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Airing: March 18, 2017 @3:30pm ET March 25, 2017 @3:30pm ET Volume XVII No.1 MARCH 2017 H I S T O R Y O F P R O S K I I N G Pro Challenge at Sunday River launches new World Pro Ski Tour LISA MUTZ-NELSON The 1990s: The past pinnacle of pro ski racing. 2017 Hot shots revving up: ’s Robby Kelley is currently ranked 3rd in the U.S. in slalom.

Going Pro The Pro Ski Challenge at Sun- By Tony Chamberlain day River signals the rebirth of We are thrilled to host the return Reprinted from Skiing History Magazine professional alpine ski racing in May-June 2013 with permission. the with the “of this world-class event and ignite launch of the World Pro Ski ounting only prize money, this season’s high- Tour. The special debut event a new tour season to come. cest ranked alpine ski racer–Tina Maze of will feature the professional dual Dana Bullen, Sunday River president , with 11 World Cup wins and 24 podium alpine ski race format that had finishes–earned 701,797 Swiss francs, or about tremendous success in the U.S. $726,000. That tops the prize earnings of friend and from 1970 to 1999. The field is Starting Gate to learn more season in premier ski resorts rival of the United States, who pulled filled with Olympic, World Cup, about these and other athletes. all across the country. ” in about $220,000. The number-one male skier was and NCAA competitors such as The Pro Ski Challenge will air “We are thrilled to bring the of , who won $554,286. In 2012 National GS Champion March 18 & 25 at 3:30pm ET on professional skiing model back the 2012-2013 season–the 21st winter since the Robby Kelley, 2015 Nor-Am Cup CBS Sports Network, the 24- to the United States. The ski Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) first began Overall Champion Michael hour home of CBS Sports, which industry is growing rapidly and to allow cash purses–more than $8 million in prize Ankeny, and 2016 National GS is available nationally. This the success of American ski rac- Champion Kieffer Christianson. event will kick-start a more ex- Please see PRO SKI Please see GOING PRO on page 9 Flip through the rest of the tensive schedule in the 2017-18 CHALLENGE on page 2

