|
|

Powder Report
Photo: www.daylife.com
Mancuso
makes history
Julia Mancuso of Olympic Valley charted a courageous line through the Women’s
Slalom on Feb. 18 to earn her second silver in two events and tie Bode
Miller for the most Olympic medals ever by a U.S. skier at three.
“When
I realized that I got another medal, it’s that moment that you wait
for as an athlete,” Mancuso said. “It’s the moment that
you realize that I’ve been working so hard for this moment, and to
know that really, anything’s possible. I didn’t expect that
from myself, I just believed and went for it.”
Mancuso,
who also won Downhill silver on Feb. 17 and Giant Slalom gold in Torino,
now ranks tied for sixth all time among U.S. women in Winter Olympic medals.
In the Women’s Super G on Feb. 20, Mancuso finished in 9th place
at 1:21.50.
Mancuso
continues her Olympic challenge as she was scheduled to compete in the
Giant Slalom on Feb. 24 (after The Weekly’s press time). Visit www.vancouver2010.com
or www.nbcolympics.com
for the latest results.
Events
Feb.
26, Expression Session, Boreal, www.rideboreal.com
Feb.
26-27, CNISSF Nordic State Champs, Auburn Ski Club, (530) 426-3313
Feb.
26-28, Spirit of the Games, Mt. Rose, www.skirose.com
Feb.
27, Chutes Challenge, Mt. Rose, www.skirose.com
Feb.
27, Komi Far West, Boreal, www.rideboreal.com
Feb.
27, Snowshoe race, Northstar, www.northstarattahoe.com
Feb.
27, Freeride World Tour, Squaw Valley USA, www.freerideworldtour.com
Feb.
27, USASA Boardercross, Boreal, www.teamfreddog.com
Feb.
27-28, J4/J5 Speed Kombi, Auburn Ski Club, (530) 426-3313
Feb.
27-28, Snow Camping, TRTA, (775) 298-0238
Feb.
27-28, Far West Mogul, Homewood, www.skihomewood.com
Feb.
28, USASA Slalom, Boreal, www.teamfreddog.com
Feb.
28, Freestyle Race, Royal Gorge, www.royalgorge.com
March
1, Moto Mondays, Alpine Meadows, (530) 581-8234
March
4-7, Revolution Tour, Boreal, www.ussa.org
March
6, Rail Jam, Sugar Bowl, www.snowbomb.com
March
6, Transworld TransAm, Northstar, www.transam.transworld.net
March
6-7, Heuga Vertical Express, www.verticalexpress.org
March
7, Great Ski Race, Tahoe XC, www.thegreatskirace.com
March
7, Jam for the Cure, Sugar Bowl, (530) 426-9000
March
8, Moto Mondays, Alpine Meadows, (530) 581-8234
March
9, Be A Champion Ski Race, Mt. Rose, www.skirose.com
|
Bahrke
takes Olympic bronze
Shannon Bahrke of Tahoe City added a Bronze medal to her silver in 2002
in Olympic freestyle moguls competition on Cypress Mountain on Feb. 12.
Bahrke’s
speedy, tight run led the final round heading into the final two skiers
– favorites Jennifer Heil of Canada (who took Silver) and Hannah
Kearney of Vermont, who cinched the Gold medal.
“I
definitely feel like I had a few gaps,” Bahrke said. “There’s
no doubt about it, I was going for gold, but there was so much competition
out there today.”
Bahrke’s
haul of two medals is the most ever by a U.S. freestyle skier, cementing
her place in the sport’s history as she prepares to hang up the skis
after 12 years with the U.S. Ski Team.
Teter
takes Halfpipe Silver
Olympic gold medalists Hannah Teter of South Lake Tahoe and Kelly Clark
added silver and bronze to their respective trophy cases, while Australia’s
Torah Bright brought the gold medal Down Under with a final run 45.0 in
Women’s Halfpipe on Feb. 18. Teammate Elena Hight, also of South
Lake Tahoe, finished in 10th.
The
second woman to win successive Olympic medals in snowboard, Teter gained
the top spot after the first round of finals with a 42.4, landing a clean
run.
Holland
misses Olympic medal
Nate Holland of Olympic Valley, a five-time X Games gold medalist, spun
out early during the Olympic Snowboardcross competition on Cypress Mountain
on Feb. 15, finishing in 4th place.
“I
knew I was riding really well on the course and I like to battle. I was
happy to do that,” Holland said. “I was actually setting him
up for that next straightaway – that’s where I was going to
pull a pass. You know, it just didn’t work out.”
No
local medals in first Skicross
No more than 30 seconds into the first race at the inaugural Olympic Skicross
competition on Feb. 21, Truckee’s own Daron Rahlves lost any chance
for the medal that has eluded him in three previous Olympics in Alpine.
He finished in 28th overall. Errol Kerr of Truckee, competing for Jamaica,
finished in 9th place overall.
