BEAVER CREEK (UNITED STATES) - Three-time defending World Cup overall champion Marcel Hirscher and US star Lindsey Vonn, the most successful female skier ever, lead top global racers into the Alpine Ski World Championships.
Austria's Marcel Hirscher celebrates after winning the men's giant slalom race during the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup in Adelboden, Switzerland, on January 10, 2015
The world's top skiers return to North America this week as the global event is contested in the United States for the first time in 16 years.
Americans Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin will compete over two weeks for the title of homecoming queen while Austria's Hirscher, seeking an unprecedented fourth World Cup overall crown in a row, leads a host of men's contenders in tackling the treacherous Birds of Prey course.
"It is awesome having the World Championships in the US," said American ski racer Ted Ligety. "It is something I have never experienced before so it is going to be a lot of fun having a big event in the US."
There have been only five worlds on US snow and none since 1999. The Americans also hosted this event in 1950, 1960, 1980 and 1989.
The mighty Austrians have had the most success at Beaver Creek since the World Cup circuit started racing on the layout in 1988 but the Americans aren't far behind. Austria has six World Cup wins while US skiers has five.
"It is the worlds. You got to risk everything. It is about a medal," said American Steven Nyman.
The 26-strong US team will be the largest followed by Austria with 25, France with 22, Switzerland with 21 and the small but powerful Norwegian team will have nine racers, led by World Cup downhill points leader Kjetil Jansrud.
The Austrian charge will be led by Hirscher, who seeks a fourth World Cup overall crown to move one behind Marc Girardelli's all-time men's record.
Hirscher leads the World Cup overall standings with 1,014 points compared to Jansrud's 834.
The Americans hope for a home snow advantage with a team featuring an intriguing mix of veterans like Body Miller, who appears to be on his last legs, and rising stars like Shiffrin and Travis Ganong.
And then there is Vonn, whose miracle comeback this season follows two knee surgeries and two years of on and off rehab work. She took her record 63rd career World Cup victory two weeks ago and is a favorite in downhill and Super-G, leading both in the World Cup standings.
- Miller, Svindal uncertain -
Miller, 37, has yet to race this year and is the oldest member of the team as well as the biggest question mark. It's not even known if Miller will race in Beaver Creek and team boss Patrick Riml said they aren't expecting much from Miller, who is in his eighth worlds.
"We are going to see how he feels day-by-day and whether we put him in a race," Riml said. "Everyone else is skiing on a very high level."
Norwegian speed veteran Aksel Lund Svindal was named to the world team but like Miller will be day-to-day.
Norway has plenty of firepower with Olympic super-G champ Jansrud, who is fully recovered from blowing out his knee at the 2013 Worlds, and 20-year-old phenom Henrik Kristoffersen.
"We have a mix of young and established performers for this year's World Championships," said team director Claus Johan Ryste. "There is greater competition in each discipline than ever before.
"We will be in the fight for medals in all disciplines on the men's side."
Germany has one of the largest teams with a dozen skiers, including eight men. Stefan Luitz is hoping to make his return from injury at Beaver Creek.
Italy's Daniela Merighetti is also expected to compete after suffering a recent injury.
Swiss Dominique Gisin, who suffered a fracture in a recent fall, will consult with team doctors before deciding whether she can ski.