Truckee, CA – The Rahlves Banzai Tour returns to Lake Tahoe ski resorts with competitions in February and March. The event is now considered one of the world’s premier big mountain freeskiing meets skier/boarder-cross experiences and is becoming one of the region’s most popular spectator events.

The tour kicked off this past weekend at Kirkwood Ski Resort. Participants 18 years and older 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 moves to North Lake Tahoe February 23-24 at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort in Tahoe City.

“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. 
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A solo qualifying run on Saturday ranks the top 32 men and 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 on hand 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’s ski winners from each stop. The Rahlves’ Banzai Tour purse prizes total $80,000.