STARTING GATE 1 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT Pro Ski Challenge S T A F F from page 1 ers has fueled that growth. We are World Pro Ski Tour Kevin Clarke committed to this enterprise to pro- 5 Old Sloop Lane vide high quality events for skiers and Bath, Maine 04530 A native of Fryeburg, Maine, Kevin ski racing fans alike,” said Ed Rogers, (207) 446-1492 works for Martignetti Companies, one email: [email protected] president of the World Pro Ski Tour. of New England's leading liquor dis- “Our main goal is to stimulate the ski Edwin A. Rogers ...... President tributors. He was a pro racer during Kevin Clarke ...... Vice President industry by providing young racers an Craig Marshall ...... Executive Director the 1980s and went on to take a posi- opportunity to experience financial Marty Ehrlich ...... Executive Producer Pro Ski TV tion as an announcer and sponsorship success in order to pursue their Christopher Lincoln ...... Producer/Director Pro Ski TV activation specialist on Ed Rogers' U.S. dreams.” John Jacobs ...... Director Pro Ski Tour in the 1990's. Kevin Known as a world-class venue for Justin Burley ...... Director enjoys skiing in the winter and car Kevin Clarke (l.) with 1992 Bill Stratton ...... Director ski, snowboard, and other special racing of all types in the summer. Tour Champion Ove Nygren Bill Despo ...... Secretary & General Counsel of Norway. events, Sunday River is hosting the Barrett Stein ...... Treasurer race in their Monday Mourning Race Lisa Mutz-Nelson ...... Photographer Marty Ehrlich Lisa Mutz-Nelson photo. Arena on Barker Mountain. The race Carl Schlick ...... Creative Director GP Bonenfant ...... Graphic Artist/Sign Shop Manager As Executive Producer for pro ski TV, site provides excellent viewing angles Marty has over 25 years experience of for spectators on snow and foot as it is The Starting Gate is a publication of World Pro Ski Tour production and program creation. He located just in front of the Barker Copyright 2017 - All rights reserved. has produced, represented and cre- Lisa Mutz-Nelson Printed at the Portland Press Herald, Portland, Maine USA Lodge and the parking lot close by. “I ated hundreds of world class proper- Professional photographer Lisa grew up watching the World Pro Ski ties and has a combination of over 30 Mutz-Nelson was behind the cam- Tour along with many of Sunday www.worldproskitour.com Emmy awards and nominations. eras as the World Pro Ski Tour River's guests,” Dana Bullen, resort official photographer back when president and general manager for worldproskitour Christopher Lincoln Kodachrome color slides were the Sunday River, says. “We are thrilled medium of choice. “Shooting digital to host the return of this world-class As a producer and director, Christo- is a whole different world,” says the event and ignite a new tour season to @worldproskitour pher has earned a reputation for de- Avon, come.” livering both exciting and informative Colorodo programming in a variety of sports @worldproskitour resident, and entertainment. Over the past “and I look thirty-three years, he has been a part forward to of ten having worked working Craig Marshall for the host broadcaster and with three with the tour Craig grew up at Sugarloaf, Maine US rights holders (CBS, NBC, ABC). again.” and ski raced while at Carrabassett Since 2007, Flying Fish Productions Valley Academy and at the NCAA has supported Olympic Broadcast Ser- Division I level for Colby College. vices in an award-winning production He moved to Port- at the Beijing and London games from Barrett Stein land, Maine in Au- 2007-12. Barrett grew up ski racing at Buck Catch all the action on: gust of 2015 and Hill in Minnesota and started his still lives there John Jacobs coaching career there. He spent fif- while running the John lives in Glens Falls, NY where teen years in Telluride and Aspen as WPST. Craig still he runs the world famous Reliable a program director and race coordina- enjoys skiing in Racing Supply, a company that was tor. He is passionate about the WPST addition to playing started by his parents in 1969. His dual format and is excited to help Airing: golf and squash. experience in pro tour skiing runs bring this event, which is geared to March 18, 2017 @3:30pm ET spectators, back into ski racing. Be- Ed Rogers back to the days of ’s tour March 25, 2017 @3:30pm ET and he stayed involved through the sides skiing Barrett loves to golf and Ed is a legend in the skiing world 1980’s and 90’s. John still enjoys ski- ride anything with two wheels. following his twenty year run as the ing and sailing. director of a regional pro tour start- Carl Schlick Former ing in 1976 that grew to become the Olympian World Pro Ski Tour until 1998. Ed Maine native Carl Schlick skied alpine ski has been working to bring back the Sugarloaf mountain when there racer Pam pro tour ever since and is now the were only three t-bars serving the Fletcher will Chairman of the Board of Directors slopes and Ed Rogers was just get- be a voice of the WPST. He resides in Bath, ting started with his infamous Red during the ME where he owns and operates JR Stallion Inn. As creative director, TV broadcast. Maxwell’s, a restaurant downtown. Carl has worked with Ed for almost He is very active in the local com- Ed Rogers (l.) with pro Christian 40 years, 20 of those with the pro munity, working to drive tourism Orlainsky and Chrysler’s Lee Iacocca. skiing tours. He enjoys playing and increase economic activity while drums in local bands. still finding time to sail. Lisa Mutz-Nelson photo.

