Squaw Valley to host World Cup ski racing in 2017

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World Cup ski racing will return to Squaw Valley next year, marking the first time a Lake Tahoe resort will host the sport’s premier racers in 40 years, The Chronicle has learned.

Squaw, which hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics, was awarded the event by the International Ski Federation (FIS) on Friday. The event will be held March 10-11 and will consist of women’s slalom and giant slalom.

“It is the single most prestigious event that you can host at a ski resort,” Squaw President and CEO Andy Wirth told The Chronicle. “It’s truly a moment of honor for Squaw.”

The return of World Cup racing comes at a time when Tahoe ski resorts have struggled through years of drought and lesser snow. Following this year’s return to normal conditions, the region is hoping next year’s event provides a big economic boost, while also restoring California’s place among the world’s best winter sports destinations.

“This will bring renewed international interest in Lake Tahoe,” Wirth said. “Our efforts over the past five years focused on taking Squaw Valley back to where it was back in the day. We intend to bring that luster back. It will be going back to where we’ve been.”

From a wider sports perspective, the move underscores the International Ski Federation’s continued efforts to expand its operations in North America, a market that has eluded the circuit to some extent, when compared to its wild popularity in Europe.

“Bringing the FIS Alpine World Cup to four different sites this season will continue to grow the visibility of alpine ski racing in America,” U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association President and CEO Tiger Shaw said in a statement. “Squaw Valley has partnered with the USSA to host many events and, with a strong Olympic legacy and a world-class venue, they are a welcome addition to the World Cup circuit.”

In 2016-17, the World Cup will hold 16 events in the U.S., the second-highest number of Alpine events ever held in this country. The event at Squaw will be the penultimate race of the season, setting up the season’s championship finale, to be held in Aspen, Colo.

Billy Kidd during the World Cup ski championship at Squaw Valley, Photo ran 03/04/1969. p. 48 Billy Kidd during the World Cup ski championship at Squaw Valley, Photo ran 03/04/1969. p. 48 Photo: Bill Young, The Chronicle Photo: Bill Young, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Squaw Valley to host World Cup ski racing in 2017 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

The last time the World Cup visited the Lake Tahoe region, races were held at Heavenly, in South Lake Tahoe. Squaw Valley last hosted Cup races in 1969. The closest the region has come to hosting such a high-profile event came 19 years ago when the World Cup visited Mammoth Mountain, another popular Sierra resort well to the south.

Beyond the economic and industry aspects, the most exciting part of World Cup skiing is the racers themselves. Julia Mancuso, a gold-medal-winning Olympian who grew up in Squaw Valley, hopes to be recovered from an injury in time to participate on her home slopes. And the reigning queen of the ski world, Mikaela Shiffrin, will surely be waiting for Mancuso and the other competitors in the starting gate.

Both racers took some time to discuss the upcoming event with The Chronicle.

“It’s a really big deal. We’re super excited,” said Mancuso, who, along with Wirth, played a big role in lobbying for the event. “Making the World Cup a reality has been pretty surreal. Squaw Valley hasn’t taken the world stage in such a long time. It’s so cool to be a part of that. Hopefully, we can inspire the next generation.”

Shiffrin, who will be the likely favorite in both races, spoke to Squaw’s reputation in the sport.

“It’s funny, because it wasn’t really on my map until I got onto the U.S. ski team and then I realized how many racers grew up in Squaw. It’s like half the team. I was like, ‘What’s with this place? What’s going on there?’” Shiffrin said. “Any time the World Cup comes to the U.S., it’s a good thing for ski racing in this country. Squaw Valley is the perfect place to have it. They’ll have good snow in the spring and it’s a really, really good run.”

The run she referred to will begin high atop Squaw Valley’s peaks, under the Red Dog lift. It’s expected to be a challenging course, very technical in nature. Similar routes were employed in past racing at Squaw, where legends like Billy Kidd and Jean Vuarnet have triumphed.

“I’ve raced the hill and it’s challenging,” Shiffrin said. “It’s long and demanding. The whole course is pretty tough, kind of like a roller coaster in the middle. The bottom is a steep pitch, and you’re already exhausted. I’m always saying, ‘Am I going to make it?’ with about 20 gates to go.”

Wirth and his fellow organizers at Squaw hope the high-profile event will further galvanize the vibrant youth ski racing infrastructure in the region.

“There is nothing like a World Cup to inspire the next generation of skiers,” Wirth said. “It’s a little bit like watching fireworks on the Fourth of July. Standing there with a crowd of 10,000, it’s nothing short of remarkable to look around at the crowd, and watching the young racers in attendance.”

“The benefit is served to the next generation. And make sure they supplant our legacy. Make sure there’s another 20 years of Julia Mancusos.”

Al Saracevic is the sports editor of The San Francisco Chronicle. E-mail: asaracevic@sfchronicle.com Twitter: alsaracevic