On October 26, the 2024 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup kicked off on the slopes of Sölden, Austria. However, tragedy struck just two days after the season opener. 19-year-old skiing prodigy Matilde Lorenzi’s fatal crash at Val Senales, Italy, put an abrupt end to the enthusiasm among the fans. The accident shook the skiing world as fans grieved the untimely death of a potential future star.

The World Cup events proceeded as planned, with USA Skiing aiming to help fans move forward from recent tragedies at the upcoming Stifel Birds of Prey competition on Beaver Creek Mountain in Avon, Colorado. This renowned venue, a staple for World Cup events since December 1997, promises an especially memorable atmosphere this year, with enhanced anticipation for both the event and the competitors.

A more than just FIS Ski World Cup action

Those looking for pure alpine skiing action can look forward to a combined ten days of action at the legendary location. With a revelation of 11,427 ft and a vertical height of 2,470 ft, Birds of Prey is among the most challenging and fastest downhill courses in the world. The name Birds of Prey comes from the series of precarious jumps named after several iconic winged predators.

So starting December 6, fans will witness some of the best skiers in the world tackle jumps such as the Peregrine, Goshawk, Screech Owl, and more. Team USA fans will get the chance to witness national icons such as Mikaela Shiffrin make history at the course. Besides the standard, Super-G, Giant Slalom, and Downhill events for the men, the women will tackle the downhill event for the first time at Birds of Prey in 2024.

“We are excited to welcome the women back to Beaver Creek for a super-G and the first-ever women’s downhill on the Birds of Prey course,” Pete Sonntag of the Sun Valley Resort said in September. However, skiing will only be the tip of the iceberg as Beaver Creek will celebrate hosting the Ski World Cup with a plethora of festivities.

“We have a fantastic lineup of live music, representing a wide array of musical tastes, and events planned,” read Stifel Birds of Prey’s official press release. These festivities will happen alongside the contests and spread across several venues including the John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium, Beaver Creek Village, Vilar Performing Arts Center, and more.

Over the 10-day Beaver Creek event, Grammy-winning DJ Tiesto and acclaimed musician Grace Potter will headline the musical performances, adding excitement to the Ski World Cup. Attendees will also get a taste of exclusive local brews at the popular Beers of Prey event, now in its ninth year, showcasing a variety of unique beers crafted by local breweries.

While the Birds of Prey organizers have made many events free for the public, they’ll have to buy tickets for the highlights such as the Tiesto concert, Beers of Prey event, and more. While the exclusive beverage rating event tickets start at $35, they climb to $45 for those who decide to buy tickets on the day of the event. Now let’s take a look at the detailed rundown of all the events that organizers have planned for the FIS Ski World Cup fans.

All you need to know about the event schedule at Beaver Creek

Men’s Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup

December 6, 2024

Free Events 

• Event: Turntable Revue (Live Music)
  Venue: John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium
  Time: 9:30 a.m.
• Event: Men’s Downhill
  Venue: John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium
  Time: 11 a.m.
• Event: Greg Garmin (DJ set)
  Venue: CELSIUS Essential Vibes Stage
  Time: 2 p.m.
• Event: Stifel U.S. Alpine Team Signing
  Venue: Gorsuch
  Time: 3 p.m.
• Event: Yonder Mountain String Band
  Venue: CELSIUS Essential Vibes Stage
  Time: 4 p.m.
• Event: Men’s Super G Bib Draw
  Venue: CELSIUS Essential Vibes Stage
  Time: 6 p.m.
• What: Fireworks
  Where: Beaver Creek Village
  When: Post-men’s bib draw

Paid Events

• Event: Warren Miller’s 75
  Venue: Vilar Performing Arts Center
  Time: 5 p.m.
• Event: Warren Miller’s 75
  Venue: CELSIUS Essential Vibes Stage
  Time: 8 p.m.

December 7, 2024

Free Events

• What: Super G Saturday
  Where: John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium
  When: 9 a.m.
• What: Men’s Super G
  Where: John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium
  When: 10:30 a.m.
• What: Meet the Cats and Dogs of Beaver Creek
  Where: John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium
  When: 12:30 p.m.
• What: Frank Walker (DJ Set)
  Where: CELSIUS Essential Vibes Stage
  When: 2 p.m.
• What: The Spazmatics
  Where: CELSIUS Essential Vibes Stage
  When: 4:15 p.m.

