Parkite skiing legend Lindsey Vonn announced her return to the World Cup stage Friday morning in an Instagram post. The 40 year old last raced against the world’s best nearly six years ago at the 2019 World Championships in Are, Sweden. The return to Cup skiing marks a key juncture in Vonn’s return to the sport. She was unable to race this weekend’s Beaver Creek World Cup with her racing status not up to par. Vonn raced last weekend’s FIS Fall Festival in Copper Mountain to mixed results but got her status back for the upcoming Cups. Vonn has raced St. Moritz since she was just 16 years old, with her first Cup race there coming in 2001. She landed her first St. Moritz podium in 2004 in a super-G, never turning back. Vonn has five St. Moritz titles and 10 podium-finishes to her name. “It’s been an amazing journey so far, but it’s not an easy process,” Vonn said on her return Wednesday on her Instagram page. “Last weekend was a success — I know a lot of people were saying that I was slow, but I thought it was amazing. … I haven’t skied and raced in six years, so I have some work to do, but my level of skiing is right there.”While Vonn was unable to race Beaver Creek this week, she’s been serving as the event’s forerunner, getting in crucial training laps on the course. Her duties began Wednesday with day one of downhill training and will conclude Sunday after forerunning the super-G race. Vonn has been alongside fellow Parkite Lauren Macuga in Beaver Creek and preseason training, Macuga being a contender in the speed events. Vonn has continued to express gratitude to be back in the sport and for all the support throughout her journey. She said she’s just enjoying skiing pain free and that she doesn’t have any specific place goals this season, although she believes she can be competitive. At Copper Mountain last weekend, the Parkite took time to sign autographs and take pictures with her attending fans. Lindsey Vonn prepares to get a training run in while practicing at Copper Mountain Resort in November. Credit: File photo courtesy of Copper Mountain Resort“I just have a couple of things I need to fix,” said Vonn. “This will be a great test for me to see if my body can handle it, and I’ve tried to keep my expectations low because I don’t know what’s going to happen. My knee has held up amazing so far — I have no pain, no swelling. It’s been incredible. But no one’s done this, so I’m testing it out and going step-by-step, slowly but surely.“I hear St. Moritz is lovely this time of year,” added Vonn Friday morning when announcing the World Cup comeback. “There’s nothing I love more than ski racing.”To track the Beaver Creek, St. Moritz and other speed Cup results this season, see the FIS’ alpine page. Information on where to watch all the Cups this season can be found on the the U.S. Ski Team’s website.The post Lindsey Vonn announces World Cup return in St. Moritz appeared first on Park Record.