2 MARCH 2017 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT N E X T R U N

Just like the past– By Craig Marshall World Pro Ski Tour Executive Director The future of professional dual “ alpine ski racing is bright This event is the he global ski community has racing to every ski fan across the struggled for years as a sparse world, whether it be at their local hill Tamount of dual events have barely or through our TV broadcasts. product of years of work satisfied their withdrawals from al- The Pyeongchang Olympics next most twenty years without a pro tour. season will bring the debut of the dual The time is right to launch the World Nations Team Event in Olympic com- from our staff and signals Pro Ski Tour as a way to benefit ski petition. This provides an excellent racers, resorts, businesses, and the opportunity for athletes who show tal- local economies of ski towns. ent and an affinity for dual to train the beginning of a new era In the 2018 season, the World Pro specifically for the dual event in pur- Ski Tour will take hold 4-6 events at suit of Olympic medals. One day, can’t fine resorts across the U.S. and you imagine the Team Event at the in ski racing history. Canada. From there, it will grow in- Olympics being full of pro tour ath- crementally until it reaches a full letes who have dedicated their career schedule of weekend events from De- specifically to dual pro racing? cember to April with international We sincerely hope that you enjoy races in places like Europe, South the Pro Ski Challenge at Sunday America, Asia, Australia, New River, March 9-11. This event is the look upon the Monday Mourning Race on 210’s. The equipment” Zealand, and even Dubai! The World product of years of work from our Arena at Sunday River, imagine and the times may have changed, but Pro Ski Tour wants to bring the ex- staff and signals the beginning of a Michael Ankeny or Tim Jitloff on their the spirit of pro racing will endure citement and entertainment of pro new era in ski racing history. As you 165 slalom racing against Phil or forever…

OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF THE WORLD PRO SKI TOUR

STARTING GATE 3 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT A CLOSER LOOK ATTHE RACERS THE WORLD’S BEST

Ryan Cochran-Siegle is a member of the United States Ski Team from Starksboro, VT. Ryan Cochran- Siegle is a member of the US Ski Team from Starksboro, VT. He was 25th in the 2017 World Championships GS and won both the Downhill and Com- bined at the 2012 World Junior Michael Ankeny is a member of the United Championships. States Ski Team from Wayzata, MN. He was the 2015 Nor-Am Cup Overall Champion and has three top-25 finishes in World Cup races. In the off AJ Ginnis is a member of the season he attends Dartmouth College. United States Ski Team from Vouliagmeni, Greece. He attended is a Green Tucker Marshall Mountain member of Redneck Racing from Valley Pittsfield, VT. School in Vermont, has made 15 World Cup starts and was 3rd in the 2015 World Jun- ior Champi- onships Sla- lom.

Orbitwear helping Tour to blast off With the return last year of amateur turns to the resurgence of professional World Cup racing to New England ski racing across America, and the and the attendance of record-break- celebration of the long-awaited return ing crowds to those exciting events, of the world’s greatest pro skier cir- America’s east coast skiers and fans cuit, the World Pro Ski Tour. joined their west coast and Rocky The international skiing world’s Mountain counterparts in a new, na- most talented racers are gearing up tion-wide explosion of enthusiasm for to participate in what will be the most ski racing. In 2017-18, attention now exciting and popular series of outdoor winter sporting events in the history of North American skiing. Events are planned from Maine to throughout the winter months of 2017- 18, giving sponsors, advertisers, ath- letes and fans the chance to interact in ways that will provide tremendous opportunities for big branding, tre- mendous product sales, and huge fun. Orbitwear, as one of the key sup- porters of the World Pro Ski Tour Pro, will be right in the middle of it. For more information, check out the World Pro Ski Tour website at worldproskitour.com, on Facebook at “worldproskitour” and the new Orbitwear product and custom design line at orbitweardesigns.com. 4 MARCH 2017 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

SKIERS COMPETING ON THE WORLD PRO SKI TOUR

Robby Kelley is a member of Redneck Racing from Starksboro, VT. He is a graduate of the University of Vermont and is currently ranked 3rd in the U.S. in Slalom. His dynamite action shot anchors the World Pro Ski Tour poster this season.

Hig Roberts is a member of Team America from Steamboat Springs, CO. He is a graduate of Middlebury Col- lege, where he was a two-time NCAA All-Ameri- can. He has made nine World Cup starts and is ranked 6th in the country in .

