Andrew Dampf

ALTA BADIA, Italy -- Ted Ligety has already created a storm of controversy on the World Cup circuit by leading the revolt over coming changes in ski shape rules.

Now he's suggesting a complete overhaul of the sport's format, proposing a radical switch from traditional two-run races in giant slalom and slalom to five mini knockout runs, and doing away with the two-hour break in between legs.

Ligety also would like to see all of the technical races run at night to gain bigger crowds, but men's World Cup director Gunter Hujara says the 27-year-old American needs to better understand the finances and TV contracts that determine start times.

Ligety's ideas were inspired by the Alpine Rockfest exhibition event to be held at the U.S. team's former training base in Paganella on Friday.

"I've always believed ski racing is presented and formatted poorly," Ligety wrote on his blog Saturday. "I can't think of any successful sports that have a three-hour halftime and fans only see their favorite athlete twice for a max of four minutes.

Julia Mancuso snapped a four-year winless streak by taking the final downhill of last season.

Now she wants more wins, and with the World Cup season due to start with the traditional giant slalom on the Rettenbach glacier in Soelden, Austria, this weekend, she has her chance.

MILAN -- Ferrari used to enter the Italian Grand Prix wondering which of its drivers would win: Michael Schumacher or Rubens Barrichello.

Those days are long gone.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali acknowledged in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday that current drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa will have a "very, very difficult" time attempting to win this weekend at Monza.

MODENA, Italy -- A year ago, American-born forward Giuseppe Rossi was dealt one of the biggest disappointments of his career when he was cut from Marcello Lippi's Italy World Cup squad.

What a difference a year makes.

Under new coach Cesare Prandelli, Rossi has become the focal point of Italy's attack. An extraordinary season at Spanish club Villarreal has fed speculation that he could soon join European champion Barcelona.

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany -- Lindsey Vonn appears set to follow Bode Miller and travel the ski circuit in a personal motor home.

The three-time defending overall World Cup winner already has a motor home at the world championships. It's provided by her sponsor and includes a private chef for every meal.

"I really like it," she told The Associated Press on Friday. "I have my own little space and it's actually nice for my concussion, because I have a dark room where I can just hang out in. It's nice to be able to cook your own meals and just kind of be away from everyone."

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany -- What if Lindsey Vonn had been able to deploy an air bag before landing on her head in giant slalom training a couple weeks ago? Would the American have avoided the mild concussion that forced her out of the world championships?