World Pro Ski Tour Will Host The Colorado Pro Cup In Steamboat Springs, Colorado, March 1-2, 2019

The World Pro Ski Tour will host the “Colorado Pro Cup” at Steamboat Springs, CO, March 1-2. This will be the third of four stops slated for the 2019 season. The finale will be held March 28-30, at Sunday River, ME.

This year's World Pro Ski Tour carries on the long tradition of bringing the World's best ski racing pros to town. Olympians and National Champions from the USA and around the world will descend on Steamboat. Top pros will include Canadian Phil Brown, a World Champion Team Silver Medalist and winner of this year’s Waterville Pro Tour race, and Nolan Kasper, a three-time USA Olympian. Rounding out the field will be local stars such as Vail's Alex Leever, Vermont's Robby Kelly and Gabriel Rivas from France.

With a field of Olympians as well as National and NCAA Champions, this event will be a great opportunity to watch an amazing group of athletes as they face off head-to-head in dual slalom action. Qualifiers and main event the Dual Super Slalom will be held on Saturday, March 2nd just above Gondola Plaza in Steamboat.

The roots of the World Pro Ski Tour run as deep as the champagne powder and the local ski racing talent in Steamboat. Billy Kidd, Steamboat's Director of Skiing, was the first and only person to win both the FIS World Championships and the World Pro Ski World Championships in the same season. That was back in 1970.

It was only a few years later at Steamboat's famous Lange Pro Cup that France's triple Olympic Gold Medalist Jean Claude Killy clinched the World Pro Ski Tour title, narrowly beating out U.S. star Spider Sabich. World Pro Skiing Tour competitors and Champions such as the three Halsnes brothers and Colorado Hall of Fame racer Lonny Vanatta hailed from Steamboat. Multiple tour Champion Hank Kashiwa also raced out of Steamboat for many years.

Shortly after the Pro Qualifications on Saturday, the tour will organize the "Alpine Bank Jr. World Pro Ski Challenge". Sponsored by Alpine Bank, this race will allow 16 junior racers from local ski clubs to test their skills and experience the thrill of dual format racing as they compete against the World Pro Ski Tour skiers. The pros will also mentor the junior racers on techniques such as the start gates used in pro ski racing. The top three junior racers will be presented with college scholarship checks and accounts courtesy of Alpine Bank. 

The World Pro Ski Tour is an organization dedicated to the growth of the ski community through hosting a nationwide tour. Pro ski racing uses a dual format – racing head-to-head, not against the clock. Horse-style start gates let the racers out onto identical side-by-side courses, with two pro jumps built into the hill. The format is exciting and spectator-friendly.

Attendance to World Pro Ski Tour events is always free and spectators will be treated with sponsored experiences and the unique chance to mingle and ski with Olympians from across the world. Stay tuned to World Pro Ski Tour social media channels to learn more about event details.

CBS Sports Network is the television partner for the World Pro Ski Tour. This event will be televised in March. Check your local listings and times.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

FRIDAY –March 1, 2019

3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Racer Registration will be at Grand Owner’s Lounge in Gondola Square

at the base of Steamboat ski area

3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Tito’s Après Ski Party – Slopeside Grill
6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - Racer Meeting - Mandatory (same room as racer registration)
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Tito’s After Dark at Slopeside Grill - Meet and Greet Pro Athletes

(Leki & Booster Strap prize giveaways)

SATURDAY –March 2, 2019

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. -VIP/Sponsor Check-in Grand Owners Lounge in Gondola Square

at the base of Steamboat Ski area

8:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. - Inspection and Start Testing begins- The event will take place on “See Me” run at Steamboat Resort (athletes are allowed to test start and go on wrong side of first gate)
9:00 a.m. - VIP On-Course Experience meet with race announcer Kevin Clark for on-course inspection with the athletes (Tito’s Sweepstakes winners and VIP’s)
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Qualifications
11:00 a.m. - TBD p.m. - Tito’s Mountain Activation TBD
1:00 p.m. -2:00 p.m. – Colorado Pro Cup Dual Super Slalom Event - Round of 32
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. -“The Alpine Bank Jr World Pro Ski Challenge” (lifts close at 4:00 p.m.)
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Tito’s Après Ski Party at the T-Bar at Time Square

(Leki & Booster Strap prize giveaways)

3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. - FREE CONCERT Nathan & Zydeco Cha Cha’s Creole music from south

Louisiana, location Steamboat Stage in Gondola Square

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - VIP On-Course Experience continues with round of 16, ski with the Pros to watch the action up close during the event (Tito’s Sweepstakes winners and VIP’s)
5:30 p.m. - Course opens for Pros (Lifts open at 5:30 for night skiing)
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - Colorado Pro Cup Dual Super Slalom Event - Round of 16 to Finals

Finish Area Race Awards Ceremony Top 4 to follow immediately after the race