The
36-year-old Rahlves collided with France’s Ted Piccard and landed
hard on his back. He got up, skied to the finish, then writhed in agony
at the bottom – a painful end to both his day, and his career. “That’s
it for me,” he said.
Alpine
Olympic events
Truckee’s Marco Sullivan finished his first Olympic competition for
the 2010 games – the Men’s Downhill – in 60th position
at 2:07.76 at Whistler Creekside on Feb. 15.
He
followed with a 22nd place finish in the Men’s Super G on Feb. 19
at 1:32.09.
Truckee’s
Stacey Cook finished in 11th place in the Women’s Downhill
competition on Feb. 17.
Reno’s
Tim Jitloff was scheduled to compete in the Men’s Giant Slalom on
Feb. 23, after The Weekly’s press time. As well, Scotty Bahrke of
Tahoe City is scheduled to compete in the Men’s Aerials on Feb. 25.
Bahrke was a late replacement for Dylan Ferguson, who is unable to compete
for medical reasons. For the latest results, visit www.vancouver2010.com
or www.nbcolympics.com.
Nissan
Tram Face at Squaw
The world’s best skiers and snowboarders are battling it out again
for the Freeride World Tour Championship with the next stop at Squaw Valley
USA for the Nissan Tram Face from Feb. 27 to March 6. The Tram Face has
never before successfully opened for competition, as weather deterred the
event (and first legal descent) from taking place in 2009.
A
testament to Squaw Valley’s paramount terrain and Freeride training
ground, four of the nine U.S. athletes invited to compete on the World
Tour are Squaw Valley skiers and riders, including 2008 Women’s Ski
Freeride World Tour Champion Elyse Sagstad, 2009 Men’s Snowboard
Freeride World Tour Tram Face Champion Jeremy Jones, former Squaw Valley
Ski Team alpine racer and ski film star Cody Townsend, freeskiing and BASE
jumping legend JT Holmes, and 23-year-old Tim Dutton, who was raised in
the shadow of the elusive Tram Face at the base of Squaw Valley. For details,
visit www.freerideworldtour.com.
DeBarri
2nd in North Face race
Maria DeBarri of Olympic Valley took the 2nd place spot in The North Face
Masters of Snowboarding in Washington on Feb. 12.
Also
competing in the event were Anna Weber of Tahoe in 7th place and Iris Lazzareschi
of Squaw Valley USA’s team in 9th in women’s competition. On
the men’s side, Squaw Valley team members Christopher Galvin placed
12th, with Ralph Backstrom in 16th, Ross Baker in 21st and Andrew Irwin
in 31st. Alpine Meadows’ team members Ian Bigley finished in 22nd
and Jordan Ketcherside in 34th, while Sugar Bowl team member Brian Bozack
finished in 40th.
Expression
Session Final Showdown
Boreal hosts the Final Showdown of the Expression Session series on Feb.
26. Entry is $5 with a lift ticket or season pass. Register from 3:30 to
4:30 p.m. in the Group Sale Office. Entry is limited to the first 50 people
to sign up. Helmets are required.
Mt.
Rose hosts competitions
In recognition of the Olympics being back on the West Coast, Mt. Rose is
holding slalom races open to the public from Feb. 26 to 28. The races will
be held daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and there will be a match and win
format. Prizes will include daily medals and results will be posted at
Mt. Rose. The competition is open to all ages, and skiers and snowboarders
welcome. Participants must be able to ski or ride intermediate runs. Entry
is free with the purchase of a lift ticket or season pass.
Test
your big mountain riding in the legendary Chutes at Mt. Rose on Feb. 27.
This ski/snowboard best line contest will take place in the El Cap chute,
featuring more than 1,000 vertical feet and pitches ranging from 45 to
55 degrees. Participants will take two runs and judges will award points
based on style, line creativity/difficulty, air and run time. The Chutes
Challenge is free with a season pass or lift ticket. Registration will
be held in the Main Lodge from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and the competition will
run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All ages welcome and participants must ski or
snowboard at an advanced ability. Helmets are required.
For
more information, visit www.skirose.com
or call (775) 849-0704.
Royal
Gorge freestyle
Royal Gorge hosts a 10km and 5km Freestyle Race on Feb. 28 from the Van
Norden trailhead at 10 a.m. Entry is $20, $15 for passholders, and juniors
are $25, or $20 for passholders. Fees include trail pass. Registration
ends at 4 p.m. on Feb. 27; junior deadline is Feb. 26. For details, visit
www.royalgorge.com.
Winter
camping class
The Tahoe Rim Trail Association will be offering Snow Camping 101, an overnight
winter camping trip, on Feb. 27 and 28.
Led
by two experienced TRTA guides, Jordan Summers and Wayne McClelland, and
staff, this one-night excursion is designed to share the joys to be found
in the snow-filled back country overlooking Lake Tahoe.
Participants
must be 21 and the trips are limited to 12 people. There is no cost, but
donations are appreciated. For more information and for prerequisites for
the course, call (775) 298-0238 or e-mail programs@tahoerimtrail.org.
