Dates are set and the Rahlves Banzai Tour is officially firing up for a full throttle 2012 season. Each stop from the first inaugural 2011 tour will be revisited for another round of mayhem, and with the addition of the KT-22 Banzai event at Squaw this year we can expect to see that much more all out, balls to the wall, no holds bared race carnage.
Events:
- Beaver Bowl Banzai –Alpine Meadows; February 4th-5th
- Eagle Bowl Banzai –Kirkwood; February 11th-12th
- KT-22 Banzai –Squaw Valley; March 3rd-4th
- Silver Belt Banzai – Sugar Bowl/Tour Final; March 10th-11th
Registration is now open at Rahlvesbanzai.com
Hearkening back to snow racing born of an era before the advent of snow cats, speed suits, or digital timing wands, the Banzai race pits riders in head to head, first to the finish heats on open mountain, unmanicured terrain. Part Skier/Boarder Cross and part Chinese Downhill, each event promises fast skiing, wild skiing, technical skiing, charging, and occasionally downright frightening skiing. After individual time trials are held on Saturday at each event, the top 32 qualifiers are placed in a bracket of heats with 4 skiers each. The top two from each heat move forward and 3rd and 4th from each heat are out until a final four race for the title.
For the first ever KT-22 Banzai the start location and route will be off the top of KT hooking a right into GS Bowl, funneling into Schimmelpfennig and motoring to the bottom of Julia’s Gold.
Last season the 2011 Junuary weather created some challenging but fast and icy conditions at Alpine and Kirkwood and the flat light at Sugar Bowl made racing anything but a picnic, rewarding only those riders with cajones and snow sense. Nobody holds back in the Banzai. Look for some all out charging again this season!
For more info on the Rahlves Banzai Tour check out rahlvesbanzai.com.