BY JEFFREY WEIDEL
Since the event is named after her brother, perhaps it’s only fitting that Shannon Rahlves of Truckee was one of the winners in the opening of competition in the fifth annual Rahlves’ Banzai Tour.
Event founder and ski Hall of Famer Daron Rahlves describes the competition at the first of three banzai stops as the ultimate test of ski and riding skills. Taking place at three Lake Tahoe ski resorts, the Banzai Tour features head-to-head action, four competitors at a time, going down a wide-open course from top to bottom over natural terrain.
Competing at Alpine Meadows ski resort on Feb. 22-23, Shannon Rahlves was first in the Women’s ski division with Shelly Robertson taking second place.
Other winners included Kyle Coxon (Men’s skiing), Bobby Minghini (Men’s snowboarding) and Audrey Hebert (Women’s snowboarding).
The racing series is open to men and women age 18-older and there is prize money involved. Solo timed qualifying runs take place Saturdays and ranks the top 32 men and top 16 women skiers/boarders into brackets for Sunday’s finals at all three Banzai stops.
Weather and conditions played a major role, creating some intense competition at Alpine. The qualifying runs held on Saturday in spring-like conditions were followed by a near-cancellation of the finals on Sunday and a major course change.
Due to high east winds, the Summit Chair was forced on wind hold for the day, leaving the Banzai start unreachable. In order to hold the race, the start was moved closer the top of Summit, yet it still required competitors to undertake a long traverse and hike from the top of Alpine Bowl chairlift. Additionally, the start was without a start gate, and the start routine was modified to include a hop-turn in place of a dropping gate.
Competitors in all four men’s and women’s ski and snowboard divisions attacked the mogul, rut, and bump-infested course and were some of the most challenging conditions of any Banzai event to date.
The second of three Banzai events this season will take place on March 7-8 at Kirkwood Mountain Resort, and concludes March 14-15 at Sugar Bowl.
For more about the Rahlves’ Banzai Tour, visit www.rahlvesbanzai.com.
Men’s Skiing
1. Kyle Coxon
2. Casey Riva
3. Shawn McGee
Men’s Snowboarding
1. Bobby Minghini
2. Sylvain Duclos
3. Jason Hale
Women’s Skiing
1. Shannon Rahlves
2. Shelly Robertson
3. Catie Zeliff
Women’s Snowboarding
1. Audrey Hebert
2. Mariah Dugan
3. Lindsay Wexler
Jeffrey Weidel can be reached at skiweidel@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting his winter website at www.tahoeskiworld.com
