SPECIAL ADVERTISINGSPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT SUPPLEMENT

This event will air April 8 @ 2:30pm ET See p. 7 for airtimes of other events Volume XVIII No.2 MARCH 2018 Top pros to duel in Rocky Mountain Pro Ski Classic at Snowmass, CO Kei Kullberg Lisa Mutz-Nelson

Four Tops: American racers snagged three out of the four top spots at Waterville Valley Resort. Nolan Kasper checks in as winner while fellow Americans Michael Ankeny and Robbie Kelley (right) claimed third and fourth respectively. Canadian Morgan Megarry (left) dueled with Kasper and took second place. Lisa Mutz-Nelson photo. North Americans claim podium at Dueling for dollars: American Nolan Kasper (r.) edged out Canadian Morgan Megarry (l.) for top Waterville Valley honors at the White Mountain Dual Challenge. The World Pro Ski Tour and Ankeny will put on an ex- day, where they will go head to Nolan Kasper of the US Ski Team and 2018 US is coming to Snowmass for ceptional show for all the fans, head twice (once on each course) Olympic Team overcame a tough day of qualifying the Rocky Mountain Pro Ski at no charge!" to determine who advances. The and a loss in run 1 of the semifinals to win the Classic, the second event of the World Pro Ski Tour compe- winner will need endurance to White Mountain Dual Challenge at Waterville Val- 2018 World Pro Ski Tour sea- tition features an open registra- prevail through the ten runs re- ley over runner-up Morgan Megarry of the Cana- son. 2018 US Olympian Nolan tion for all men and women over quired to win. dian Ski Team. On Friday, Kasper qualified as the Kasper of Warren, VT will head- 18 (go to worldproskitour.com/ “We are excited to welcome 15th seed which gave him a difficult route to the line the field to defend his vic- registration) for qualification on the World Pro Ski Tour to finals. tory in the White Mountain Friday. The top 32 athletes will Snowmass, continuing the cel- The most tense moment came in the first run of Dual Challenge at Waterville advance to the finals on Satur- ebration of Snowmass’s 50th an- the semifinals when 3rd ranked American slalom Valley, NH February 10th. He niversary season." says John skier Robby Kelley defeated Kasper by .36 seconds. will face a tough challenge from Rigney, Senior Vice President, With a .62 second victory in run 2, three time 2017 US and Canadian Slalom Aspen Skiing Company. “This Olympian Kasper was able to overcome the deficit Champion AJ Ginnis, who fin- “ event offers a fun format for spec- and advance to take on Megarry in the final. We are excited ished 2nd in the 2017 Pro Ski tators and athletes alike.” “It was great to see such a big crowd of enthusiastic Challenge at Sunday River, ME. to welcome the The racing at Snowmass will supporters today at Waterville Valley for this event. Also not to be underestimated take place Friday at 12PM (quali- Like all the racers here today, I am thrilled to see is Michael Ankeny of Wayzata, World Pro Ski Tour fication) and Saturday at 11AM that the World Pro Ski Tour has come back after MN who has finished third in on the Blue Grouse Trail above being dormant for so long,” said Kasper. to Snowmass, the last two World Pro Ski Tour the Cabin. To add The legendary Tommy’s World Cup run at races. continuing the to the fun, World Pro Ski Tour Waterville Valley proved to be a challenging venue "Dual professional ski racing Official Partners Tito's Hand- for the top racers from the U.S., Canada, Finland, has a long history in the Aspen celebration of made Vodka will be serving out- Sweden, and France. The race track was icy and Valley, dating back to Bob side the Sabich and Greenhead slick despite a foot of new snow falling on Wednes- Snowmass’s Beattie in the 1960's. The wild Lobster will be providing lobster day before the event and 4-6 inches early morning spirit of the area is a perfect bisque samples. Saturday. Two 5-foot jumps and other small terrain 50th anniversary match with the World Pro Ski Look through the rest of the caused many top athletes to fall or miss gates. Tour, which features the most season. Starting Gate to learn about the “It was fantastic to see the Waterville stop of the exciting format and most fun racers in the Rocky Mountain WPST take place on a much more challenging hill parties in alpine ski racing," said Pro Ski Classic, some pro tips John Rigney Ed Rogers, President of the ” from Pam Fletcher, and more! Please see WATERVILLE VALLEY Senior VP Aspen Skiing Co. World Pro Ski Tour. "World- on page 3 We hope to see you on the slopes class racers like Kasper, Ginnis this weekend.

