Ski icon Lindsey Vonn is back on the slopes at 40, and while this decision marks a triumphant return to the sport she loves, it also comes with a bit of a downside. This year, her skiing commitments mean she will miss the Super Bowl, a major event she had grown accustomed to attending during her retirement. Previously, the thrill of the game was a staple in her calendar.
Over in the picturesque setting of Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, where the Alpine World Championships are taking place, Vonn reflects on the missed opportunity. It's a bummer I can’t be there, she remarked after a recent super-G race, illustrating her passion not just for skiing but for the annual football spectacle too.
Among her fellow American skiers, there appears to be a mixed allegiance when it comes to the NFL. Ryan Cochran-Siegle, an Olympic silver medalist, finds himself rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles due in part to his fantasy football ties with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Cochran-Siegle, hailing from Vermont—a region known for its Patriots fandom—comments, As a Pats fan, I think taking the lesser of two evils I would cheer on the Eagles. His family, known as the Skiing Cochrans, has been a staple in U.S. skiing for generations, embracing both skiing and football with equal passion.
The Super Bowl is a prime-time event back in the United States, but in the Alpine regions, the time difference means the game starts after midnight. I don’t know if I’ll actually stay up to watch, Cochran-Siegle muses. But probably watch the highlights. The decision encapsulates the challenges global athletes face in balancing time zones with leisure time.
Broncos fan Lauren Macuga, who secured a bronze in the super-G, finds herself this year backing the Eagles. Luckily, we made it to the playoffs. But I think this year I’m rooting for the Eagles, she says, demonstrating the shifting dynamics of team loyalty among the athletes.
Breezy Johnson from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, highlights a different aspect of sports fandom. Coming from a New England background, she shares insight into the legacy of the Patriots. It’s been fun seeing everybody saying that the New England Patriots dynasty wasn’t as annoying as they all said at the time, she notes. Her choice this season mirrors a more pop culture influence: I’m mostly just really hoping that Kendrick Lamar brings Taylor Swift on stage at the halftime show.
Meanwhile, Bryce Bennett, a towering figure in the skiing world at 6-foot-7, represents those who don’t have a vested interest in football. I don’t even know who’s playing in the Super Bowl, he admits, aligning himself more with supercross and motocross interests.
The juxtaposition of skiing and football during the season highlights the diverse interests and personalities within the U.S. Ski Team, as they navigate the demands of their sport while maintaining personal hobbies and loyalties. Vonn's return to competitive skiing at 40 is a testament to her enduring passion and commitment, albeit at the expense of a favorite pastime. Yet, she continues to be a beacon of inspiration, blending sportsmanship with a touch of personal sacrifice.
