Skip to content
Lauren Macuga skis during the Women’s World Cup Downhill at the Stifel Birds of Prey on December 14, 2024 in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Photo: @dustinsatloff // @usskiteam

Empowering a vibrant community

In the athletics, the Vail Valley Foundation hosts two marquee events:

GoPro Mountain Games

Stifel Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup

These events bring vibrancy, economic impact, and international attention to our community while cultivating a culture of physical and behavioral health through activity, shared experiences, and athleticism.

Historically, the Vail Valley Foundation has hosted three Alpine World Ski Championships (1989, 1999, and 2015), and has organized many international events including World Mountain Bike Championships (1994, 2001), the Honda Session Snowboard Invitational, cycling events, and more.

Record attendance

The GoPro Mountain Games once again set the pace in the outdoor event industry with a record 95,000+ spectator visits over the course of the four-day event.

A collaborative laboratory

The “CoLab” Stage in Solaris Plaza found strong success in its second year. A robust lineup of high-profile hosts and guests came together with a sizzling schedule of events to make the CoLab Stage an epicenter for the event not only in terms of entertaining in-person attendees, but also to help bring international online attention to the event.

Trail running on the rise

The 2024 GoPro Mountain Games hosted more trail running events than ever before. 1,932 people took part and six of seven events sold out – a sure sign that running is on the rise.

A secure future for a big-time event

The GoPro Mountain Games had an elevated energy in 2024. Maybe it was the expanded event lineup, or the sold-out trail running events, or the off-the-hook CoLab Stage chock full of celebrities. Maybe it was the dogs (always a fan favorite) or maybe it was that the world’s greatest skier, Mikaela Shiffrin, stopped by to say hello and talk about her excitement for the Vail Valley Foundation’s Stifel Birds of Prey World Cup ski races taking place in December, 2024.

It’s no wonder, then, that the title sponsor of the event, GoPro, showed how much they love this treasured event by renewing their commitment to the Mountain Games through 2026. Partners like the Town of Vail and Vail Resorts, together with more than 100 sponsor activations, help make this event a “must see” experience for anyone who loves rivers, trails, mountains, sunshine and fresh mountain air.

Like everything the Vail Valley Foundation produces, the GoPro Mountain Games provide the very best in quality for everyone who comes to experience the mountains, and our community.

With helpful volunteers on every corner, more music, more food, more shade … more EVERYTHING, the 2024 GoPro Mountain Games showed that this 22-year-old event has the vitality and staying power to remain the epicenter of mountain sports and lifestyle for decades to come.

SETTING NEW RECORDS

Meet the Mountain Games Athlete Team

This vibrant team of Mountain Games-sponsored athletes embodies our core values: a passion for human-powered mountain sports, an active outdoor lifestyle, eco-consciousness, and a spirit of adventure.

Rob Prechtl headshot

Rob Prechtl

Multi-Sport

Rob Prechtl, born in the ’80s, has always been drawn to the outdoors. After dabbling in various sports throughout high school and college, he ended up in Colorado, where he unexpectedly got a chance to try out for the USA Men’s Raft Team, despite having no prior whitewater experience. Since then, Rob has thrived in whitewater sports and also works as a photographer and videographer in Minturn, Colorado. His laid-back approach reflects his love for adventure and creativity.

Haley Dumke

Off-road Cycling

Haley Dumke is a Vail Valley local with a passion for off-road cycling adventures and racing. Living in the Rocky Mountains, you can find Haley hitting the high alpine singletrack, pedaling some chunky gravel roads, or moving through the mountains with her bikepacking gear. Whether it’s experiencing the beauty of our local mountains, creating new community and friendships, or finding new capabilities and strengths within herself – cycling is Haley’s tool for exploration. Oh, and she likes to go fast!

Dax Macomber on a bike

Dax Macomber

Biking

Dax, an 11-year-old from Colorado, lives for the great outdoors. He adores hanging out with his dogs and cooling off in crystal-clear rivers. From an early age, he’s been passionate about biking, whether it’s mountain biking or BMX racing. Recently, Dax discovered dirt jumping, where he feels the most alive, energized, and free. As the seasons change, you’ll find him skiing down snowy slopes and playing hockey, eagerly embracing every thrilling adventure that comes his way.

Abby Holcombe with a kayak on a coastline

Abby Holcombe

Freestyle Kayaker

Abby Holcombe is a World Champion Freestyle Kayaker, 4x USA National Champion, 3x USA Team member, full-time traveler, and lover of adventure! Abby loves all types of kayaking but is most passionate about freestyle kayaking, where athletes perform aerial tricks and flips, like gymnastics, but in a kayak! She started competing at the Mountain Games at the age of 11, and it’s been a highlight each year since!

Brayden Kirby-Billingsley riding a bike

Brayden Kirby-Billingsley

Multi-sport

Meet Brayden. He’s a 20-year-old from Fort Collins, Colorado, who embodies the true spirit of adventure. Living out of his car, Brayden is constantly on the move, seeking out new thrills and experiences. His passions are whitewater sports and photography, and he’s dedicated to inspiring the younger generation to embrace the outdoors and find activities they love.

