16 Reasons to Drop Everything and Head for the 2015 World Championships…Right Now!

Red Tail Stadium at Beaver Creek is humming on a daily basis during the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. Photo: Logan Robertson

There are still 5 days, 19 hours, 16 minutes, and 45 seconds left before the closing ceremonies of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail and Beaver Creek. Which means you would be wise to call in sick, pull the kids out of school, and get your collective keisters on up to the Vail Valley posthaste.

I went to the races last week and was downright amazed at the spectacle unfolding right here in Colorado’s backyard. Seriously, watching World Cup racers descending the mountain at blistering speeds live and in skinsuits is, simply put, wicked cool. Not to be missed. Totally awesome. So herewith, 16 reasons to make a pilgrimage to Vail and Beaver Creek this week.  (And yes, you can still find a place to stay. See #15)

16 Top Reasons to Attend the 2015 World Championships

1.      The World Championships are the biggest event in ski racing, Olympics aside. It’s like the World Series and Super Bowl of downhill skiing. The event hasn’t been on U.S. soil (technically U.S. snow) in 16 years and who knows when you’ll have the chance to witness it again.

2.       It’s free. Seriously, you don’t need tickets for the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. It’s the sporting-event deal of the millennium. And you can find free parking at the base and the shuttle buses are free. Imagine walking into the Super Bowl for zero dollars. It’s crazy.

The best ski racers on the planet are here, arcing ridiculous turns on bulletproof ice. Photo: Logan Robertson

3.      If you sit close enough to the finish, you can feel the spray of the snow on your face as racers throw their skis sideways to slow down from speeds of up to 80 miles per hour on ice-rink-slick pitches as steep as 40 degrees.

4.       You will undoubtedly bear witness to historical moments. It’s possible the crowd on hand on Thursday watched the last World Cup race in Bode Miller’s career (he’s considering retirement)—and boy did he go out with an implosion of epic proportions. Not to mention watching Lindsey Vonn, Travis Ganong, and Ted Ligety standing on the podium.

Lindsey Vonn captured a bronze medal in the Super G at the World Championships. Photo: Logan Robertson

5.       The jumbotron-like viewing screen at Red Tail Stadium is 69 feet wide. You can see the whole race on the big screen and then watch the athletes descend the bottom pitches and literally fly into the finish.

6.      Beaver Creek and Vail are less than two hours from Denver.

7.       Nearly every night, free concerts accompany the medal ceremonies. Michael Franti and O.A.R. have already taken the stage. Upcoming bands include like Barenaked Ladies (tonight!!!!), KC and the Sunshine band, Philip Phillips and Ceelo Green.

Michael Franti is one of a long lineup of musicians on tap for free concerts during medal ceremonies. Photo: Logan Robertson

8.     The fastest racers on the planet, hailing from more than 72 countries, have come to town and you might ride the lift with one of them, or jostle for a free chocolate chip cookie at the base of Beaver Creek.

9.       The schedule of events is mind-boggling. And it’s not just populated with ski races. There are free concerts, bib draw ceremonies, kid zones, happy hours and athlete poster signings.

10.   The on-hill announcers—Peter Graves and Doug Lewis—are hilarious. They say things like: “Your cheeks are going to be around your knees” (during the women’s downhill), “Swedish meatballs for everyone tonight!!” (as Swede Kajsa Kling was on-course), and “Get your turkeys ready, because here comes the carvemeister” (on Ted Ligety in the men’s Super G).

The announcers are half the fun, with statements like: “Here he comes, flying right into your lap.” Photo: Logan Robertson

11.   The crowd is awesome: The stands at Red Tail stadium are packed with rabid cow-bell ringing, flag-waving, horn-blowing fans. When racers fly over the final jump and into the finish, a roar goes up that you can feel down to your toenails. You can’t feel that vibe from the BarcaLounger in front of your TV.

12.   Every afternoon, the town of Avon hosts “Apres Avon” from 3 to 5 p.m. with bands and festivities and maybe even a poster signing by slalom phenom Mikaela Shiffrin.

The flags rippling over Red Tail Stadium at Beaver Creek set a festive vibe. Photo: Logan Robertson

13.   There’s a kid zone in Lionshead in Vail that features a new theme each day, with educational and interactive entertainment for the wee ones.

14.   Kids can high-five the World Championships very own six-foot-tall furry mascots, Pete the Mountain Lion and Earl the Racoon, named for Vail founders Pete Seibert and Earl Eaton.

15.   You don’t have to sleep in your car:  There is still lodging available. I just did a search and found a 2-bedroom condo in Avon for less than $300 a night for Friday and Saturday night.

16.   If reasons 1-15 aren’t enough to get you up there, how about no lift lines? Everyone is watching the races, so the slopes of Beaver Creek are near deserted.

For a full schedule of events and more info on the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail and Beaver Creek, log onto vailbeavercreek2015.com