After the chaos at Killington, the U.S. Ski Team was in full-blown crisis mode. Three skiers went down with serious injuries, and the team’s golden girl, Mikaela Shiffrin, was sidelined after a nasty crash. With Shiffrin out for the foreseeable future, Team USA’s hopes for the FIS Ski World Cup took a nosedive.

But wait—enter Lindsey Vonn. Yep, the Lindsey Vonn. The queen of ski racing is making her grand comeback to save the day, and honestly, what’s more iconic than a retired legend returning to save her country? She’s gearing up to race in Saint Moritz on December 14th, her first World Cup event since hanging up her skis in 2019. Talk about drama!

The plot thickens, though, because Lindsey was actually ready to make her big return last weekend at Birds of Prey. The only thing that stopped her? A good old-fashioned paperwork snafu. Apparently, Vonn raced at Copper Mountain to rack up enough FIS points to qualify, but the updated points list didn’t get released in time. “It’s not my fault; I did everything I could, but it’s how the cookie crumbled,” Vonn told Vail Daily, and honestly, she’s right.

Skiers need 150 or fewer FIS points to compete in the Cross-Country World Cup. In the Alpine Ski World Cup, the top 45 qualify based on FIS rankings, with bonus spots for those holding 500 or more WCSL points. Lower points mean better results, so the goal is to get as close to zero as possible. Lower points = better results, so you want those numbers as close to zero as possible. But back to Lindsey.

Despite the red tape, she was fully prepped for Birds of Prey. She even foreran the course to shake off the cobwebs and was greeted like royalty. “I think this is the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen for a forerunner in my life,” she said. “I got a cheer just like as if I was racing. The community has been so supportive, and it made today feel really special.”

While she couldn’t compete last weekend, she’s already set her sights on Saint Moritz, and let’s be real—this is the comeback we didn’t know we needed. Lindsey Vonn shared, “It’s all the same players, just a different day. And I know what it takes to win with these competitors. Hopefully I’m able to get my equipment really dialed in 100% so I can execute the way I know I can.” With Lindsey back in the mix, the U.S. Ski Team might just salvage their season, and the skiing world is paying attention.

Lindsey Vonn advised fellow competitors before the Birds of Prey event

Lindsey Vonn’s return has already made quite some noise in the skiing world. Her presence might have contributed to Sofia Goggia, who won the Birds of Prey event. Sofia had asked Lindsey to call her after finishing her forerunning duties, and Vonn didn’t just keep her promise—she gave her advice that truly set Sofia apart from the competition. “All the other girls were watching the TV, and I was on the phone with Lindsey, and she was explaining the course to me, and I said, ‘Thanks.’”

When the 82-time World Cup winner speaks, you listen—and Sofia did exactly that. “I really have to say thanks to her because I really trust her. What she says is the Bible,” Goggia shared. Clearly, the strategy paid off, as Sofia clinched her first victory in Slalom G by following Vonn’s advice to a tee.

For now, Sofia can bask in the glory of her victory—but she better stay sharp. With Lindsey gearing up to compete in the next event, the queen of skiing is ready to reclaim the spotlight and unleash her own magic on the slopes.