Manuel Osborne-Paradis of Canada won today's 2010 Audi FIS Alpine World Cup famed Saslong Classic downhill at Val Gardena, Italy with Mario Scheiber, Austria, second  and T. Ambrosi Hoffmann of Switzerland finishing third.

The men's speed team continued the U.S. Ski Team streak of racking up World Cup points Saturday as  Bode Miller finished 9th and led five Americans into the  top 24 at the famed Saslong Classic downhill. It was just one year ago, the U.S. placed five racers in the top 10 and seven in the top 30. Check the complete results of the Val Gardena, Italy 2010 Audi FIS Alpine WC downhill.

Watch the upcoming men and women's World Cup races  - live on UniversalSports.com.

Related: Vote Lindsey Vonn Female Athlete of the Year | Join the U.S. Ski Team Fan Club

_{Photo Bode Miller in Val Gardena DH Copyright Getty Images}

Lindsey Vonn won Friday's Audi FIS World Cup Alpine Super Combined race in tVal d'Isere, France.  Not only did she have the best overall time - she won both the downhill and slalom portions.

"I definitely had some fast skis today, but I also think I skied really well. I think I made most of my time in the turns today, which I was really happy about," Vonn said. "I still made one mistake in the middle, but in general I was pretty dynamic and generating a lot of speed from the turns. That's what ultimately I wanted to do - have a solid run, and it was a good one."

Lindsey was joined on the podium by Maria Riesch of Germany, second and Elisabeth Goergl of Austria, third.  Four other U.S. women finished in the top 30 with Leanne Smith - 19th, Kaylin Richardson  - 22nd and Stacey Cook - 27th.  Check the complete results of the Audi FIS World Cup Alpine Women's Super Combined.

The women race again in France on Saturday in a downhill. Fans can watch the races live on UniversalSports.com with same-day coverage on Universal Sports TV.

Over in Val Gardena, Italy, Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal won a Men's World Cup Super G race, with Carlo Janka of Switzerland, second and Patrick Staudacher of Italy third. Bode Miller led the U.S. racers with a fifth place finish while  Andrew Weibrech,  Marco Sullivan, Erik Fisher and Jeremy Transue finished in the top 30. Check the results of the Val Gardena Audi FIS World Cup Alpine Men's Super G.

_{Photo Lindsey Vonn in Friday's Super Combined Copyright Getty Images}

The low hanging clouds over Jackson Hole Mountain Resort broke up early today and gave me my first look up the Tram line toward the 10,450' summit of Rendezvous Mountain - and what a pretty sight it is.

It will be a little while more before the snow piles up enough to make the upper terrain accessible for the Tram to run. However, there is more than enough trails open now to work the summer out of the thighs and to tune up the skills we left behind last spring.

I caught up with one group of skiers who are here at Jackson Hole this week participating in the Classic Adult Ski and Race Camp. This 5 day program is designed for intermediate and above skiers looking for early season training and conditioning and wanting to improve their racing skills.

The key to the popularity and success of the Classic Adult Ski and Race Camp is threefold:

• Seasoned instructors who help adults who were weaned on long straight skis and upper body contortion turning adjust to the more efficient potentials provided by shaped skis
• Small groups for greater individual attention
• Individual video taping of running a gate course

Maybe I should say fourfold, because another plus is that  Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Special Ambassador, U.S. Olympic gold and silver medalist Tommy Moe, takes time to ski around with each of the groups. It is pretty obvious, once meeting Tommy, that he enjoys meeting and coaching other skiers of all abilities and, shown here, he was offering pointers and insights to the campers and, of course, demonstrating some awesome gate running.

I really think this early season camp pumps up the muscle memory that took all of last season to perfect - a skill that may have withered over the long summer. Get it corrected this early and there will be a good long ski season to work on improving something else.

Another reason ski camps, and especially early season camps, are so good is that we can all use coaching. Tommy Moe counted off, for me, all his coaches he had during his U.S. Ski Team years and all great skiers have coaches. I've always said that's the fun of being an "advancing" skier.

Jackson Hole has a full schedule of ski and snowboard camps this season for all level skiers  including Steep and Deep Camp, Womens Camps, a Backcountry Camp, a Telemark Camp, an Adaptive Camp, and a Heli Skiing Camp.  In addition, Tommy Moe is available for private sessions with intermediate and expert skiers who are interested in a unique tour of the mountain.

