THE WORLD CUP AT ASPEN: A HOMECOMING

[Music] This is World Cup action, the World Series of Ski Racing. No oneshot affair like the Winter Olympics. This is the winterlong test for the world's best skiers. It starts in France just after Thanksgiving with races on three continents before finishing in Switzerland just before Easter. For the US ski team, the World Cup has traditionally been one continuous away game. An endless road trip for the Americans competing against the Europeans on their mountains in their hometown. I'm George Hamilton and this is Aspen, Colorado. My mountain and my hometown in winter. And when the World Cup stopped here for Aspen Win International 81, the Americans finally had the Europeans on their home court. And Phil Mayer had Ingmar Denmark on his home turf when it counted for the world title. [Music] >> Hi, I'm George Hamilton. >> And I'm Susan St. James. And we're here in beautiful Aspen, Colorado for the Aspen Winter National 1981. >> The Winter National celebrates winter, but this year it highlights the World Cup races. >> You know, Susan, racing has always been part of the winter scene here in Aspen. >> Fortunately, these baggy pants are ancient history. >> Oh, but Susan, those were the hot outfits when they raced down Ruthy's run for the Roach Cup 30 years ago. But not nearly as hot, George, as an electric yellow bodysuit that France Clommer wore when he won the downhill here in 1976. >> That was the last time the World Cup was held in Aspen. And Clumber set an unforgettable record just for wearing a bodysuit. >> I'm sure George, I don't think many people will ever forget the weather for this year's World Cup. >> Well, we thought we'd impress the international folks a bit, Susan, with some of the Rocky Mountain white stuff and made sure it was snowing just as they pulled into town the way it should be in a resort like that. >> Oh, really, George? Nearly 2 feet of fresh powder two days before the race. It is a bit much. much. >> Do you know what that can do to a downhill course? >> But it slows it down just to the right speed for old handsome George the downhill racer. >> Wrong actor George. That was handsome Robert Redford the downhill racer. >> And it took two work crews night and day here in Aspen to prepare the course for the real downhill racers. >> Sure. That was Robert Redford. I've done an awful lot of pictures. I think it was in there. Anyway, it was the Aspen folks who went up to the mountain, packed it down with skis, boots, and shovels just to make sure that when the world's best were ready, so were we. And when they came, it looked like the Olympic Games. Racers from 13 countries, the Welss from Likensstein, the Swiss from the Alps, and the Russians from the Caucuses. The Americans were ready to turn Aspen Mountain into their Yankee Stadium and their Forest Hills for the World Cup. >> It is cold, bright, and sunny when the best of the fastest assemble at top Ajax for the men's downhill. Steve Padborski of Canada, tied with Hardy Wide Roder of Austria for the title, will have two chances to prove he is the fastest racer in the world. Aspen has been chosen as a site for not one, but the last two downhills of the season because of a previous rain out in Austria. Each racer is momentarily left alone to collect his thoughts and himself for a vertical drop down a mountain side at speeds up to 80 mph. The races will run solo, but the downhill is a team sport with each contingent sharing complex strategies and formulas for wax, skis, and anything that will make them go faster. Of course, gravity will be the greatest factor of all, and Ruthiey's run at Aspen would make Galileo proud. Dropping 2600 vertical feet down the nearly two-mile course, the racers will be confronted with 60° following turns to spring pitch and a 40% drop from Aztec. [Music] The course will prove to be too much for Herbert Flank, the first man on the course, and 15 others. The Austrians have developed what has become the Pittsburgh Steelers of the downhill with Heidi Rodri tied with Padvorski of Canada for the individual title and for depth they have Leonard Stock the Olympic gold medalist in 1980 and France Clommer the legend and Olympic gold medalist in 1976. The Austrians will flood the starting gate with a veritable army of nine racers to assure victory in the downhill. [Music] By comparison, the Russians will send a single soldier to do battle with the world's best. >> Out of the start comes 19-year-old Valerie Ziggoff of the Soviet Union in his tuck. A lot of air, a little bit unsteady as he comes off that first fallway turn in Ruthies. Zigg off a long shot in this competition. The best he's done all year is 13th at Valazair, but his start position could be significant today. He starts from the number two position and the sun beating. >> The Russians have never won an alpine skiing event in the World Cup competition. overnight. >> Valerie Siggonov, the son of steel worker from Siberian town of Munchkor, started skiing in the Caucuses when he was only 11 years old. For the past 6 years, he has been the Soviet's top downhiller and the only hope for their first victory in the downhill. >> Having a much quicker time than anybody in training yesterday, coming towards the finish now. His time 152.95. That's good enough to beat the