Wednesday, March 9, 2005

Sun Valley to launch Holding Cup

Collegiate alumni will compete April 2 to benefit alma maters


By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

Sun Valley Co. plans to inaugurate a new amateur ski race later this month, an event that will challenge alumni from colleges and universities across the nation to compete for pride, prestige and prizes.

The first Holding Cup, named to honor Sun Valley Co. owner Earl Holding, will kick off with a cocktail party Thursday, March 31, in Sun Valley, continuing with events through race day on Saturday, April 2, on the Warm Springs side of Bald Mountain. Registration for the event has begun and will continue through the end of the month.

The basic format for the Holding Cup is simple. Teams comprised of five alumni of the same university or college will compete in dual giant-slalom races for money prizes that will benefit skiing or sports programs at their alma mater. A handicap system for calculating race times will benefit older skiers and female skiers.

"Anyone can do this," said Jack Sibbach, Sun Valley director of marketing and public relations. "You don't have to be a racer to win."

Each collegiate team must have five members, with at least one member being female. Four of the individuals must be 35 or older. Multiple teams from any college or university can enter and compete.

The giant-slalom races will be held on Hemingway run. The first-place team will earn an award of $1,500 for the school it represents, while second- and third-place teams will earn awards of $1,000 and $500 respectively. All racers will receive gifts for participating and will be eligible to win larger prizes during a drawing on race day.

Team members will also be given an opportunity to "up the ante" and win additional cash prizes, Sibbach said.

Sun Valley Co. and the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation are organizing the event, which will be held annually.

Don Wiseman, executive director of the foundation, said the Holding Cup this year will coincide with the foundation's annual Alumni Weekend. On Sunday, April 3, skiers who graduated from the program will gather at Apple's Bar & Grill to socialize and talk about the organization's 38-year history.

Sibbach said the Holding Cup—which will award an engraved cup to the winning team—is expected to grow over years to come.

"This year might be the best chance to win," Sibbach said. "As the event grows, it will almost certainly become more competitive."

How to register

Registration for the Holding Cup costs $100 per team. Events will take place from March 31 through April 2, concluding with an awards barbecue at the base of the Warm Springs side of Bald Mountain. To register by telephone, call Will Hovey at the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, 726-4129, ext. 12. To register on the World Wide Web, visit www.svsef.org.




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