Gabriel Rivas is from Val Trevor Philp is a member of Thorens, . He is a graduate of the Canadian National Ski Team the University of where he from Calgary, was the NCAA Slalom Champion in Alberta, Canada. 2009. After his collegiate career, he He is a Univer- made 20 World Cup starts with 5 top sity of 30 finishes. He was also a European graduate, won Cup winner in a Dual Slalom at the silver medal Kronplatz, in 2012. in the 2015 World Champion- ships Nations Team Event, and was 14th in the 2016 Kitzbeuhel World Cup Sla- lom.

Mark Engel is a member of the US Ski Team from Truckee, CA. He has made 28 World Cup starts and Tim Jitloff is a member of while attending the United States Ski Team from the University Reno, NV. He is a two-time of , Mark Olympian and finished 15th in was the 2014 the Giant Slalom at the NCAA Cham- Games. He has pion in GS. been a member of five World Cham- pionships teams, Kieffer Christianson is a is a seven-time member of the Alyeska Ski Club from national cham- Anchorage, AK. He was the 2016 U.S. pion, and has 16 National Giant Slalom Champion and top-15 World Cup has 13 career Nor-Am Cup top-5 fin- finishes. ishes. STARTING GATE 5 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENTSPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT SCHEDULE OF EVENTS THURSDAY, MARCH 9 7PM: Tito's Handmade Vodka Welcome Reception at the Camp Restaurant

FRIDAY, MARCH 10 11AM: Pro Ski Challenge Qualifier 4-6PM: Tito's Handmade Vodka Aprés Party at the Foggy Goggle 8PM: Tito's Handmade Vodka Bar Party at Trail’s End Restaurant and Tavern

SATURDAY MARCH 11 FREE admission 11AM: Pro Ski Challenge Finals - on the Round of 32, 16, 8, 4, and 2 RACE HILL 3PM: Awards Ceremony 3-5PM: Tito's Handmade Vodka Aprés Party at the Barker Bar 8 PM: Tito's Handmade Vodka Bar Party at The Matterhorn

See all the Steamrolling: great racing Hig Roberts of of the Pro Ski Team America from Steamboat Challenge Airing: Springs, Colorado on television March 18, 2017 @3:30pm ET March 25, 2017 @3:30pm ET

6 MARCH 2017 SPECIAL SPECIALADVERTISING ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT SUPPLEMENT

PRO SKIING’S FORMAT FREE admission on the RACE HILL AIRTIME Walk to the race course Watching the dual format of pro ski Built into the from the base lodge or race course, stop by on your skis. racing is easy and exciting. bumps These are some of the launch world’s best ski racers– the action is intense and The competition starts with the qualifying the pros skyward -- viewing them close up runs, the only part of the event when racers an excellent gives a new appreciation of their excellence. are timed from start to finish. The fastest spot for spectators. 32 pros qualify and then it’s on to the -to-head competition.

Two racers blast out of dual starting OFFICIALLY SPEAKING Timing building houses race gates onto parallel courses, one red announcer, TV commentators and one blue. All the timing is at the and race officials. finish line. The action continues down the ladder until only one TIMING IS EVERYTHING pro is left -- the champion! Races are won by thousandths of a second. The state-of-the-art timing system uses a light beam on each course. The first racer through the finish SCOREBOARD starts the clock and the second stops it. Starting with 32 qualifiers, the dual The margin of victory, called the time format builds excitement as the pro field differential, appears on electronic narrows through rounds of 32, 16, 8 and scoreboards in the finish area. The pair the semi-finals. The hottest racing is often of racers then return to the start and race at the end when the best racers battle to again, switching courses to equalize be the champion. Updated continuously any differences between the red and the to show each racer's progress, the blue courses. The pro with the greater scoreboard is the site of the post-race time differential after two runs advances awards ceremonies. and meets a new opponent.