Austrians, the Canadians, and the world on this day as the 24 year old from Siberia scores the Soviet Union's first World Cup victory. [Music] The next day, Siberia comes to Aspen. The only thing more obscure than the downhill course is who will win the overall downhill title and this the last run of the season. Wide rudder of Austria or Pardski of Canada. When the weather clears for the race, so does the outcome to this year's all-consuming haggling among the speed merchants. Steve Podorski of Canada is a survivor. His path to this year's last downhill race is littered with casualties like teammate Chris Kent and Andy Mill of the United States. Steve Podorski in an all critical run for him. Out onto the course he comes now in his tuck in the top portion of Aztec in his 10th and final downhill of the World Cup season. He must win this downhill and hope that by rider does not. >> Just two weeks before this race, Padorski himself survived a serious automobile crash near Vancouver. >> Padorski is a prototype of the international ski racer of the 80s. Sporting a gold earring and a sterling smile. The engaging 23-year-old from Ontario, Canada, is a superior athlete. He is also heady enough to tell you in three languages what a kick in the pants it is to ride a pair of skis faster than most people dare to drive a car. 9. A time by rider will no doubt implant in his mind. >> Flying high after his historic victory, the Soviets Valerie Sigenov is next. But as is often the case, yesterday's victor becomes today's victim. He will not see the finish. Like he has done consistently throughout the season, Hardy Widerodder of Austria will make the perilous flight non-stop and on schedule. He has to because Padorski's run today has stood the challenge of 12 previous racers in a Canadian win would erase the Austrians precarious grasp on the downhill title. >> Ryder has won twice before this season, but now Padorski has raised the stakes with a brilliant run. >> Now he must antie up one more victory to win the pot. >> Very smooth. Will it be quick towards the midway by Roder hits midway and it is off the pace of Padorski by 800th of a second. Pad Borski leads him at midway. He's going to have to pick up the pace by >> the lower part of the course is the fastest and why rudder can have all the speed his legs and spirit can handle. >> And in the Austrian downhill tradition, the shrases and the clers, his capacity for both will prove to be great. >> Stay right on top of his skis. Now, as he comes towards the bottom section of the course, he's got to beat 152.49. >> Why rudders victory in the last downhill of the season earns him the downhill title. But Borski will finish second and continue wondering what it takes to beat the Austrians. Pete Patterson of the United States and his teammates think they have an idea, but they might have lacked in the right waxing combinations and early starting positions in the past. They plan to make up this week at Aspen with fierce aggressiveness on their home turf. After coming close the day before, Pete Patterson publicly vows to ski faster than he's ever skied before and let fate run its course. Cruel fate it was. And like his two comrades who crashed the day before, he found the home turf hard and unforgiving. But America's Doug Powell incredibly broke into the top 10 from his impossible 29th starting position. >> When the women took over the home court and Aspen Mountain, Cindy Nelson was waiting. A 10-year veteran of US women's ski racing, she has battled the Europeans on virtually every snow coververed patch of the Alps. In quite possibly her last season, she will summon up all her experience, skill, and strength to lead the ski world something to remember her by when they come to the Rockies. Cindy Nelson will equal her bronze medal performance in the 1976 Olympics and take third. Two days later, she will cap her best week on the international circuit with a fifth in the giant slalom to earn the combined award at >> to maintain her momentum. Here comes Nelson into the final turn on the course. The bronze medalist in this downhill event coming towards the finish could have an excellent time. Her time is 1 minute 25.16. Ali Flanders, the energetic downhiller from New Hampshire, also responds to the partisan crowd >> by transmitting her personal exuberance to the bottom of her skis. She will arrive to collect fourth and earn enough points to break the Europeans's lock on the season's top 10 down. And while two veterans from Switzerland compete for their season's title, an Austrian teenager sporting a Snoopy figure on the side of her crash helmet, steals the show. This race belongs to 18-year-old Elizabeth Kersler. Young Elizabeth Kersler on course from Austria, just 18 years old. In the top portion of the course, she's trying to go fast, but she's having some problems up there, and she has a slow intermediate time. She's going to have to pick up the pace in the bottom, and she looks like she knows. This is Elizabeth Kersel's first year on the World Cup tour. Now she has her first World Cup victory and has given the veteran somebody else to worry about. For the American women, all their extra training sessions, the concentration tests, and even karate lessons, two days a week seem to have come together when they raced