Palisades Tahoe, February 24,2024 – The one thing i have always admired and appreciated about the ski community, is their authentic joy for the mountains and unbridled passion to throw a great mountain party. Last night at the Olympic Village in Palisades Tahoe, the world ascended to kick off what is shaping up to a very exciting weekend of World Class Ski racing in the Lake Tahoe basin.
Arriving early in the day to capture the mountain, the slopes were filled with joyous friends carving up the slopes of Palisades. A gray and over cast sky, but the energy of the resort was already popping as families slide along the base next to the erected grandstands below the famed Red Dog run that will host the Fastest Slalom racers in the world today in Palisades.
Parade and Cowbells
As the evening skiing wound down and the final runs complete, families and skiers raced to store their gear and pack the Village to await the annual kick off of the festivities. The Flag parade down main street of the village, is filled with kids sliding on makeshift snow banks and old friends sharing a beer and hug. The ski community, has so much joy. As an outsider I admire the since of family and cherished memories that flow for the crowds energy.
The Stifel Palisades Tahoe World Cup event is such a great event to attend. This is my Second visit (Women’s in 2017) and I love how much the event celebrates the kids and the future of skiing. So as the Cow bells and Flags stream down main street, it a real joy to watch the visiting Mountain Kids Ski Programs being celebrated by the large crowds that lined the Village.
Bib Draws
As the Parade passes by the guests and fans fill in like the end of a Centipede and follow the flags to the Mainstage and kick off activities of the World cup ski weekend. Hundreds packed the side of the slope and stage area to meet the US Ski team and the witness the Bib Draw of the worlds 15 fastest Skiers. This years bibs were a double blind draw, with the final bib number being delivered by the Palisades Rescue Dogs that each Skier Choose for the line up. Austria’s Manual Feller Randomly fell into the #1 slot today while Local Favorite Team USA Representee River Radamus drew Lucky number 10. A complete list of Participants and starting times can be found here:
Todays Starting Line-up for the Stifel Palisades Tahoe World Cup.
1- FELLER Manuel 1992 AUT Atomic
2- ODERMATT Marco 1997 SUI Stoeckli
3- KRANJEC Zan 1992 SLO Rossignol
4- STEEN OLSEN Alexander 2001 NOR Rossignol
5- KRISTOFFERSEN Henrik 1994 NOR Van deer
racing
6- ZUBCIC Filip 1993 CRO Atomic
7- MEILLARD Loic 1996 SUI Rossignol
8 – McGRATH Atle Lie 2000 NOR Head
9- WINDINGSTAD Rasmus 1993 NOR Stoeckli
10- RADAMUS River 1998 USA Rossignol
11- CAVIEZEL Gino 1992 SUI Dynastar
12- BRENNSTEINER Stefan 1991 AUT Fischer
13- SCHMID Alexander 1994 GER Head
14- DELLA VITE Filippo 2001 ITA Rossignol
15- VERDU Joan 1995 AND Head
Watch Todays Festivities and Race Schedule
APRÈS With Live Music and Fireworks under Full Moon
the crowd thinned a bit after the Bib Draw but hundreds stayed around to party with live music from the Black Jacket Symphony featuring Marc Martel (the voice behind the worldwide hit movie “Bohemian Rhapsody”) took center stage at 7pm with a performance of Queen’s A Night at the Opera. And Following Black Jacket Symphony, there was a beautiful night of Full Moon magic with be fireworks.
If you are going up today the APRÈS Scene will be kicking it with Ludacris
- Saturday, February 26th will host three incredible free shows: At 2:30pm, London-based DJ 220 Kid will play in the Funitel Plaza. At night, Eve 6 and Ludacris will play on the KT Deck starting at 6:15pm.
Check out the Palisades site for the information you need to know for todays and Sundays events
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