A few weeks ago, a story hit the press about ski racer Lindsey Vonn wanting to compete in the men’s 2012 World Cup downhill in Lake Louise. But the FIS adamantly refused her the opportunity.

Now Alpine Canada is fighting for the opportunity to make such a race possible – exhibition-style, sponsored by Red Bull. The race would pit the best male skiers from around the world against Vonn, next December 2013 at Lake Louise. And Lake Louise is the only common location on both the mens and women’s world cup circuits.

At least in Canada, the event is bigger than Vonn. It is a valuable marketing tool to garnish attention to ski racing all across North America.