Vail Resorts Congratulates Lindsey Vonn and Celebrates Her Achievements by Naming a Trail After Her on Vail Mountain

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Feb 28, 2010, 08:44 ET

VAIL, Colo., Feb. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Vail Resorts and the entire Vail community offer their heartfelt congratulations to hometown hero and decorated Champion, Lindsey Vonn. In recognition of her many achievements in ski racing and that she represents Vail's first ever gold medal, Vail Resorts is announcing that it is renaming a trail on Vail Mountain after Vonn.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100228/LA62183)

The expert "International" trail on Vail Mountain will be renamed "Lindsey's" and the new trail sign will greet skiers and snowboarders today. This trail is a fitting choice as it was the site of the women's speed events during the World Alpine Ski Championships at Vail and Beaver Creek in 1989 and 1999. Additionally, the central location of the trail gives all guests at Vail easy access to ski or ride it like a champion throughout the winter season.

Vonn's unprecedented success in the 2010 Olympic Games is one for the record books. Vonn was the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the Downhill and also took home a bronze in the Super G. Her feats in alpine skiing comprise an impressive list: Two consecutive Overall World Cup titles, four World Cup discipline titles, four World Championship medals (including two gold), 31 World Cup wins (11 so far this season), 60 World Cup podium finishes (17 so far this season), and she currently leads the Overall World Cup standings this year.

"We could not be prouder of Lindsey and her success at the Olympic Games. She truly embodies the Vail spirit with her perseverance in the face of adversity, dedication and hard work, and commitment to excellence - both on and off the snow," said Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer of Vail Resorts. "'Lindsey's' on Vail Mountain is a perfect location for her namesake trail. As a former race course for the best women ski racers in the world and a groomed black diamond favorite for our guests, it is where future champions and everyday skiers alike can be inspired by Lindsey's success. We are excited to welcome Lindsey home to her new run."

While she was born in Burnsville, Minn. in 1984, Vonn considers Vail her "hometown" as she and her family commuted to Vail for training for several years before finally moving there permanently in the late 90s to further her racing career. Lindsey spent her formative years on Vail Mountain, honing her racing skills in all alpine disciplines with the Ski & Snowboard Club Vail, then went on to achieve success in major U.S. and international events such as the Junior Olympics, Junior Worlds, NorAms and Europa Cup before entering the International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup circuit.

When she's not rigorously training or garnering medals, Vonn makes a beeline for Vail's legendary Back Bowls to free ski. She and former teammate/Olympian Thomas Vonn married in September 2007. When they're not traveling on the road, the Vonns make their home at the Arrabelle at Vail Square, A RockResort in Vail, Colo.

Vail Mountain has supported Vonn throughout her career and Vonn now represents all five of Vail Resorts' world-class mountain resorts–Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado and Heavenly in California/Nevada.

Vonn fans can follow Lindsey through her ski racing career this past year via www.LindseyIsEpic.com. The site provides the most detailed background and insider's view of Vonn's endeavors this ski season including more than 25 webisodes and interviews with Vonn chronicling her successful ski career and season to date on the World Cup circuit. The weekly webisodes give fans an insightful perspective on Vonn's dedication and drive to becoming a World Champion from preparing and training for World Cup events in her hometown Vail to pre-season ski fitness sessions in the gym and World Cup race footage as well other unique surprises about Lindsey, including being an owner of three cows and a goat.

About Vail Resorts

Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resort properties of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone mountain resorts in Colorado, the Heavenly Ski Resort in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada, and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties across the United States and the Caribbean. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.