Dani Johnson with helmet and sunglasses

Dani Johnson

Mountain Biking

Dani Johnson is a versatile outdoor athlete with a dynamic lifestyle. When she’s not in Hollywood filming commercials as a stuntwoman, she competes as a professional mountain biker in international races. Off the bike, Dani enjoys horseback riding, dirt biking, snowboarding, and rock climbing. Known for her approachable nature and infectious enthusiasm, she consistently inspires those around her.

Davis Hermes slacklining in front of a hot air balloon.

Davis Hermes

Slacklining

Davis Hermes has been slacklining since he was 12, and now at 24, he’s already won a World Championship and set world records. His dedication to the sport is unmatched, and he’s always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on the line. Davis is driven by a passion to introduce slacklining to new audiences and inspire others to pursue their own passions, just as he’s done for himself.

Lara Hamilton multi-sport athlete bio photo

Lara Hamilton

Multi-sport

Lara, 26, is a trail runner and ski-mountaineer from Australia now based in Crested Butte, Colorado. She excels in sub-ultra mountain running, with top finishes at the World Mountain Running Championships and a win at the Golden Trail National Series USA in 2023. Outside of racing, Lara works in digital marketing and performs as a DJ and singer.

Gabe Linderman standing with arms crossed in from of indoor climbing wall.

Gabe Linderman

Climbing

Gabe is a true enthusiast for long days in the mountains, blending multiple sports into his adventures. As a passionate climber, he spends a considerable amount of time scaling small rocks and perfecting his technique. When he’s not climbing, you’ll find him running and scrambling through Colorado’s alpine regions, biking rugged trails, and constantly trying to recruit others for his next thrilling adventure.

BOP logo

Two weeks of
making history

A Swiss sweep on men’s weekend

The dual-weekend of Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup racing started off with three men’s races Dec. 6-8:  a downhill on Friday, a super G on Saturday, and a giant slalom on Sunday. By any measure, the Swiss had a dominant series of races, with Justin Murisier taking Friday’s downhill, Marco Odermatt securing the super G on Saturday, followed by Thomas Tumler’s giant slalom victory on Sunday. Not since 2009 has one nation swept the top of the podium, when another Swiss racer, Carlo Janka, won all three races (super combined, downhill, and giant slalom).

The return of women’s racing marks historic moment

For the first time ever, men’s and women’s Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup races were held on the famed Birds of Prey course in Beaver Creek on back-to-back weekends in December 2024. It was a major moment for ski racing in the U.S., our community, the Vail Valley Foundation and its partners, who worked for years to make this legendary dual-weekend come to fruition The 10-day festival was electric with racing, celebrations, historic moments, and more as our valley joined together to reach an apogee in the great story of our community’s ski racing legacy.

Read race recaps

Festivities for all

Beaver Creek came alive with festivities every day during this historic year for the Stifel Birds of Prey races. From the now-famous Beers of Prey Beer tasting, to sold-out shows and movies at the Vilar, to concerts in Beaver Creek Village, to give-a-ways, drum lines, and more at the race finish (phew!), this year’s races and surrounding festivities were not to be missed. A new-and-improved VIP experience got rave reviews, as did many of the ‘surprise-and-delight’ activities in both the race finish and Village area (like fireworks, warm cookies, DJ and live band sets). This year’s festivities were not limited to Beaver Creek – a major Tiësto concert was a smashing success in Vail’s Ford Park on Friday the 13th. We also hosted our inagural Stifel Birds of Prey Alpine Affair at the Grand Hyatt in Vail. In short, the entire Eagle River Valley came alive with racing and festivities throughout the World Cup weekends!

Racer ready in 3… 2… 1… GO!

A start of history for women’s racing!

A steep drop, a hard left-footed turn, makes this one of the toughest moments on the Tour.

Speeds are above 60 miles an hour – but almost a mile of track still remains!

Terrain can be tricky in the transitions from Pete’s Arena to Russi’s Ride.

This section is named after course designer Bernhard Russi.

The abyss is just what it sounds like – a stomach-churning drop into a compression point on this incredibly dynamic race course.

Redtail jump is where racers let it all fly – literally – as they air drop toward the finish line.

Racers raise their arms in triumph in front of thousands of rocking fans!

Two weekends of making history

  • 181 Athletes Skier image
  • 28 Nations Skier image
  • 5 Races Skier image
The eyes of the world

Our mountains were the epicenter of the ski racing world for two incredible weekends of men's and women's racing, plus concerts, festivities, and all-around fun.

“The VVF proved that not only can the organization do a very good job putting on men's races but also women's races. There are many familiar faces from the 2015 Alpine World Ski Championships and everybody is very happy to be back.”
–Andi Krönner
FIS Women's Race Director
American made

Team USA had a stellar showing led by racers like Lauren Macuga (pictured), Breezy Johnson, Keely Cashman, Bryce Bennett, Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Sam Morse, and Edwards native River Radamus.

Lauren Macuga skis during the Women’s World Cup Downhill at the Stifel Birds of Prey on December 14, 2024 in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Photo: @dustinsatloff // @usskiteam
  • 27,469

    Estimated attendees

    Tiesto concert in Vail Colorado during the Stifel Birds of Prey races December 6-15 in Beaver Creek and Vail. Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
  • Epic Year

  • $9.2M

    Estimated economic impact

A SOARING SENSATION

The dual-weekend of racing and festivities left us feeling light as a feather and flush with memories of greatness.

RECAP VIDEO