Kirkwood Mountain Resort is known for a ton of snow and rowdy terrain. The Rahlves' Banzai Tour takes advantage of both with the Wall Banzai. Start off the Wall and it's game on! This is the most intimidating and focus demanding start on the tour. Winning the "Bank of the West Top Qualifying Awards"an extra $50 in cash for each is given to the fastest times from Saturday's solo run. Men Ski Johnny Bochenek, 1:14.40, Men SNB Chelone Miller 1:36.91, Women Ski Shelly Robertson 1:31.89 and Women SNB Marissa Krawczak 2:05.65. The drop into the Wall kicked up the speed quick into wide open turns, heading into the CEP compression and off the Popchips Air at the top of Chair 11 where athletes launch into Snow Snake Gully. Exciting passes happened in the first and third turns, on the side hill traverse into the CEP Compression zone, off the Popchips Air, in the gully and right at the finish line. A course with this much terrain delivered awesome action. Spectators prime locations were at the start on the ridge, the cat road crossing top of Chair 11, the gully banks, on Chair 10 and at the finish. Rahlves' Banzai Apres Party at Red Cliffs Lodge was hosted by High Fives Foundation and Kirkwood Mountain Resort. With raffle prizes and a donation of $1 from every Sierra Nevada and Red Bull sold it helped raise some funds for this great non-profit.