STARTING GATE 7 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT Maine Adaptive helps everyone to get on the ski slopes Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation Maine Adaptive now is proud to be the Featured Non-Profit Partner of the World Pro Ski Tour and welcomes athletes, sponsors, and provides year-round spectators to its home mountain and venue host, Sunday River. adaptive sports IDLife: The next generation Founded in 1982, Maine Adaptive began as a 501(c)(3) dedicated to pro- instruction in alpine viding adults and children with physi- cal disabilities with the opportunity to of health & wellness learn how to ski with adaptive equip- skiing, snowboarding, ment and trained volunteer instruc- Through the latest science, unprec- dation and path that IDLife offers is tors. Since then, Maine Adaptive has Nordic skiing, edented quality and a focus on indi- based entirely on science-backed stud- expanded its programming across the vidualized guidance, IDLife is chang- ies and research. This approach gives state to Sugarloaf, the Camden Snow snowshoeing, tennis, ing the look of wellness for millions of IDLife and all of our customers a clar- Bowl, Black Mountain, Mt. Abram, people. IDLife is revolutionizing the ity and confidence in knowing every- Acadia National Park, Pineland nutrition industry with IDNutrition, thing we offer is based on truth. Farms, Bethel Village Trials, and Back golf, cycling, paddle the world’s first totally customized Quality: IDLife is obsessive about Bay Cove in Portland, and now pro- nutrition program. creating original products that fea- vides year-round adaptive sports in- sports, hiking, Thanks to IDNutrition, you can tap ture the absolute best ingredients struction in , into the perfect nutritional supplement available. snowboarding, Nordic skiing, and fishing. program designed especially with your Guidance: IDLife offers individu- snowshoeing, tennis, golf, cycling, needs in mind. It’s quick easy and free als personalized guidance that is tai- paddle sports, hiking, and fishing. to complete the HIPAA-compliant lored specifically to their health fac- Through the generous support of IDAssessment online by answering tors and personal goals. We embrace Sunday River and questions about your eating habits and the unique situations and targets of Sugarloaf, as well as indi- lifestyle, along with any medical con- everyone we work with and know that vidual donors, founda- ditions and prescriptions you may take. support and guidance are key to suc- tions, corporations, and IDNutrition recommends what you cess. volunteers, Maine Adap- need, leaves out what you don’t need, Now it’s up to you to get your truly tive serves both residents and blocks things known by the sys- personalized pharmaceutical grade and visitors to Maine, tem to have a possible adverse effect. nutrition, with your name on it, summer and winter. In Science: Every product, recommen- shipped directly to your door. addition to providing les- sons in its core sports, Maine Adaptive hosts spe- cialty camps and pro- grams. Our Veterans No Boundaries program serves more than 60 active duty per- USA’s Diana Golden and Mills Race sonnel and veterans with physical dis- Series. Maine Adaptive racers have abilities and their family members proudly represented the United States annually with both a summer and win- in several winter Paralympics. ter sports camp. In February each What makes Maine Adaptive year, Maine Adaptive and Sugarloaf unique in the world of adaptive sports host the New England Blind and Visu- programming? Our own instructional ally Impaired Ski Festival, which programs are offered free of charge to brings adults and children from across our athletes. For more information the country to Sugarloaf for 3 days of on participating, volunteering, or sup- Individually Designed Nutrition alpine and Nordic skiing. Each March, porting Maine Adaptive, visit our Maine Adaptive partners with the No website at www.maineadaptive.org or Limits Foundation to provide alpine email us at [email protected]. skiing opportunities to children with And, if you’d like to celebrate the 2016- limb loss during Camp sNOw Limits. 2017 season, join us on March 25th www.billstratton.idlife.com Maine Adaptive has its own alpine for the 32nd Annual Ski-A-Thon. For race team, with athletes who train more information on participating, weekly and compete in Disabled Sports email [email protected]. 8 MARCH 2017 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT Going Pro clashing over the role of money in ski HISTORY from page 1 racing. That year, the IOC announced money was distributed on the World that ski instructors were to be consid- OF Cup alpine circuit. This doesn’t in- ered “professionals” and were there- clude dollars that athletes earn from fore ineligible to compete in the Win- PRO other sources, like product endorse- ter Games at Garmisch- ments. According to ESPN, Vonn’s Partenkirchen, Germany. Austria and total haul this year was $3 million. withdrew their top alpine SKIING Professional ski racing lags behind racers in protest. By 1952, when Chi- the superstars of other sports when it cago millionaire Avery Brundage took comes to annual earnings–Vonn’s an- the helm of the IOC, the stage was set nual earnings are about a 20th of what for a showdown. “Brundage was a man boyfriend Tiger Woods pulls in on the obsessed with the idea of pure ama- golf course, for example. But their teurism,” writes John Fry in his book careers can still be relatively lucra- The Story of Modern Skiing. “He re- tive. This is thanks partly to the pro garded alpine racers as a within racing movement, which confronted the Olympics because of the money the politics of amateurism in the 1960s paid to them by equipment companies and affected competitive racing for all to use their products.” time.

