Daron's Blog

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 
"In its day, the Silver Belt was the essence of raw skiing. The course wasn't groomed and the skiers went full bore. Bringing back the event, will revive a style of skiing that pays homage to that tradition,"

Silver Belt comments from 2004
 

November 18, 2008

Contact:  Jennie Bartlett, Marketing Manager

Phone:    (530) 426-7201

SUGAR BOWL TO HOST “SILVER BELT BANZAI”, COMBINES COMPETITIVE SKI-CROSS DISCIPLINE WITH DOWNHILL ACTION

(Donner Summit, CA) – Top freeride skiers from across the globe will descend upon Lake Tahoe’s Sugar Bowl Resort January 31st and February 1st, 2009 for the running of the Silver Belt Banzai, a progressive event coupling the energy and tactics of ski-cross with the action and excitement of a traditional downhill race.  Starting atop Sugar Bowl’s famed Silver Belt run, skiers will test their skills on this spectator-friendly course, racing out of the gate in six-man heats with rules being to simply stay on-course and finish in the top two to advance.  Up to 100 qualifying and invited skiers of all ages – both men and women – will race for upwards of $10,000 in cash and prizes, with qualifying skiers competing in heats on Saturday to earn a spot in Sunday’s finals race.  Entry fees are set at $100 per qualifying racer, and free for invited racers.  Red Bull Energy Drink, www.redbullskiing.com will be in-resort, fueling the on-mountain action and live music after-event parties.

The Silver Belt Downhill, dating back to 1940, was for many years considered the preeminent North American race for skiing’s elite.  Racers would travel from home resorts to compete for top honors on the challenging and formidable course, always followed with a legendary celebration.  The 2008/09 Silver Belt Banzai will keep this tradition alive, honoring past racers with the event itself while enticing today’s top skiers with the latest racing discipline, all in a festive atmosphere complete with live music and parties.

And as skiers prepare for race day, a perfect training ground will be Sugar Bowl’s newly enhanced Tunnel 41 run.  With ski-cross making its Olympic debut in the Vancouver 2010 Games, Sugar Bowl has embraced the discipline aggressively, announcing plans to convert the Tunnel 41 run into a season-long, dedicated, Olympic-caliber ski-cross and boarder-X training course for athletes to work on their skills, greatly improving chances for a U.S. podium finish or a Silver Belt trophy.  World Champion and Sugar Bowl sponsored athlete Daron Rahlves, competing in the ski-cross discipline in Vancouver, says the Silver Belt Banzai is a must-see for spectators and a must-show for athletes. “As the ski-cross and Olympic hype continues to grow, we should see the discipline explode as athlete’s recognize its legitimacy and fans realize that it’s a very exciting style to watch.  You can bet the sport’s top athletes will turn up to race for this trophy”.  This year’s event marks the return of the Silver Belt after a four year hiatus.  Further information on the Silver Belt Banzai will be posted in the coming days to www.sugarbowl.com

Sugar Bowl, located atop Tahoe’s Donner Summit, has been in operation since 1939.  The closest major resort on the western front of the Sierra, Sugar Bowl is just three hours from San Francisco and 45 minutes from Reno. With 1,500 acres and 1,500 vertical of skiing on 500” of annual snow, Sugar Bowl prides itself on not just impressive terrain but also an attention to the guest experience. For more information on Sugar Bowl please visit www.sugarbowl.com or call (530) 426-9000.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 25, 2008

Contact:  Jennie Bartlett, (530) 426-6724

                Sugar Bowl Marketing Manager

SUGAR BOWL TO BUILD OLYMPIC TRAINING COURSE FOR SKIER/BOARDER-CROSS, ANNOUNCES FAMILY-FRIENDLY IMPROVEMENTS TO TERRAIN PARK  

(Donner Summit, CA) – Skier and Boarder-Cross events will make their Olympic debuts at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, and today Sugar Bowl unveiled plans to build and maintain the country’s only season-long,  event-specific training course for skier and boarder-cross athletes heading to the games.  Tunnel 41, located off the Mt. Judah Express quad chair on Sugar Bowl’s eastern side, will be ground-zero for athletes in training, honing their skills in hopes of a podium finish in Vancouver.  “We’re obviously very excited to now have a dedicated skier-cross course on which to train,” said Sugar Bowl-sponsored athlete and former U.S. Olympic Team downhiller Daron Rahlves, “and we’re certainly appreciative of Sugar Bowl’s efforts and support to grow the discipline.  This will directly equate to better chances of medaling at the games.”  Taking notes from the Utah Olympic Park’s popularity with the general public, Sugar Bowl will allow all skiers and boarders to experience the Olympic-level course first-hand, with access to the run when professional training is not in session.  “While the skier-cross course will greatly help our Olympic athletes in training, the skiing public should also have access to and experience the thrill of riding an Olympic-caliber course, and we will therefore accommodate accordingly”, said Sugar Bowl General Manager Rob Kautz.  The course is scheduled to open during the 2008/09 season as conditions permit.

Sugar Bowl has also announced numerous upgrades and additions to the Switching Yard Terrain Park for the coming season, including “pocket park” features that enhance flow and ski-through ability, a relocation of the half-pipe to now be incorporated into the overall terrain park mix, and an added emphasis on the park user’s guest experience.  “Often times we see adults taking their kids to the park, but just dropping them off and not dropping in themselves” explained terrain park designer JP Martin.  “What we’re aiming to accomplish with our park is a user-friendly design in which all skiers and riders, regardless of ability, will equally enjoy the features and the runs.  A customer service and guest experience-driven staff will ensure an accommodating and inviting atmosphere”.   Comprising most of the acreage off the Mt. Judah Express, skiers and riders will now see a dedicated area of the mountain in which to enjoy the terrain park, half-pipe, and skier/boarder-cross runs. 

Sugar Bowl Ski Resort, in operation since 1939, is located on Tahoe’s Donner Summit just 3 miles off I-80.  It is the closest major resort on the western front of the Sierra’s, just three hours from San Francisco and 45 minutes from Reno.  Offering an average of 500” annual snowfall on vast and varied terrain with an exceptional focus on customer service, Sugar Bowl strives to deliver a “more fun, lass hassle” experience.  For more information on Sugar Bowl please visit  HYPERLINK "http://www.sugarbowl.com" www.sugarbowl.com or call (530) 426-9000.