here at Aspen on their home turf. I think for all Americans, we find it really nice to come home where we can speak the language, smile at the people, eat our own foods, go out at night and have, you know, a good time and still come up and race. It's a totally different atmosphere that when we have in Europe, we get really pent up and you just don't feel at home. So, for having one race out of the season, come home. I think uh like you saw today, the Americans did well. You'll see it again in the men's GS and hopefully in our ladies. So, everybody's pretty happy to be home. The last time Ingmar Denmark raced in America was last year at Lake Placid where he took home two gold medals. He is the unofficial crown prince of Sweden and the reigning king of skiing. Ever since Phil Mayer and Ingmar Denmark first started on the World Cup circuit back in 1974, they challenged each other with a personal intensity matched only by Borg and Mackenroe in tennis. Because of the complex scoring system for the World Cup, Phil Mayer now has his best chance of closing on the world champion in the giant slalom at Aspen. >> Well, right now I'm staying second overall in the World Cup. I'm I think 41 points behind Mars Denmark. And the main thing that I want to accomplish here is to win this giant slalom. >> Phil Mayer will get his chance on home turf. This is George Hamilton again and Susan St. James with me. And you probably read the banner behind us which said finish. I hope you don't think that's literal. It's actually the start of something really big. And why don't you tell them about what's next? >> Well, we're going to have a celebrity challenge race. We're going to raise money for the US ski team by getting all of us, you know, highly tuned actor athletes up on the hill against each other. You against a >> I've never been accused of being an actor, just an athlete. George, when you race? Oh, yes. See, I can't decide who you remind me. >> I'll just try to guess. How about the Junko Kitty? >> Possibly. After all, your feet are spread far apart. >> Oh, just a few silly millimeters. >> No, no, no. It's something about that hatless look in your hair, sweat back and reckless abandoned on the >> co. Yeah, like uh say Billy Kid, huh? >> No, no. I was thinking of someone a little older like like Tony Syler. >> Come on, Susan. Look, look how look how I catapulted myself across the finish line just to crush my opponent. It was to >> You're right, George. At least you were standing at the finish. >> Susan, I think you suffered from overconfidence in your race. >> Well, I never had to give anyone a 13-gade handicap at the start before. And then after my opponent, Susan George was on the course, I couldn't help but watch her when she started heading for Wyoming. >> Yeah, she did take a take a few turns, make one little big wide turn. >> And then after she was halfway down the mountain, I took off. I was trying to concentrate on her and the course at the same time. And then of course she fell and I fell and the whole thing turned into a big mess. I don't think anyone would confuse actors like myself, Brit Ecklan, Jill St. John and Life Garrett with the real athletes competing for the world. >> Well, I certainly know the difference. >> The spectators paid to see the best women skiers in the world and the American women did not disappoint them. In the giant slalom, Tamara McKini, the youngest member of the US ski team, came home to Aspen with the European veterans like Nadensil and Kinshoer trailing but in close pursuit. But just minutes before her first run, she was almost run over by a snowcat while practicing and raced a slow third. In this her second run and last chance for a victory, she unccorks a beauty. >> Ski team for the future. And you can see why right now. She's skiing perfectly as she comes towards the finish line. Now here comes McKinnon in 1 minute, 6.58. Incredible combined time of 2 minutes, 23.59 to take the lead and perhaps lengthen her lead in the women's GS standings. For the third time this year, 18-year-old Tamara McKenna from Olympic Valley, California, has won a giant slalom race. Later, she will go on to win the world title for the event. And the United States women, having been shut out entirely last year, had their best week ever in international competition right here in Aspen on their home court. >> Today is the men's giant slalom. Now, for three days, it's been snowing and for two weeks, they've been working on this course. It's going to be the hottest course on the circuit. Let's go take a look. Okay. >> Phil Mayer knows painfully well what it's like to be close to a World Cup title and then break an ankle like he did in 79. And in the 80 Olympics, he had Ingmar Stenmark at the first run in the slalom, only to lose him on the second. Phil knows he can beat Ingmar. He did it early this season on the Swedes home turf. Ajax at Aspen with the 1981 World Cup title on the line would be a perfect place for Stenmark to return the favor and avenge his loss to the American and Sweden. Stenmark surveys the steep course, searching for the most efficient line through the gates. The two men are a contrast in style both on and off their skis. Stenmark on the right, a reclusive fly fisherman in the summer and methodical skier in the winter. Mayor on