CLASHING OVER 1994 World Pro Ski Tour SHAMATEURISM champion Sebastian As early as 1936, the International Vitzthum of Austria. Olympic Committee (IOC) and the In- ternational Ski Federation (FIS) were

sion triggered outrage in Austria (where Brundage was burned in ef- figy) and around the world. As Fry Meanwhile, alpine racers found an writes, it was a watershed event in Playing it cool outspoken proponent in FIS president the history of the Games, and one at Winter Park, Colorado Marc Hodler, who argued they should that ultimately “turned out to be the be allowed to earn money to cover the funeral...of the amateur ideal in the Olympics.” Brundage stepped down Austrian Alexander Hosp high cost of training and racing, which stays low off the bump far exceeded the expenses of, say, later that year. to avoid catching too swimmers or track and field athletes. much air, which slows Sir Arnold Lunn concurred, saying FRIEDL PFEIFER AND PRO the racer down. that “fake amateurism” encouraged RACING IN AMERICA perjury as athletes swore they were While the IOC and FIS were duking it amateurs in order to compete in the out over the Winter Games, a profes- Olympics. sional racing circuit was gaining trac- The long-running battle between tion in the United States. It was led Brundage and Hodler heated up when by Friedl Pfeifer, one of the founders Brundage publicly demanded that rac- of the Aspen Skiing company who ers from the 1968 Olym- helped to build the Colorado resort pics–including triple gold-medal win- after World War II. As a ski instructor ’s ner Jean-Claude Killy–return their in his native Austria, Pfeifer had been Anders medals. He also demanded that a slew barred from the 1936 Games for his Akerland “professional” status. So he had a cer- leads of racers be barred from the 1972 Michel Games in Sapporo, . In the end, tain passion in 1960 when he founded Coranotte the only racer to be banned was the International Professional Ski Rac- of France Austria’s great slalom skier, Karl ers Association (IPSRA), stamping it off the Schranz, the three-time world cham- with a ringing rationale. “I want (ski jump. pion and World Cup overall champ in racers) to have the opportunity to be 1969 and ‘70. Schranz, who was con- compensated for what they have given Lisa sidered a favorite in the ‘72 Games, to the sport,” he said. “With that in Mutz-Nelson mind, I set out to start a professional photos was excluded on grounds that his con- sultant status with equipment manu- racing organization.” facturers, most notably Kneissl, had The ski world took notice as Pfeifer tainted his amateur status. His expul- Please see GOING PRO on page 10 STARTING GATE 9 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT was still suffering from a familiar de- Going Pro mon–unknown ski racers–and so from page 9 Beattie devised a plan to alter the seeding system to guarantee that organized a cadre of the most famous some of the top names would at least names in skiing: Minnie Dole, Sigi get through the qualifying rounds. The Engle and Willie Schaeffler in admin- maneuver helped a bit; the season istration; Howard Head as the initial finished with two veterans, Hans sponsor; and racers such as Toni “Hansi” Hinterseer and Lanny Spiess, Anderl Molterer, Stein Vanatta, taking serious but unsuccess- Eriksen, Pepi Gramshammer and ful runs at Andre Arnold. . The initial races The following season, with his fi- were held in Buttermilk in 1960. nances flagging, Beattie’s tour unrav- “The FIS heard bout my project,” eled. Arnold was still dominating wrote Pfeifer in his biography, Nice early, and the season played out until Goin’ (ghost-written by Morten Lund), April, when a handful of racers–in-

