For the week of March 26 - April 1, 2003

Janss Classic back for sixth running

SVSEF fundraiser has 50s theme

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"Back to the 50s," is the theme for the sixth annual Janss Pro-Am Classic this weekend at Sun Valley.

That’s the era when ski racing in the Sun Valley area became known internationally thanks to then-resort owner Averell Harriman, according to Janss Classic event director Kate Berman.

Fittingly, one of the main live auction items is a restored 1950 Chevy Bel Air hard-top coupe donated by an anonymous person.

The Janss Pro-Am, honoring the memory of 1964-77 Sun Valley owner Bill Janss, is the largest fundraiser supporting the SVSEF alpine, snowboard, freestyle and cross-country ski teams for nearly 400 children in the Wood River Valley.

It features racing and social activities Thursday through Saturday, March 27-29.

Captaining the five-member Pro-Am teams for racing Friday and Saturday will be well-known ski figures like Christin Cooper, Terry Palmer, Tyler Palmer, Billy Shaw, Chris Pravda, Sondra Van Ert, Mark Tache and Erika Whittaker.

A silent auction treat on view at the Warm Springs headquarters tent will be a pair of Atomic racing skis autographed by 2003 Hahnenkamm downhill winner Daron Rahlves of Truckee.

Besides the 1950 Chevy, live auction items include two Mt. Rainier summit climbs donated by Peter and Erika Whittaker, and a pair of Rossignol skis autographed by U.S. Ski Team all-around skier and star Bode Miller.

Also, a gourmet dinner with wine for eight people prepared by Scott Mason of Ketchum Grill; and three nights at a luxury spa near San Diego, Ca.

Diners at Saturday’s award dinner can also take part in a silent auction of 1950s print reproductions by Ketchum artist Will Caldwell.

There will also be the drawing for a season-long SVSEF raffle of a 2003 Ford Explorer XLT with an exchange value of over $30,000, sponsored by Sawtooth Auto Sales.

Last year’s team winner was Surefoot headed by former pro racer and Ketchum resident Billy Shaw. Taking the Janss Speed Cup for a third straight year was "Team R" with Hank Minor, Pat Savaria, Karoline Droege, Adele Savaria, Nick Lewis and Pat Bauman.

Title sponsors are Sun Valley Company, Smith Sport Optics, Atomic, Mountain West Bank, Atkinsons’, Surefoot, Tully’s Coffee and Zenergy at Thunder Spring.

Here is the schedule:

Thursday, March 27: Opening Celebration cocktail party at 6 p.m. at Michel’s Christiania, Ketchum.

Friday, March 28: Hosted breakfast 8:30 a.m. in the Warm Springs headquarters tent. Pre-race clinic from 9-10 a.m. Handicapping runs at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Lower Warm Springs. Hosted lunch at noon. Apres-ski party and team buy-in 5 p.m. at The Boiler Room in Sun Valley.

Saturday, March 29: Hosted breakfast 8:30 a.m. in the Warm Springs headquarters tent. Dual giant slalom runs 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Lower Warm Springs. Hosted lunch at noon. Awards celebration dinner, live auction and dancing (50s attire) at 6:30 p.m. at Sun Valley Skating Center. Music by Sparky Parks and the Aardvarks.

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.