_{JHMR Photo Copyright Mike Doyle
Tommy Moe photo Copyright Mike Doyle}

Who needs skiing lessons? In a word - everybody. When you consider that a ski instructor is, in effect, really a ski coach, does it surprise you that all Olympic ski teams have instructor/coaches? In fact, ski instructors have ski instructors.

What type of ski lessons should you look for? There was a time in the ski industry when there were rival schools of thought on how to teach the art and skill of skiing. Today, with the introduction of the shaped ski, there is an inherent turning capability engineered into the ski, so you're ahead of the game.

Related: Ski Lessons | Professional Ski Instructors of America

_{Photo Copyright Mike Doyle}

Two-time Audi FIS Alpine World Cup overall champion Lindsey Vonn  is one of 12 world class athletes nominated by the United States Sports Academy as its 2009 Female Athlete of the Year.

Voting closes Dec. 24, so vote now (and often)  for Vonn today at United States Sports Academy. You may vote as often as you like.

The Athlete of the Year ballot is the culmination of the Academy's yearlong Athlete of the Month program, which recognizes the accomplishments of men and women in sports around the globe. The Academy Athlete of the Month is selected by an international voting committee comprised of members of the media, sports organizations and governing bodies.

Lindsey Vonn, the 2008 World Cup overall and downhill champion, built upon her legacy during the 2009 season as she accumulated the most World Cup wins of any American female skier, surpassing U.S. great Tamara McKinney's previous high mark of 18 established in the 1980s with an astounding 22 wins. She also swept the women's speed events at Audi FIS Alpine World Championships in Val d'Isere, France with two gold medals. Vonn then closed the season with her second consecutive World Cup overall and downhill titles as well as the first super G title awarded to a U.S. woman.

The United States Sports Academy is an independent, nonprofit, accredited, special mission sports university created to serve the nation and the world with programs in instruction, research and service. The role of the Academy is to prepare men and women for careers in the profession of sports.

Remember, cast your votes for Lindsey Vonn at United States Sports Academy  - and tell a friend.

_{Lindsey Vonn Photo Copyright Getty Images}

Are you shopping for a holiday gift for your favorite skier or do you need a gift to add to your own holiday "wish list"?

This ski season you can find family ski vacation deals and discounts for top ski resorts around the country and around the world. Destination ski resorts are really reaching out to families with travel, lodging and skiing packages and you can find some real savings right at home as local areas offer enticing "staycations."

Another gift option is ski lessons.  As I always say, "Take a Lesson" and lessons make a great holiday gift.  You might want to add a season pass or a few days worth of lift tickets to cover all the bases.

For while you're not on the slopes, I've included a selection of my favorite skiing books, DVDs, and magazines.  And, of course, all the gear you need to hit the slopes.

Here are my choices for holiday gift giving - and receiving.

More: Ski Vacation Packages | Ski Lessons

_{Photo Copyright Mike Doyle}

If you are coming to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics to watch skiing or to ski during your stay, you will, of course, find yourself in Whistler village.

If you are in Vancouver for the softer side of the Winter Olympics, like perhaps Hockey, then find take a day and ride the Sea to Sky Highway up to Whistler Blackcomb Resort - even if you don't ski - yet.

Because, and I say this to everyone of all ages, skiers or not, you have to take a ride on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola.

I've ridden a lot of trams and a lot of gondolas at a lot of ski resorts around the world, but the ride I took yesterday on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola was totally amazing. Of course I have heard the publicity but nothing compares to string out across these two mountains. Let me do the numbers:

• the ride is 2.73 miles
• 1.88 miles is an unsupported span between 2 towers
• the ride time is approximately 11 minutes
• At the highest point you are 1427' above Fitzsimmons Creek
• There are only 4 (yes, four) towers
• The highest Tower is 213 feet

Now, there are 28 cabins that seat 22 and stand 6 people even full there is plenty of room. I rode one way with a snowboarding school of 15 boarders - surprisingly fun time listening to oohing and ahhing snowboarders.

Here's a little secret - of the 28 cabins several have a glass bottom and on the wall of the station at both the Blackcomb and Whistler sides is a circular diagram showing the order of the cabins for that day.