“and urged the U.S. Ski Association to LISA MUTZ-NELSON cluding Hinterseer and Boston’s Richie notify resorts of the consequences of Let ‘em run: Jakob Rhyner of Switzerland and Francis Carminati of France Woodworth–boycotted a race, claim- hosting an IPSRA race. The resorts ing that a snowstorm had made course were warned that if they supported or finishes. Sabich won the first two pro In 1974, Nindl won the title, and a conditions variable and unfair. With sponsored the professional ski races events he entered, taking home a record $93,230 that stood for many national TV ready to roll, the boycott in any way they would be disqualified modest $21,189 in prize money. But years. But again, when unknowns was disastrous for Beattie, who dis- as a future host for an FIS champion- the charismatic racer, whom some such as rookie Josef Odermatt dis- band World Pro Skiing a few weeks ship event.” suspect was the inspiration for Robert placed better-known skiers, Beattie later. Despite the warning, the fledging Redford’s character in the movie knew he had to come up with a plan. pro ski tour survived for six fairly , also had product en- Meanwhile, the tour’s chief sponsor, THE ERA OF ED ROGERS vigorous seasons until Pfeifer turned dorsements that brought his earnings the cigarette company Benson & With no major leagues left, regional the tour over to the racers themselves, to $100,000. He soon earned the nick- Hedges, pulled out of ski racing. In minor-league tours partially filled the who formed the Professional Ski Rac- name “Mr. Pro.” When Killy joined 1975, the schedule forced a five-week void, including a Coors-sponsored ers Association with Killington’s Karl him at the start of the ‘73 tour, pro break in mid-season, and the tour American Pro Ski Tour out of Colo- Pfeiffer (no relation) heading the racing seemed to be the ascendant seemed to be faltering. rado and a group of racers organized group. After the championship races rocket of the sports world, with prod- Aspen hosted a four-race Aspen Pro by Maine restaurateur Ed Rogers and in Japan the next season, Pfeiffer held uct endorsements coming on strong Spree event in 1976 at a time when partner Mike Collins, who signed a a meeting to tell racers that he didn’t and TV dates filling the season calen- hometown hero Sabich was struggling sponsorship deal with French car com- have the time to chase new sponsors. dar. on the slopes. A French skier, Henri pany Peugeot. After a sensational East- In 1969, wrote Friedl Pfeifer, “The Instead, enthusiasm dampened that Duvillard soared on the tour that year, ern meet at Mt. Snow in Vermont torch was passed on once again, this year when the tour took an unpredict- winning three of the four Aspen races (Wayne Wright fought hard to beat time to Bob Beattie.” able turn and two relative unknowns– and adding 13 more wins to dominate Georg Ager for the title), the two re- Austrian racers Hugo Nindl and the season and win him an honorary gional tours were combined once BOB BEATTIE TAKES THE REINS Harald “The Stork” Stuefer, a gangly title, “The Frog Who Ate the World.” again into a national tour. Rogers, The 1970s started well for Beattie’s athlete who stood six feet, five inches The season seemed fairly success- who owned the famous Red Stallion tour, featuring high-profile U.S. rac- tall–won the opening events. In the ful until March, when Sabich was shot Inn at the Sugarloaf in ers like , Tyler Palmer, Hank end, Killy took the season title, molli- to death. His girlfriend, the actress Maine, says, “We had the B tour, but Kashiwa, Scott Pyles and a 25-year- fying sponsors and television execu- Claudine Longet, was arrested for when Beattie went out, a lot of his old from Aspen with dazzling blond tives. But the potential weakness of manslaughter and sentenced to a skiers came over to us.” good looks, Vladimir “Spider” Sabich, pro