Northstar
snowshoe race
Northstar hosts the final race in its snowshoeing series on Feb. 27 at
the Cross-Country Center. The 5km Fun Walk/Run and 10km Competitive Run
courses feature a rolling course with groomed and ungroomed single-track
sections. There’s also the Kid’s Rising Star Rumble with a
500-meter course and 1k course. Entry is $30 or $15 for kids ages 12 and
under. Prizes for top three men and women in both races. There also will
be a raffle and lunch. For more information or to register, call (800)
466-6784 or visit www.northstarattahoe.com.
Transworld
TransAm
TransWorld SNOWboarding Magazine hosts the fifth stop on the 2010 TransWorld
SNOWboarding TransAm at Northstar-at-Tahoe on March 6. This year’s
TransAm mini park is loaded with creative features.
There
is a $10 registration fee, which includes a one-year subscription to TransWorld
SNOWboarding Magazine. There will be a 100 rider limit on pre-registration
and then they will allow for another 25 to 50 riders the day of. Register
at www.highcascade.com.
Registration does not include lift ticket, however participants will be
offered a discounted ticket rate of $57 for adult, $46 for young adult
and $17 for children. These tickets will be available the morning of the
event. For more information, visit www.transam.transworld.net.
Heuga
Vertical Express
Teams of three skiers and riders raise a minimum of $1,000 to enter the
Vertical Express for MS at Squaw Valley USA on March 6 and 7. The day’s
activities include on-snow events, exciting prizes, complimentary lift
tickets, food and goodie bags. Proceeds from the event allow people with
MS to live full, productive lives by supporting the Heuga Center’s
one-, three- and five-day programs that help people with this incurable,
neurological disease manage it to the best of their ability. Register for
the Vertical Express for MS at www.verticalexpress.org
or by calling (800) 376-3101.
SnowBomb
Sick ‘n’ Twisted
SnowBomb’s Sick ‘n’ Twisted Series continues with the
Rail Jam competition at Sugar Bowl on March 6 in the Switching Yard Terrain
Park.
Registration
is $20 for Open Class and $10 for Amateur Class. Anyone under the age of
18 wishing to compete must have a parent/guardian on hand at registration
on the day of the event to sign and complete all liability forms. Helmets
are required. Competitions start at noon on event day. Register between
9 and 10:30 a.m., practice is until 11:30 a.m. For more information, visit
www.snowbomb.com
or e-mail info@snowbomb.com.
Jam
for the Cure
Support The Cause as Sugar Bowl teams up with Boarding for Breast Cancer
and The HERA Foundation to race and jam for the cure on March 7 from 9
a.m. to 3 p.m. The resort will be holding a rail jam in the Switching Yard
Terrain Park. All entry fees will go to help find a cure for breast cancer
and ovarian cancer. Sugar Bowl will have many sponsors on hand supporting
the cause. Entry is $25 and does not include lift tickets. For more information,
call (530) 426-9000.
Be
a Champion Ski Race
Mt. Rose host the Be A Champion Ski Race & Party on March 9. This is
a public race with the best combined time of two runs on a slalom course
open to male and female skiers and snowboarders.
Register from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Main Lodge. Entry is free with a lift
ticket or pass. The race is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Bullwhip Run. Visit
www.skirose.com.
Moto
Mondays
Alpine Meadows is hosting the Moto Mondays series open to team or individual
racing. Upcoming dates include Slalom on March 8 and March 22, with Giant
Slalom competition on March 1 and 15. Après ski parties and specials
follow the races.
Entry
is $20 per person per race; does not include lift ticket. Discounted lift
tickets are available for racers. Register by noon on or before race day
at the Ski School. Races start at 1 p.m. The best of two runs counts. For
details, call (530) 581-8234.
Red
Bull Schlittentag
Alpine Meadows hosts the Red Bull Schlittentag (German for sledding day)
on March 13. This event is designed for “daredevils willing to propel
themselves down a snow-covered hill and over a jump on a sled they built
themselves.
Three-person
teams will compete to be the fastest sledders this side of the Alps. One
will be the pilot and the two others will help give their sled the push
it needs to win the race and the fame and fortune that follows. Racers
must build their own sled; no prefabricated sleds are allowed. The sled
has to be built on a base of a saucer, toboggan, ski deck and snowboard
deck, and must have a stopping device. Judging will be based on fastest
time and creativity of craft. For detailed race criteria, visit www.skialpine.com.
Northstar
hosts Sunchaser Challenge
The North Lake Tahoe Visitors Bureaus and Chamber of Commerce recently
secured the Sunchaser Challenge, a multi-discipline adventure challenge
set for May 22 at Northstar-at-Tahoe.
The
Sunchaser Challenge is a sporting event from sunrise to sunset that features
orienteering, running, mountain biking, road biking and kayaking. About
1,000 competitors are expected for the challenge. For more information,
visit www.sunchaserchallenge.com.
|