STARTING GATE 1 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

S T A F F

World Pro Ski Tour 5 Old Sloop Lane Ed Rogers Bath, Maine 04530 Ed is a legend in the skiing world Ed Rogers (l.) (207) 446-1492 following his twenty-two year run as email: [email protected] with pro the director of a regional pro tour Christian Edwin A. Rogers ...... President starting in 1976 that grew to become Orlainsky Kevin Clarke ...... Vice President the World Pro Ski Tour until 1998. Ed and Craig Marshall ...... Executive Director has been working to bring back the Chrysler’s Marty Ehrlich ...... Executive Producer Pro Ski TV pro tour ever since and is now the Lee Iacocca. Christopher Lincoln ...... Producer/Director Pro Ski TV John Jacobs ...... Director Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lisa Mutz-Nelson Justin Burley ...... Director the WPST. He resides in Bath, ME photo. Bill Stratton ...... Director where he owns and operates JR Bill Despo ...... Secretary & General Counsel Maxwell’s, a restaurant downtown. He Barrett Stein ...... Treasurer is very active in the local community, Lisa Mutz-Nelson ...... WPST Admin/Photographer Carl Schlick ...... Creative Director working to drive tourism and increase GP Bonenfant ...... Graphic Artist/Sign Shop Manager economic activity while still finding time to sail. The Starting Gate is a publication of World Pro Ski Tour Copyright 2018 - All rights reserved. Printed at the Aspen Times. Kevin Clarke A native of Fryeburg, Maine, Kevin works for Martignetti Companies, Marty Ehrlich (l.) www.worldproskitour.com one of New England's leading liquor and Chris Lincoln distributors. He was a pro racer dur- work the TV truck worldproskitour ing the 1980s and went on to take a on site. position as an announcer and spon- Lisa Mutz-Nelson photo. sorship activation specialist on Ed @worldproskitour Rogers' U.S. Pro Ski Tour in the 1990's. Kevin enjoys skiing in the @worldproskitour winter and car racing of all types in the summer.

Craig Marshall Marty Ehrlich John Jacobs Craig grew up at Sugarloaf, Maine As Executive Producer for pro ski TV, John lives in Glens Falls, NY where and ski raced while at Carrabassett Marty has over 25 years experience of he runs the world famous Reliable Valley Academy and at the NCAA Di- production and program creation. He Racing Supply, a company that was vision I level for Colby College. He has produced, represented and cre- started by his parents in 1969. His moved to Portland, Maine in August ated hundreds of world class proper- experience in pro tour skiing runs of 2015 and still lives there while run- ties and has a combination of over 30 back to the days of Bob Beattie’s ning the WPST. Craig still enjoys ski- Emmy awards and nominations. tour and he stayed involved through ing in addition to playing golf and the 1980’s and 90’s. John still en- squash. joys skiing and sailing. Lisa Mutz-Nelson Professional photographer Lisa Mutz-Nelson was behind the cam- Bill Despo eras as the World Pro Ski Tour Bill Despo is general counsel for the official photographer back when Tour. He has been a lawyer for over Kodachrome color slides were the 40 years and was a partner at a na- medium of choice. “Shooting digital tional law firm who concentrated his is a whole dif- practice on business law, corporate, ferent world,” securities, governmental investiga- says the Avon, tions and complex business litigation. Colorodo resi- Bill is an avid skier having skied all dent, “and I his life and all over the world. look forward to working with the tour Carl Schlick again.” Maine native Carl Schlick skied Sugarloaf Christopher Lincoln mountain when there As a producer and director, Christo- were only three t-bars From left: Kevin Clarke, pro racer pher has earned a reputation for de- serving the slopes and Nolan Kasper, Barrett Stein and Barrett Stein livering both exciting and informa- Ed Rogers was just get- Craig Marshall. Barrett grew up ski racing at Buck tive programming in a variety of ting started with his in- Hill in Minnesota and started his sports and entertainment. Over the famous Red Stallion Inn. As cre- Lisa Mutz-Nelson photo. coaching career there. He spent fif- past thirty-three years, he has been a ative director, Carl has worked with teen years in Telluride and Aspen as a part of ten Olympic games having Ed for almost 40 years, 20 of those program director and race coordina- worked for the host broadcaster and with the pro skiing tours. He en- tor. He is passionate about the WPST with three US rights holders (CBS, joys playing drums in local bands. dual format and is excited to help NBC, ABC). Since 2007, Flying Fish bring this event, which is geared to Productions has supported Olympic spectators, back into ski racing. Be- Broadcast Services in an award-win- sides skiing Barrett loves to golf and ning production at the Beijing and ride anything with two wheels. London games from 2007-12.