Look for the silver colored ones on the diagram and check the number of the cabin that is loading and you can see how long you have to wait to get a ride on the glass bottom cabin. It's never a long time, since one car departs every 49 seconds.

Even if you are into Vancouver on business in the summertime take a day to go up and ride the Peak 2 Peak Gondola. I can say this marvel of engineering totally wowed me - while putting me on a whole other world class mountain of skiing - in only 11 minutes of pure awe.

Check my photo gallery of Riding the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, but remember you really have to ride this to believe it.

_{Peak 2 Peak Whistler Loading Station Copyright Mike Doyle}

Beaver Creek's tag is "Not Exactly Roughing It" and this sets up the tempo for skiing Beaver Creek. That said, don't get too lulled in thinking you won't be skiing some pretty exhilarating terrain.

Beaver Creek Resort is located approximately 8 miles west of Vail, Colorado. Beaver Creek has 149 ski trails and 17 lifts. Beaver Creek's terrain is 19% beginner, 43% intermediate, and 38% advanced. With over 1800 acres of great skiing, Beaver Creek also offers two bowls, four terrain parks, and a half pipe. To top that off, Beaver Creek has special ski programs for families, children, adult skiers, adaptive skiers, and nordic skiers.

Beaver Creek has a variety of ski vacation deals including ski free and stay free packages, book early and save deals, and, a great deal for those who don't want to lug your skis or snowboards through airports - free skis and snowboard rentals.

More: Skiing Beaver Creek | Beaver Creek Photos

_{Image Copyright Beaver Creek}

Registration for the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour begins  Tuesday, December 8 at 10 am Mountain Standard Time for the following 3 events:

• Stop 2: 2010 Canadian Freeskiing Championships, Revelstoke, Canada - Jan. 6-10
• Stop 3: 2010 Subaru Freeskiing World Tour Qualifier, Telluride, CO - Feb. 4-6
• Stop 4: 2010 U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Championships, Crested Butte, CO - Feb. 17-21

On Wednesday, December 9 at 10am Mountain Standard Time registration goes live for the following 2 events:

• Stop 5: 2010 Subaru North AM Freeskiing Champ, Kirkwood, CA - March 3-7
• Stop 6: 2010 Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Nationals, Snowbird, UT - March 16-21

Take note that these events will sell out in a matter of minutes after registration goes live.  Last year the qualifiers sold out for each event in about 7 minutes!

Create your user account on the registration website beforehand to save time.  If you already have an account, check your user name and password to make sure they work and are correct.

Also, be sure you register for the correct discipline within each event.  Register for the qualifier if you aren't on the pre-qualified list and if you are on the pre-qualified list, register for the World Tour event.  Go to: freeskiingworldtour.com to look at the pre-qualified list, and review the prices and prizes for the events.

Since right after last January when I previewed the 2009 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Val d'Isere, France, I have been preparing and presenting the Road to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Yesterday, I spent in the air to Vancouver and on the Sea To Sky Highway running out of Vancouver up to Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort.  I'm here to get a real, in person, feel of the preparations and build up for the 2010 Winter Olympic Alpine, Cross Country and Nordic events.

It is quite obvious, 99% of everything is ready, and has been ready for quite awhile.  To me, a winter traveler and skier, everything that makes Whistler Blackcomb a world class resort is still here and available. Nothing is reserved for Olympic time that hasn't always been experienced at Whistler Blackcomb.

Of course, there is an energy around town that precipitates any once-in-a-lifetime event. Whistler Blackcomb will be the world stage for history making skiing.

Olympic ski races are always history making and a ski racer doesn't have to win another race to be forever enshrined as a 2010 Olympic medalist. Whenever an Olympic Medal winner  sees his or her name in print it will invariably be followed by the tag - 2010 Winter Olympic Gold/Slver or Bronze Medal winner.  How awesome is that!

Over the next 4 days I'll be taking in Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort, Vancouver, the city  - lending it's name to the whole 2010 Winter Olympic gathering - and Cypress Mountain - home to the freestyle events.

Related:  Winter Olympics | Olympic Skiing Venues | Winter Olympics History

_{Photos on the Sea To Sky Highway Copyright Mike Doyle}