Paid Events

• What: Beers of Prey
  Where: Beaver Creek Village
  When: 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• What: Big Head Todd and The Monsters
  Where: Vilar Performing Arts Center
  When: 6:30 p.m.

December 8, 2024

• Event: DJ Trizz
  Venue: John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium
  Time: 8:30 a.m.
• Event: Men’s Giant Slalom – first run
  Venue: John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium
  Time: 10 a.m.
• Event: Men’s Giant Slalom – second run
  Venue: John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium
  Time: 1 p.m.
• Event: The Takes
  Venue: CELSIUS Essential Vibes Stage
  Time: 2 p.m.

Women’s Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup

December 11

• Event: The Evolution Trio
  Venue: Stranahan’s Music Stage
  Time: 4:30 p.m.

December 12

• Event: Walden and Pop-up Après
  Venue: Stranahan’s Music Stage
  Time: 3:00 p.m.

Paid Events

• Event: Elephant Revival
  Venue: Vilar Performing Arts Center
  Time: 7 p.m.

December 13

• Event: Sparkle City Disco
  Venue: Stranahan’s Music Stage
  Time: 2 p.m.
• Event: Stifel U.S. Alpine Team Signing
  Venue: Gorsuch
  Time: 2:45 p.m.
• Event: Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge
  Venue: Stranahan’s Music Stage
  Time: 4:15 p.m.

Paid Events

• Event: Teton Gravity Research “Beyond the Fantasy”
  Venue: Vilar Performing Arts Center
  Time: 4 p.m. & 7 p.m.
• Event: Tiesto
  Venue: Ford Park, Vail
  Time: 6:30 p.m.

December 14

• Event: Get Down at the Downhill
  Venue: John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium
  Time: 9:30 a.m.
• Event: Women’s Downhill
  Venue: John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium
  Time: 11 a.m.
• Event: Meet the Cats and Dogs of Beaver Creek
  Venue: John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium
  Time: 12:30 p.m.
• Event: Sparkle City Disco
  Venue: Stranahan’s Music Stage
  Time: 2 p.m.
• Event: Eggy
  Venue: Stranahan’s Music Stage
  Time: 4 p.m.
• Event: Women’s Downhill Awards and Super G Bib Draw
  Venue: Stranahan’s Music Stage
  Time: 6 p.m.
• Event: Fireworks
  Venue: Beaver Creek Village
  Time: Post women’s bib draw

Paid Events

• Event: Beers of Prey
  Venue: Beaver Creek Village
  Time: 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• Event: Grace Potter
  Venue: Vilar Performing Arts Center
  Time: 6:30 p.m.

December 15

• Event: Turntable Revue
  Venue: John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium
  Time: 9:30 a.m.
• Event: Women’s Super G
  Venue: John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium
  Time: 11 a.m.
• Event: Heartbyrne
  Venue: Stranahan’s Music Stage
  Time: 12:15 p.m.

The FIS Ski World Cup event marks a new dawn for skiing at Birds of Prey

Besides hosting the first Women’s downhill race in the course’s history and performance by artists such as Tiesto, there is another reason why this is a special year for Birds of Prey. That’s because philanthropists John and Karen Arnold have made a substantial contribution to promoting skiing at Birds of Prey.

“Their generous contribution ensures that our legacy as an Alpine World Cup organizer since 1981 can continue for years to come,” Vail Valley Foundation president Mike Imhof said about the contributions. In fact, the Arnolds’ donations were so substantial that Birds of Prey renamed its finish venue as the John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium.

Alpine skiing fans who attended the FIS Ski World Cup in Colorado in December will get free access to observe the skiing action from the venue. “We wanted to honor that amazing history and make certain it has a bright future for decades to come,” John Arnold said when discussing his intentions behind contributing. Taking all this into account, it’s clear that USA Skiing hopes to make Birds of Prey the most memorable stop for the 2024-25 Ski World Cup season.