2 MARCH 2018 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT FROM THE Waterville Valley from page 1 Austrians Karl Thaler, Hans Hofer, Mathias than most other dual races. The Berthold and Bernhard Knauss were holding down steeper pitch, bigger jumps, and awe- the top spots in the standings with Norwegians some surface was the perfect stage for Ove Nygren (on front page at left) and Torjus Berge some world-class battles,” said Mor- in the thick of the mix. gan Megarry. AJ Ginnis, the second place fin- On the Women’s Pro Ski Tour, the top spots isher from the 2017 Pro Ski Chal- belonged to Sweden’s Catharina Glasser-Bjerner lenge at Sunday River qualified in the Austrian Roswitha Raudaschl. Americans Lynda second position on Friday but tweaked Mcgehee-Walsh, Carter Payne and Amy Livran his back and was forced to withdraw were in hot pursuit. from the finals on Saturday. Ginnis will still be a favorite in the remain- Television broadcast included ABC, NBC and an ing events along with Michael Ankeny ARCHIVES extensive schedule on ESPN. who finished third in both the Sunday River and Waterville Valley events. “It was nice getting a feel for the cattle door style start gates in Waterville Valley. At the beginning of the event I was really struggling with the timing, but after some adjustments I started to feel really quick out of the gate,” Ankeny said. “I’m itching to get to Snowmass for the next event and climb up further past that 3rd place step.”

Pro Ski racing has a rich history at Aspen

It was February of 1993 and Pro Ski Racing was set to crown a World Champion at Aspen in the

Lisa Mutz-Nelson U.S. Pro Ski Tour Chrysler World Championships. Race to Erase MS Chairperson Nancy Davis was Cruising Canadian: Morgan Megarry heading up the Pro-Am fundraiser for the fight gets focused on the Waterville Valley course on his way to a second place against multiple sclerosis. finish. More Apen History on page 9.

STARTING GATE 3 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT RACE RESULTS February 10, 2018

4 MARCH 2018 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT Mardene Haskell is first woman to compete on new World Pro Ski Tour

The White Mountain Dual Challenge at Waterville Valley was a landmark occasion as Mardene Haskell became ““ She's a the first woman to compete in the ““ new World Pro Ski Tour. Haskell, 23, great who is originally from Holderness, NH but now resides in Boston, was a four- competitor. time NCAA All-American at Colby Col- lege. After graduating in May 2017, Joonas Rasanen, Finland she entered the medical sales field but has continued to race on week- ends and in her free time. "I feel really lucky, it's just an op- ”” portunity that I'm taking advantage of," said Haskell on-site in an inter- view with WMUR TV. "I've never gone off the pro jumps before so there are a lot of new things happening today. It was so fun and everyone was incred- ibly supportive. It went really well." Haskell qualified in the 25th posi- tion for the finals on Saturday, Febru- ary 10th. She was matched up against a tough competitor- 28-year-old Joonas Rasanen of Finland, who won the sla- accomplishment and as she gets more name. Rasanen reflected, lom at the 2013 NCAA Championships experience in the pro format she'll be "I was definitely not the and World University Games while at even tougher to beat. It was great to athlete the crowd wanted the University of New Mexico. see her mixing it up out here and to win!" Rasanen is currently ranked 74th in hopefully we'll match up again!" Look for more female the world for men in slalom but Haskell was not only a fan favorite competitors in the World Haskell gave him a run for his money. but was also rooted on by her fellow Pro Ski Tour as it contin- "She's a great competitor," Rasanen competitors. While in the start of her ues to hold non-gendered Pumped up for the dual challenge: American remarked. "To be that successful on first finals run against Rasanen, the events open to both men Mardene Haskell made history at the Waterville the women's NCAA circuit is a huge group of racers started chanting her and women. Valley Resort event.

