Grand Opening of a Very Special Skiing Season

The Rettenbach Glacier in Sölden will set the stage for the traditional season opener to the Audi FIS Ski World Cup this weekend. For the fourth time already AUDI AG gives its name to the alpine season which, this time, will culminate in the Winter Olympics in Turin (10 to 26 February 2006). The series of competitions will be opened with the women’s and men’s giant slalom in Tyrol. One of the stars at the start at an altitude of 3,048 metres will be the American Bode Miller. Last year, he first won the season opener in Sölden and later the overall World Cup of professional alpine skiers.

Yet again Audi’s commitment in the Olympic season is not limited to giving its name to the World Cup. For over 20 years, Audi has been supporting the German Skiing Association (Deutscher Skiverband – DSV), including all of its national teams, not only as a financial sponsor but by providing vehicles as well as co-sponsoring numerous events and activities. AUDI AG is also the partner of the alpine national teams from Sweden, Finland, France and Switzerland. Apart from the Audi cars with quattro drive made available to the athletes, trainers and officials, the teams benefit from the technical know-how of the brand with the four rings: the athletes regularly train at the Audi wind tunnel centre in Ingolstadt.

The Audi FIS Ski World Cup comprises a total of 77 races. The finals will be staged at Are, Sweden, from 14 to 19 March 2006.