalom. Six-time World Cup downhill champion Lindsey Vonn, who returned to on snow training Aug. 31, is targeting the weekend as her return to racing after a season-ending crash last Feb. in Austria.

Located to skier’s right of the men’s Birds of Prey track at Beaver Creek, Raptor incorporates portions of Peregrine and Golden Eagle and fully joins the men’s course at the Red Tail Jump above the finish arena.

U.S. Ski Team women, including World Champion Mikaela Shiffrin and 2013 World Cup podium finishers Stacey Cook, Leanne Smith and Laurenne Ross were able to train on the slope earlier this spring.

“It’s challenging to say the least. It’s narrow and in your face,” said Cook, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. “We’re right up against the fences and there’s a lot of forces to deal with, particularly high speeds combined with big turns, which is something that doesn’t get combined very often in women’s downhill. You’re going to have to be really strong to be fast.”

“It’s going to be an amazing venue to host the World Championships in 2015. The men’s race hill has such an incredible legacy in Beaver Creek and I think this new women’s track will have it’s own unique mystique,” added Shiffrin, who makes her home in the Vail Valley.

The Feb. 2-15, 2015 World Championships Scheduled from February 2-15 of 2015 in Vail and Beaver Creek are expected to showcase athletes from over 70 nations. The event is expected to draw an estimated 750 million worldwide television viewers in addition to 1,500 members of the media onsite.