STARTING GATE 5 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT S C H E D U L E a t S N O W M A S S VIP FREE REGISTRATION admission on the THURSDAY, MARCH 8 Official VIP registration RACE HILL area is the lobby of the 3-6pm: ...... Racer Registration at Base Camp Snowmass Mountain Chalet 3-6pm: ...... Tito’s Aprés Promo at Basecamp Fri+Sat am

FRIDAY, MARCH 9 12pm: ...... Rocky Mountain Pro Ski Classic Qualifier – on Blue Grouse trail 3-5pm: ...... Tito's Handmade Vodka Aprés Promo at Venga Venga 9-11pm: ...... Tito's After Dark Party at The Grey Lady

SATURDAY, MARCH 10 11am: ...... Rocky Mountain Pro Ski Classic Finals – on Blue Grouse trail 3pm:...... Awards Ceremony 3:30-5:30pm: Tito's Handmade Vodka Aprés Promo at Base Camp 8-10pm: ...... Tito's World Pro Ski Tour Closing Party at The Red Onion

This event will air April 8 @ 2:30pm ET See p. 7 for airtimes of other events

6 MARCH 2018 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT SEASON SCHEDULE - 2018 WORLD PRO SKI TOUR

See it on television:

WHITE MOUNTAIN DUAL CHALLENGE Apr. 1 @ 1:00pm ET Waterville Valley Resort • Feb. 8-10

SNOWMASS PRO SKI CLASSIC Apr. 8 @ 2:30pm ET Snowmass • March 8-10

VISIT MAINE PRO SKI CHAMPIONSHIP Apr. 15 @ 12:30pm ET OFFICIAL SPONSORS: Sunday River • March 29-31

Orbit Wear BeyondX FISCH SKI Magazine Skibonez Reliable Racing Volkl CBS Sports Korbel Head Snowmass Mountain Lodging

Lisa Mutz-Nelson by East West

u n d e r s t a n d i n g FREE admission on the PRO SKIING’S FORMAT RACE HILL AIRTIME Walk to the race course Built into the from the base lodge or Watching the dual format of pro ski race course, stop by on your skis. These are some of the racing is easy and exciting. bumps launch world’s best ski racers– the pros the action is intense and The competition starts with the qualifying skyward -- viewing them close up an excellent gives a new appreciation runs, the only part of the event when racers spot for of their excellence. are timed from start to finish. The fastest spectators. 32 pros qualify and then it’s on to the head-to-head competition. OFFICIALLY SPEAKING Timing building houses race Two racers blast out of dual starting announcer, TV commentators gates onto parallel courses, one red and race officials. and one blue. All the timing is at the 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 TOP RACERS A CLOSER LOOK AT THE WORLD’S BEST COMPETING ON THE WORLD PRO SKI TOUR

Nolan Kasper is a 28-year-old member of the US Ski Team abd the 2018 US Olym- pic Team who lives in Warren, VT. Nolan was a promising star out of Burke Mountain Academy in 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. He made his return in Wengen, Switzerland Lisa Mutz-Nelson where he finished 20th.

Tucker Marshall is a member of Redneck Racing from Pittsfield, VT. He is currently ranked 9th in the Nor-Am Cup Slalom standings.

AJ Ginnis is a member of the United States Ski Team from Vouliagmeni, Greece. Ginnis finished 2nd Sam Coffey is in the 2017 Pro Ski Chal- a 28-year-old Aspen lenge at Sunday River but native who had an was unfortunately sidelined exceptional career from the 2018 White Moun- skiing at the Uni- tain Dual Challenge at versity of New Waterville Valley due to a Hampshire. After back injury sustained in winning the 2007 qualifying. He Junior National Su- attended per-G, Coffey went Green Moun- on to become a 2x tain Valley NCAA All-American School in Ver- at UNH. He still mont and was lives in Aspen and the 2017 US works in ski indus- and Canadian try marketing and national sla- PR. lom cham-

pion. Carl O. Berry

Michael Ankeny is a member of Team Slalom Tokyo Drift from Wayzata, MN. He was the 2015 Nor-Am Cup Overall Champion and has three top-25 finishes in World Cup races. He has finished third in two straight World Pro Ski Tour races this season. In the off season he attends Dartmouth College.