the left, an outgoing motocross racer and equally aggressive competitor on the slopes. They have trained together for several years and are quick to compliment and defend each other's successes and failures, but neither is comfortable being constantly compared with the other. Winning the giant solemn here and going on to win the overall World Cup title is as good a way as any to clear the air when the subject is the world's best skier. This race has taken on the characteristics of a heavyweight fight. It will be two rounds and two trips down the course. >> Stenmark in white with blue and gold stripes will go first. >> Most successful ski racer in history now looking for his 63rd career victory. But this giant slum will not earn him any points. He has maximum points in GS. The only reason he has come here to Aspen instead of resting at home in Sweden is to stop Phil Mayer from winning this event. And right now, Stenmark is flawless in the top portion of the course. Skiing very smooth, very quick. Into his tuck towards the finish line comes Stenmark in one minute. 35.24. Good time. >> When it's Phil Mayer's turn, nine other races will have already tried and failed to beat Stin's time. He still can't stay close in the first run. The second will be academic. >> Mayor fast in the top. He's a bit erratic now though in the middle. He gets it back together and he's scrambling towards the finish trying to catch up to Denmark's time and it's going to be real close for Phil Mayer at the finish at 1 minute 35.43 and this battle's getting hotter. >> Round one goes to Ingmar, but Phil doesn't give him much breathing room. 19100s of a second. They both agree that this is the most difficult giant slom course of the season. An appropriate setting for a showdown between two men who are used to staying very close to each other, going up and down mountains around the world. On the second run, Steve Mayor, Phil's twin brother, is the first racer on the course. He finds a line through a difficult section of gates and by radio offers some new strategy for Phil waiting at the start. [Music] There might be 48 other skiers left in this race, but as far as Phil Mayer's concerned, at the start of his final run, there is only one, and he is waiting in the starting gate behind him. Pushing out of the start comes Phil Mayer in his second and final run of this Giant Slom in Aspen, Colorado. It's the eighth Giant Sloomm of the season out of 11 overall. Mayor earlier in the season did not farewell in Giant Soomn. was concentrating in downhill trying to get combined points points that Angmar's Denmark did not even seek and mayor was hoping that that would make the difference between he and Stenmark winning the World Cup and so far that strategy has played well but mayor has to do well now in this giant slum and so far he's doing extremely well as he goes into Dgo road and at the top Denmark readies himself for this second run for him in this giant slalom in the middle section Phil Mayer very aggressive very smooth now and Mayor trying to make up that time he stood second behind Denmark after the first run. Out at top is Angmar's Denmark, the number one ski racer in the world. He is known to do extremely well in his second runs of events. However, that is usually when he is behind coming into that second run. Right now, he stands in first place. Right ahead of Bill Mayer. Mayor in the bottom section of the course. Stenmark very smooth. Technically almost perfect in the top portion of the course is the sweet. At the bottom, Bill Mayer coming into the final few turns on the course as the crowd begins to intensify. Here comes Mayer towards the finish. He's going to have an excellent time as he skates his way around the last gate and across the finish line in 1 minute. 37.33. A combined time of 31 12.76. An incredibly fast pace mayor has set for Angmar Denmark. The crowd has gone crazy. Near Denmark, 10 Denmark here or not? We don't know. But he's trying to pick up the pace right now. He must feel something. He has got to go faster now in these bottom section of the course. In these final two gates, Denmark trying to pick up the pace. He needs better than 1 minute 37.52. Across the finish line is time 137.66. It's not going to be done. >> Is over. Bill Mayer has given Ingmar Stenmark his second defeat this year in the giant swallow. Steve Mayer has finished third and Stenmark will later claim it was the turning point in the season and it was because three weeks later Phil Mayer went on to win the World Cup title. The first American ever to do so. The two American brothers from Yakima, Washington know what it's like to race at home. >> This is a big booth to be in your home crowd and have people, you know, rooting for you all the time. >> I I can't really comment further. He's pretty much said it all. >> After Aspen, one of the longest road trips in any sport wound its way to Japan and Switzerland before ending in Yakama, Washington. Phil Mayer has brought home the crystal globe, emblematic of the world's best ski racer. Yaka's homecoming for Phil and Steve Mayer, America's most successful skiers, was just like the ones in Europe when the Europeans ruled the mountains. That was until they met the Americans on their home turf. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.