Rahlves' Banzai Tour Hits North Tahoe February 23-24
The Rahlves' Banzai Tour returns to Lake Tahoe ski resorts with competitions in February and March. The event is considered the world's premier big mountain freeskiing meets skier/boarder-cross experience and is becoming one of the region’s most popular spectator events.
Kicking off at Kirkwood Ski Resort, the weekend of February 11-12, participants (18 years and older) will go head-to-head four at a time, top-to-bottom, down a wide-open course over natural terrain and snow conditions. The four-stop event hits North Lake Tahoe February 23-24 at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort.
“Like the old days, it's racing in its purest form,” said Event Organizer and former U.S. World Cup and Olympic ski racer Daron Rahlves. “All events have a unique feel as each resort has challenging terrain the locals know very well. Local skiers and boarders will do their best to defend home turf while others strive to take it.”
A solo-qualifying run on Saturday ranks the Top 32 men from ski and board and the Top 16 women from ski and board to Sunday's finals and a shot at the title. The top two in each round advance through the brackets until the remaining final four battle it out for the podium and title of Banzai Champ.
The Silver Belt Banzai race first took place in the 1940's at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort on Donner Summit. In 2009 and 2010, one banzai race was held each year at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort. In 2011, the Rahlves' Banzai Tour was created. Rahlves is at each event to open up the qualifying runs and assist competitors with tactics.
After the Alpine Meadows race (called the Beaver Bowl Banzai), the tour continues at Squaw Valley for the KT-22 Banzai (March 3-4) and concludes at Sugar Bowl with the Silver Belt Banzai (March 10-11) when Rahlves will compete in the "Super Final" taking on the men ski winners from each stop. The Rahlves’ Banzai Tour purse prizes total $80,000.
Warren Miller Entertainment showcased the 2011 Rahlves’ Banzai Tour in their recent film “Like There’s No Tomorrow.” For 2012, the event will be covered by NBC Red Bull Signature Series (airing nationally March 27), Powder Magazine, Red Bull Media House, Tahoe TV, 101.5 FM Truckee Tahoe Radio and other media outlets.
For more information about North Lake Tahoe ski resorts and events, the best deals on lodging, dining and winter activities, click to www.GoTahoeNorth.com.
North Lake Tahoe is a 45-minute drive from the Reno Tahoe International Airport, two hours from Sacramento International Airport and just over three hours from San Francisco International Airport. For lodging reservations, recreation and event details, call North Lake Tahoe at 1-877-949-3296 or visit www.GoTahoeNorth.com. Visitor information centers are located at 380 North Lake Boulevard in Tahoe City and 969 Tahoe Boulevard in Incline Village. The North Lake Tahoe Visitors Bureaus, Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau and the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, work together to promote North Lake Tahoe as a premier, year-round destination.
