Mikaela Shiffrin is hoping to put her poor start to the Beijing Olympics behind her as she prepares for her second race.

As intimidating as it would be stare down Dwayne Johnson, many would choose it rather than hitching a ride down 'The Rock' in Beijing.

The men's downhill field took their first training runs on the Olympic competition course, which had never before been utilized in Alpine skiing competition. It left many Olympians looking out of sorts.

None of the elite athletes competing when Alpine skiing starts next Sunday at the Olympics ever has been on the course that will be used to determine who takes home the medals.

Two-time Olympic champion Ted Ligety says he will retire from World Cup ski racing after the world championships. 1 why Ligety plans to retire from the World Cup circuit, effective after the world championships currently underway in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. His storied career also includes five wins at world championships, 25 World Cup victories and five season-long World Cup giant slalom titles. His last World Cup race was Jan. 9 during a giant slalom event in Adelboden, Switzerland. “I don’t want to do races as a tourist.”Ligety’s earned his way onto a World Cup podium 52 times — spanning all disciplines.