skiing was becoming clear: With- short term in prison. In the mid-1980s, the Viking as- who had scored 18 World Cup top-ten out big names, the buzz soon quieted. By the end of the decade, the tour sault was on, in the form of Norwe- gian brothers Jarle and Edvin Halsnes and their buddy Reidar Wahl, who won the tour in 1984. Jarle won the title in 1985 and Edvin beat him the next year. Jarle was back in 1987 before Sweden’s Joakim Wallner broke the brothers’ grip in 1988, the year that Jarle, suffering from a bad back, announced his retirement. In his 1987 win, Jarle pocketed $103,750, finally topping Nindl’s earnings mark that had stood since 1974. In October 1988, Rogers announced that he had signed the country’s two most successful amateur racers, twin brothers Phil and Steve Mahre, who had won gold and silver medals re- spectively in the 1984 Winter Games in . Phil explained that they needed the cash to fund a race car, 10 MARCH 2017 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT and yet bad-mouthed the pro tour as a on to win 76 races by the end of the came apart at a high group of “has-beens and never-weres, tour in the late 1990s, with career point, with high-pro- including myself.” Mahre’s opinion earnings of about $1.5 million. file racers and record aside, the tour that year was stacked Though there had not been an prize dollars. with stars, including two Austrian American winner on the tour since “I think I know aces–Roland Pfeifer and Bernhard the Mahre years, in 1996 Erik Schlopy how it would work Knauss, who had lost his place on the from Park City won Rookie of the again,” says the Austrian national team because of ill- Year honors with a 6th place finish, as plain-talking Rogers, ness. Knauss finally relinquished his domi- now in his 70s, “but In 1989, placed second nance to a younger countryman, I’m not about to do but still pocketed $82,000 for the sea- Sebastian Vitzthum. Then another it. I put in my time.” son. Meanwhile, Chrysler-Plymouth Austrian, Hans Hofer, won his first liked what they saw and came in as a title. 1998 Austrian major sponsor. Mahre, who had bad- In 1996, Rogers and his new part- powerhouse mouthed the tour as too easy, still ner, Bill Flavin, sold the tour to Del worked hard to master the duel-elimi- Wilber & Associates from McLean, nation format, ending up 3rd in the Virginia. Calling it the World Pro Ski 1990 standings. But Knauss was com- Tour, Del Wilber soon had it up for ing on strong. sale again. One potential buyer, ESPN, At first, Knauss was unable to over- gave it a pass to start the X-Games take Pfeifer who, in 1990, cashed in instead, and another, IMG, also let it with record earnings after winning go, leaving the field to the Fox Family both the tour and the Plymouth Su- Channel which, within two years, can- per-Series Championships for a record celled all of its sports programming. haul of $221,816. The following sea- “When Chrysler left, we couldn’t son, Knauss hit the jackpot for find a replacement,” says Rogers. “Fox Bernhard Knauss (l.) $356,256, and then sweetened it the couldn’t come up with enough spon- poses with Mathias following year by winning $364,038 sorship either, and that’s what pro Berthold (r.) and and knocking off Andre Arnold’s old sports is all about.” The sad irony, Roswitha Raudaschl, record with 46 career wins. The next Rogers says, is that pro racing, which who took the Bernhard Knauss was a force in pro skiing as he season he passed the million-dollar had been running continuously in the Women’s Pro Ski claimed the Tour champion titles in “91, ‘92, ‘93, ‘95 mark in career earnings. He would go United States for nearly 40 years, title in ‘91 & ‘92 and the overall World Pro Champion titles in ‘90, ‘91, and ‘93 through ‘96. Lisa Mutz-Nelson photos

STARTING GATE 11 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

12 MARCH 2017