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Racers jump over a car for cash prizes, bragging rights, and a possible trip to the 2005 Winter X Games
by Jackie Baker
Racers ready! Four skiers pull
back on the start gates, ready to push off the instant the command is
given. They concentrate on the upcoming battle for the hole shot. The
countdown is given and in a flurry of colored bibs, racers immediately
work to edge each other for the lead. Upon finding the best line through
the tricky course filled with berm turns, whoopdees, and massive table
top jumps, they finish by airing over a car for cash prizes, bragging
rights, and a possible trip to the 2005 Winter X Games. We’re not
talking about Tuesday Town League—no, this was the first-ever Subaru
Rocky Mountain Skiercross Classic, held Feb. 22, 2004 at Telluride Ski
Resort, CO.
The ten seconds till gate drop are the longest you'll ever
experience.
The sport of skiercross has grown steadily over the past five years.
FIS skiers and young athletes alike fuel the steadily increasing level
of competition. Once known as a sport of gratuitous carnage and general
mayhem, skiercross has matured over the past five years into an exciting,
yet civilized race of skill and technical prowess. As racers gain skill,
times are faster, finishes closer, and courses become more challenging.
Skiers hit a gap jump over a Subaru WRX right before the finish line at
the Rocky Mountain Skiercross Classic—the car was driven off the
mountain unscathed.
Sun Valley, Idaho's Reggie and Zach Crist, seasoned skiercross pros,
took a one-two sweep in spite of intense competition from other racing
icons like Eric Archer and Ryan McCullough, as well as a field of impressive
local talent—some of whom had never skied a skiercross course before.
Older brother Reggie had the fastest time trial, and won each of his heats
on his way to the overall victory. Zach raced hard, trying to catch his
brother in a close final, snagging second place, with McCullough in third.
The Rocky Mountain Skiercross Classic marks the first time in over three
years of racing together that both Crists have stood on a skiercross podium
at the same time.
(L to R) Ryan McCullough, Reggie Crist, and Zach Crist.
The women’s division drew fewer numbers than the men’s,
but racing was just as strong. The small field at Telluride allowed four
women to race a series of three heats. None of the four were eliminated.
Instead, they were awarded cash each heat, based on their placing. Whistler,
BC’s young talent, Ashleigh McIvor, took the overall victory, winning
two of the three heats. Meeker, CO’s Suzan Dole grabbed second,
and Canadian skiercross powerhouse Anik Demers placed third.
(L to R) Anik Demers, Ashleigh McIvor, and Suzan Dole.
Tools
of the Trade
The sport of skiercross has spawned a new generation of performance
skis designed to tackle the toughest courses in the world. These
race-inspired skis are typified by aggressive sidecuts, explosive
acceleration out of the turn, and slightly wider widths (versus
a dedicated carving ski) for landing big airs. Models like Salomon’s
Crossmax series have become incredibly popular with the general
population for their ability to tackle nearly any groomed terrain.
Most skiers don’t often encounter rutted out berm turns, triple
whoopdees, and 60-foot pro gap jumps, but these skis’ ability
to handle such demanding terrain is what makes them so great for
everyday use.
Check out some of our favorites, all of which are currently on
sale:
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