Rhalves’ Banzai Returns to Alpine Meadows
The 3rd annual Rahlves’ Banzai Tour stop returns to Alpine

[Alpine Meadows, Calif.] January 28, 2013 – Alpine Meadows hosts the 3rd annual Rahlves’ Banzai Tour stop, February 9 and 10. This event showcases racing in its purest form with four at a time going head-to-head over natural terrain in ski and boarder-cross style action. The race will take place on The Face of Wolverine Bowl, offering one of the best spectator venues in the region.

Time trials take place Saturday, Feb. 9, with a solo qualifying run that will rank the top 32 men for ski/board and top 16 women for ski/board to move on to the finals Sunday, Feb. 10 to compete for a $15,000 prize purse. There are four stops on the tour and the overall tour prize purse total is $80,000.

This event combines the competitive excitement of skier and boardercross with the speed-thrill of a downhill race. Event organizer Daron Rahlves, a former US World Cup and Olympic skier, knows a thing or two about both. With 12 World Cup gold medals, Rahlves has won more medals and achieved more podium finishes spanning the globe than any other American man in the history of ski racing and competition. Rahlves’ vision to fuse skier/boardercross and downhill racing equals one maniacal display of speed, strength and strategy through Alpine’s most difficult steeps and off-trail terrain, non-stop from summit to base.

The Rhavles' Banzai will also make a stop at Squaw Valley, March 2 and 3. The final stop of the tour, March 9-10 at Sugar Bowl, will feature a “Super Final” in which former World Champion, 12-time World Cup winner, X-Games Gold Medalist and four-time Olympic skier Daron Rahlves will race against the four men’s skiing division winners from each stop on this year’s tour. The crowned winners of the tour will all be vying to beat Rahlves and to take home the title of "Banzai Master" with a cash prize of $10,000; winner takes all.

High Fives Foundation will host a Saturday après ski party from 3-6 p.m. at Alpine Meadows’ Last Chair Bar. Spectators, competing athletes, media, and fans are invited to celebrate all things Banzai and party down for a great cause. The après ski parties are sponsored by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Sierra Nevada will be donating one dollar from every Sierra Nevada beer purchased throughout the evening to High Fives Foundation. In addition to drink specials, a live raffle and après ski fun, Daron Rahlves and Bank of the West will be awarding $200 to the fastest qualifier of the day. These festive events, allow fans to mingle with the stars of the tour, including Daron Rahlves himself, while raising money for a great local foundation.

About the Rahlves’ Banzai Tour:

Banzai is a Japanese term expressed as an exuberant cheer meaning, “Long Life!” or “Hurray!” An apt name for a high-spirited downhill ski and snowboard competition, the Silver Belt Race first took place in the 1940s at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort and was re-introduced with the head-to-head action by Daron Rahlves and Sugar Bowl in 2009. The race continued with one event for another year, and then Rahlves decided to take the show on the road, officially launching the Rahlves’ Banzai Tour and expanding to stops at four of Lake Tahoe's premier resorts.

The Rahlves’ Banzai tour is presented by Bank of The West. The Rahlves’ Banzai Tour is also supported by sponsors such as Red Bull, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Contour, CEP “intelligent sportswear”, North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce, Spyder, Atomic, Start Haus Ski Shop, Wend Wax, COAL, SVE/BOSE, The Bar Effect, World Cup Supply, Snow Fest, Sports Insurance, Technical Equipment Cleaners, and CRUX Events, thereby creating an alluring $80,000 prize purse. Building on the tour’s success and evolution, Rahlves has designated the worthy High Fives Foundation as the tour’s official non-profit partner. For more information on High Fives Foundation, please visit www.highfivesfoundation.org.