8 MARCH 2018 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

FROM THE Pro Ski racing has a rich history at Aspen

MARCH 1996: DECEMBER 1985: The Austrians Hans Hofer, Aspen was hosting Ed Rogers’ Sebastian Vitzthum and Bernhard ninth season of the Peugeot Knauss were sitting at the top of Grand Prix, the forerunner to the standings with Americans Erik the U.S. Pro Ski Tour. Schlopy and Felix McGrath in the hunt. Norwegians Jarle and Edvin Halsnes along with Reidar USA’s Julie Parisien had claimed Wahl were at the top of the the title on the Women’s Pro Ski charts. Americans trying to Tour with Sweden’s Camilla ARCHIVESknock them off included Cary Lundback vowing to make a Adgate, Dave Stapleton, Peter comeback next year. Dodge and Vail’s Terry Ahola. Aspenite and former U.S. Ski Team member Mark Taché was entering his second year as a pro and proving he had what it takes to compete. Nationwide television coverage was announced for the 1986 season. The Snowmass Club Invitational Celebrity Pro-Am paired Peugeot pros with stage, screen and sports celebrities to benefit Blind Outdoor Leadership Development (B.O.L.D.). Participants included: vocalists Christopher Cross and Karla Bonoff, members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, tv’s Wayne Rogers, and movie personalities Lynn- Holly Johnson and Christie McNichols.

Starting Gate photos by Lisa Mutz-Nelson.

STARTING GATE 9 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

Pro Tips By Pam Fletcher STARTING FAST

Like in life, timing is ev- erything. World Pro Ski Tour dual races can be won or lost here at the start. The announcer says, "Red Course Ready, Blue Course Ready, Racers Ready, Go!" and then opens the gates. Tale of the Michaels: Michael Ankeny JUMP TO WIN This year the tour has gone and Michael Boardman display two back to the traditional sa- Negotiating the two pro radically different techniques while loon style doors, which bumps in a World Pro Ski side-by-side off the bump. open at the chest instead Tour course is key to win- Kei Kullberg photo. of the snowboard style ning. The racers are faster doors which drop down in on the snow than they are front of the tips. The key is in the air. The racer wants to have your weight back to come off the jumps in a on the tails and time your balanced position but also move to drive forward over TV time: Former World make an aggressive move your poles so that you don't Cup racer Pam Fletcher to land early in order to barge into the doors. Rac- interviews Michael start the next turn. If the ers can sometimes gain Ankeny for CBS sports athletes are skiing out of more than a half second at television. control and are not pre- the start – a large advan- Craig Marshall photo. pared for the jump, they tage – which can some- risk losing speed in the times mean the difference next few turns or even in the race. worse, falling. Successfully Low and fast: Pros need to get their skis navigating these jumps is back on snow as quickly as possible. what separates the best Mike Gridley photo. pros from the rest.

No horsing around: With the saloon (horse) style starting gates, the pros must time their exit carefully or risk loosing valuable tenths of a second. Note in the photo at right how the near racer is just leaving his gate while the further racer is already gone. Lisa Mutz-Nelson photos.

10 MARCH 2018 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

– T H E W O R L D P R O S K I T O U R – Tito’s Handmade Vodka Rookie of the Year Standings

1 Nolan Kasper ...... 35 pts Fan-tastic: Young skiers bump gloves with pro racer Rob Kelley. 2 Johnny Manekin .... 10 2 Kei Kullberg ...... 10

From the North: Canadian racers 5 Sam Ricker...... 5 pause for a pose at the Waterville Valley Resort event. 5 Peter Ankeny ...... 5

5 Keefe Gorman ...... 5 After dark: The aprés race parties are sure to be legendary with the Tito’s FOLLOWING THE FINISH Racing Team. Lisa Mutz-Nelson photos

Lisa Mutz-Nelson photos

Staff time: Lisa Mutz-Nelson, John Jacobs, Kevin Keiley and Christopher Lincoln take a well- Ready to race: The pros take time to create a photo that will be memorable in years to come. deserved break with the Tito’s girls.

STARTING GATE 11 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

12 MARCH 2018