BY JEFFREY WEIDEL
It’s quite a mixture of skiers and riders of all levels, gathering for a fun and competitive experience on the slopes, where they get to experience a legitimate racing environment.
Now in its fifth year, the Rahlves’ Banzai Tour is billed as racing at its purest form. 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.
Event founder and ski Hall of Famer Daron Rahlves describes it as the ultimate test of ski and riding skills. The event, which begins Feb. 21-22 at Alpine Meadows, makes a March 7-8 stop in Kirkwood, and concludes March 14-15 at Sugar Bowl.
The racing series is open to men and women skiers and snowboarders age 18 and older with trophies and prize money on the line.
Although there are some former professional skiers and riders competing on the Banzai Tour, most of the racers live, work and ski in the Lake Tahoe region, and travel on the weekends around the lake to the three tour stops.
“There is no other race like this in the world,” Rahlves said. “What’s so unique about the Banzai is that every-day rippers line up against pro-level athletes to find out what they’re made of. When the gate drops, it’s on as four competitors go head-to-head in a top-to-bottom race over natural terrain.”
Kyle Coxon, who now lives in Anchorage, will be making his fourth straight appearance in the iconic racing series. Last year Coxon skied in all three events and walked off with a nice chunk of prize money ($12,450).
“If I had to describe the experience in one word it would be ‘pucker,’” Coxon said. “Standing at the gate just before the 2013 Super Final at Sugar Bowl was exactly that. I remember Rob the starter relaying everyone’s names to (announcer) Greg Buchheister and the minutes seemed to turn into hours. Once that gate drops everything happens in an instant with everyone vying for the hole shot, and in a blink of an eye it’s over.”
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. The finals feature four competitors with the top two in each round advancing until the remaining four battle it out in the Rahlves’ Banzai Super Finals and a winner-take-all $5,000 check.
The men’s final this year is expected to include Daron Rahlves, a former World Champion, X-Games Champ, four-time Olympian, and Sugar Bowl resort ambassador. Coxon loves the challenge he’s previously had lining up against Rahlves.
“Racing with Daron is like taking a skiing lesson that only lasts 45 seconds,” Coxon said. “In the time it takes to get from top to bottom – most of which is spent following him – I feel like I become a better skier just by watching how smooth and centered he is despite the hip-deep ruts on the course.”
For more information or to register for the event, visit www.rahlvesbanzai.com
Jeffrey Weidel can be reached at skiweidel@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting his winter website at www.tahoeskiworld.com
