SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt., Dec. 4, 2024—The annual Stifel Killington Cup, a women’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup race, drew more than 39,000 visitors to Killington Resort over Thanksgiving weekend, with a record 21,500 in attendance for Saturday’s giant slalom race featuring Mikaela Shiffrin, who was racing for a historic 100th win.

This is the eighth year the resort has hosted the race, and it was ultimately a gold medal snowmaking effort that won the weekend. According to Amy Laramie, vice president of brand marketing and events, Killington received no measurable natural snow in November, and warm temperatures hampered snowmaking operations in the weeks and days leading up to the race. 

“Although Mother Nature was stingy with cold temperatures this November, the Killington snowmaking team was able to pull off the seemingly impossible to lay down enough snow for the race to proceed as scheduled,” she said. 

Crucial to that effort were 36 new tripod-mounted low-e HKD Phazer snow guns and four new HKD Diablo fan guns, installed this summer on the course, located on Superstar trail. 

Record crowds on Saturday of 21,500Crews used 200,000 gallons of water to create 103-acre feet of snow for the course and to freeze the venue ahead of the race.

A 21-inch storm on Thanksgiving Day was both a help and a hindrance in some respects.  

“We had a crew of people shoveling each grandstand Friday, [and] a team of three groomers were on course throughout the storm pushing the snow off,” said Laramie. 

On Friday, rather than do a full injection, snowmakers sprayed the top layer of the course to firm up conditions. 

More than 350 volunteers were enlisted to help with the event.

The new snow also beckoned the powder hounds, putting additional pressure on the resort’s parking, and food and beverage operations. Killington and Jay Peak were the only Vermont ski areas open on Friday. 

“The majority of our guests where here just for the races over Thanksgiving weekend, however, given Mikaela’s top seat at the end of the first giant slalom run on Saturday general admission and ski guests flocked to the event venue in anticipation of seeing her 100th win,” said Laramie.

Jon Hammond, Sugarbush, Jon Rucker, Head and SAM's Katie BrintonThe weekend began on Friday with the athlete bib presentation and fireworks display and more than 1,000 children from New England ski clubs participated in the opening day parade on Saturday. The race featured more than 60 of the top female alpine ski racers from 19 different countries, and the event was broadcast in more than 60 countries worldwide with live coverage in the U.S. 

Unfortunately, a dramatic crash spoiled Shiffrin’s attempt at a 100th World Cup victory.

This year’s race also highlighted “HERoic,” a women’s initiative by the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team, designed to empower and create opportunities for women in the ski industry. 

Laramie noted that this was the first major event for the resort with its new ownership. Leaders of the investment group Michael Ferri and Phil Gross were on hand to cheer on the athletes all weekend.  

“It’s always a thrill to host the best female alpine skiers at The Beast,” said Killington president and CEO Mike Solimano. “It takes a huge effort from the whole team and volunteers to pull off this event and I would just like to say thank you to everyone, especially the fans, for making this one to remember.”

SAM's Olivia Rowan, Daren Cole, LPOA, Mike Solimano, Killington, Anton Seeber, HTI and Phill Gross, Killington

Mike Solimano, Killington, Carolyn Stimpson, Wachusett, Michael Ferri, Killington