News reports began speculating earlier this week that it might happen. But Killington Resort now says it’s official: The resort will host a Skiing World Cup event next year.
Killington spokesperson Michael Joseph says they received confirmation from the International Ski Federation that the resort’s offer to host a 2016 World Cup race has been approved.
“F.I.S. had their meeting in Zurich, I believe, and we are on the calendar now,” says Joseph with a big smile. “It went from being proposed and heavily lobbied for to now we are on the F.I.S. calendar. So we’re going to host a Women’s World Cup race and we couldn’t be more excited about it.”
The women’s giant slalom and slalom races will be held next year on Nov. 26 and 27 on Killington’s Superstar trail.
Joseph believes the resort’s extensive snowmaking capabilities helped them win F.I.S. approval for the race. It will be the first time a World Cup ski race has been held in the eastern U.S. since 1991 when races were held in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire.
Killington’s Michael Joseph says the beneficial ripple effects of the World Cup races will be felt across the state. “We’re going to have so many international teams in the state and in the region training ahead of this race that we expect that they’ll be spending a lot of time at our neighbors', too. So it’ll be a big economic boost for Killington and central Vermont and probably the whole state as well,” says Joseph.
