Beaver Creek, Co. (January 28, 2019) – “They’re Back” after 20 years the exciting head-to-head dual format of the World Pro Ski Tour will return to Beaver Creek this Friday and Saturday, February 1 & 2, 2019 at 11:00 am – 2:30 pm with the fastest pro ski racers in the United States.

The World Pro Ski Tour® is a nationwide tour of events featuring the popular “dual” format alpine ski racing. By placing two athletes side-by-side, spectators on-site and TV viewers consume the most exciting and easiest to understand format in alpine ski racing.

The history of Beaver Creek mountain and ski racing continues. Beaver Creek was the last major ski area to be constructed in the West. Groundbreaking for Beaver Creek Resort took place in July 1977, leading into its inaugural ski season, in 1980. On December 15, 1980, Beaver Creek Resort opened for skiing with six chairlifts and a slope-side lodge. The Bear Trap Race Course hosts some of Beaver Creek’s signature events and this year’s Rocky Mountain Pro Classic will not disappoint.

The reborn World Pro Ski Tour hosted its debut event in 2017 at Sunday River Ski Area in Newry, ME which featured NCAA champions, World Cup racers, and Olympians in the first pro tour style race in the US since the late 1990’s. Four-time national champion and two-time Olympian David Chodounsky narrowly defeated 2017 US and Canadian national slalom champion AJ Ginnis in the finals to take the $10,000 prize.

In 2018 US Olympian Nolan Kasper (Warren, VT) won the Visit Maine Pro Ski Championship at Sunday River, defeating Slovakian Olympian Adam Zampa in the final for the $10,000 prize. Kasper also edged out Michael Ankeny (Wayzata, MN) for the overall 2018 season championship title and an additional $5,000. Kasper also claimed the Tito’s Rookie of the Year title, winning another $1,000.

For 2019, Nolan Kasper will be returning to defend his title. The 29-year-old former member of the US Ski Team and the 2018 US Olympic Team lives in Brooklyn, NY. Nolan was a promising star out of Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont who qualified for his first Olympics at the age of 22. In 2014, he was 13th in the slalom at the Sochi Olympic Games. A knee injury in the 2014/15 season sidelined him for 2 full seasons until his return to World Cup action in January 2018 where he finished 20th in Wengen, Switzerland; then went on to PyeongChang Olympic Games for 9th place in the team event.

Finishing second overall for the 2018, Michael Ankeny proved to be a worthy opponent for Nolan Kasper. With three, third place finishes he came in behind Kasper by 11 points. Ankeny’s finished 3rd Place 2017 Pro Ski Challenge, 19th 2016 Kitzbuhel WC SL, 23rd 2017 Adelboden WC SL, 2015 Overall and Slalom Nor-Am Champion, 2014-2015 Nor Am Overall and Slalom Champion, 19th 2016 Kitzbuhel World Cup Slalom, 21st 2016 Adelboden World Cup Slalom, 23rd 2017 Adelboden World Cup Slalom.

AJ Ginnis, a 2015 World Junior Championships Bronze Medal SL, 2015 US Nationals 2nd SL, 2017 USA World Championships Team, 2 European Cup Podiums, finished third for the 2018 season. Due to a knee injury, AJ is out for the 2019 season.

The World Pro Ski Tour provides a unique racing experience with athletes competing head-to-head in a dual format event. Racing against each other and not against the clock the dead-horse starts, identical courses, and two pro jumps make the event exciting and fast passed.

Friday, February 1 qualifications will begin at 12:00 noon, the Super Slalom event will be held on Saturday at 11 am. A seeding bracket with each round will decide who advances – two runs, one on each course, the fastest combined differential from the two runs will advance.

Schedule of Events

THURSDAY – January 31, 2019
• 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Registration at Manor Vail Lodge (across the street from Golden Peak)
• 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Racer Meeting Manor Vail Lodge (same room as Racer registration)
• 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Tito’s Après Party Manor Vail Lodge, The Fitz Lounge TBD
• 7:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m. – Tito’s and Welcome Party at The Red Lion, Vail Village

FRIDAY – February 1, 2019
• 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – VIP Sponsor Check-in, The Molly Brown room lower level Ford Hall, Beaver Creek
• 10:00 a.m. – Inspection and Start Testing, Bear Trap run, Beaver Creek (athletes are allowed to test start and go on wrong side of first gate)
• 12:00 p.m. – Qualification start 1st run, Bear Trap run, Beaver Creek
• 1:00 p.m. – Qualification start 2nd run, Bear Trap run, Beaver Creek
• 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Skiing with Sponsors – Meet in finish area at Bear Trap
• 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Tito’s Après Party at The Coyote in Beaver Creek
• 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. – Tito’s After Dark Party at Vendetta’s Italian Restaurant & Bar, Vail Village

SATURDAY – February 2, 2019
• 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – VIP Sponsor Check-in, The Molly Brown room lower level Ford Hall, Beaver Creek
• 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Course Inspection, Bear Trap run, Beaver Creek
• 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Dual Super Slalom event, Bear Trap run, Beaver Creek Finish Area Race Awards Ceremony Top 4 to follow immediately after the race
• 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Tito’s Après Party at The Coyote in Beaver Creek
• 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. – Tito’s After Dark Party at The Red Lion, Vail Village, (Please Attend if over 21)

2019 TOUR SCHEDULE
Beaver Creek, CO – Jan 31 – Feb 2, 2019
Waterville Valley, NH – Feb 7 – 9, 2019
Steamboat Springs, CO – Feb 28 – Mar 2, 2019 (*tentative)
Buck Hill, MN – Mar 14 – 16, 2019 (*tentative)
Sunday River, ME – Mar 28 – 30, 2019