Brett Fischer and Aleisha Cline Win Silver Belt Classic
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Norden, CA - March 27, 2004 - Once considered a world-class ski race from 1940 - 1975, the Silver Belt race was revived this weekend at Sugar Bowl resort in Lake Tahoe. Red Bull Silver Belt blended the best of the old days with a new, modern flare. Each racer had to navigate the all-natural, non-groomed course, while battling five other skiers in a hair-raising gang-start skiercross event. Beginning from the narrow chute atop Mt. Lincoln, the athletes descended through gullies, rock bands and mogul fields. No grooming, only the course as it stood on race day, just like the old days. Brett Fischer of Boulder, Colorado won the men's division, Aleisha Cline of British Columbia, Canada, a four-time gold medalist at the Winter X Games won the women's division.
"The Red Bull Silver Belt was something else. They talk about Kitzbuhel and Hahnenkamm, and then there's the Silver Belt downhill. There's a big hill, gnarly sections and rocks; you get all the hazards. Plus, the other five skiers you are racing against too. It was awesome," said Cliff Bennet of Ward, Colorado who placed second.
Sixteen men and women were pre-seeded into the event on Saturday based on invitation, the remaining field was rounded out via time trials on Friday. The top three skiers from each heat advanced to the next round. The competition was whittled down through the succession of preliminary heats, quarterfinals, semifinals and a final for the men's and women's division.
Past Silver Belt champions and participants still talk of their experiences during the "golden years" and were delighted at the prospect that the same spirit would be revived this weekend. On hand were past Silver Belt winners and participants like former Olympian Starr Walton (Silver Belt winner, 1964), Babette Haueisen (Silver Belt winner, 1955), Peter Picard (Silver Belt participant, 1940) and Werner Schuster (Second place Silver Belt, 1964).
"Today's race was very similar to the race I ran in 1940 (the first Silver Belt race). The only difference today was that six skiers went down at once, instead of one at a time. That's a tough thing to do on such a narrow course. The Silver Belt truly represents what skiing is all about - good camaraderie and good competition," said Peter Picard, 85, a fixture to Lake Tahoe and the Sugar Bowl resort.
The Red Bull Silver Belt race is the blend of past and present; the revival of spirit of an important skiing institution and the introduction of the best the evolution the modern sport has to offer today. The 2004 Red Bull Silver Belt winners had to bring together all facets of their skiing skills. It wasn't just skiercross or big mountain talent, it was the blend of the all-around skier. Those that prospered today brought together all these elements in each heat.
2004 Red Bull Silver Belt final results:
Men
First - Brett Fischer, Boulder, Colorado
Second - Chris Bennet, Ward, Colorado
Third - Jamey Parks, Salt Lake City, Utah
Fourth - Cory Zila, Mammoth Lakes, California
Fifth - Craig Garbiel, South Lake Tahoe, California
Sixth - Corley Howard, South Lake Tahoe, California
Women
First - Aleisha Cline, Garibaldi Heights, British Columbia Second - Asia Jenkins, Aspen, Colorado Third - Anik Demmers, Olympic Valley, California Fourth - Caroline Gleich, Salt Lake City, Utah Fifth - Ashley McIvor, Whistler, British Columbia Sixth - Katie Shackelford, Park City, Utah
The Red Bull Silver Belt race will air on Re: Evolution on FOX Sports Net, Monday 4 p.m. mid May. For more information, go to http://www.reevolution.tv
For more event information go to http://www.redbullsilverbelt.com,