Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Janss Pro-Am celebrates a rich legacy of skiing

22 teams keep the fun alive on sunny weekend


Limbo winners Langely McNeal and Miles Fink-Debray whoop it up during Friday’s Janss Classic party. Photo by

Hundreds of skiers, generous sponsors and party-goers packed the Sun Valley Inn's Limelight Room Saturday night for the awards celebration dinner of the three-day, 13th annual Janss Pro-Am Classic sponsored by Thomas Weisel Partners.

A major fundraiser for the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, the Janss Pro-Am brought out 22 five-person teams for two days of Baldy skiing. The highlights were imaginative costumes that rekindled the old Sun Valley spring skiing spirit.

Speaking at Saturday's dinner, Glenn Janss said about her late husband Bill Janss, "Bill was all about costumes." He was all about skiing as well, as Glenn Janss reminded the audience in recollections about her husband's colorful life.

Bill Janss was captain and founder of the Stanford University ski team, and a member of the 1944 U.S. Olympic ski team. His Janss Corporation built Snowmass in Colorado, then the company owned Sun Valley Co. from 1964-77. Janss helped develop Baldy's Warm Springs skiing and he encouraged snowmaking, she said.

During his 13-year stretch operating Sun Valley, the SVSEF came into being as an outgrowth of the Sun Valley Ski Club. It has become one of the largest and most successful youth ski programs in the U.S.

On a beautiful, sunny weekend, Janss Pro-Am team winner in a tiebreaker was pro Kyle Wieche's Seattle City Slickers quintet with Scot Jarvis, Tim McGee, Bruce Allenbaugh and Craig Johnson.

In second place were pro Langely McNeal's Holidays fivesome with Karen Holzman, Bedford Nabors, Kim Taylor and Jane Reynolds, alias Valentine Girl, Cinco de Mayo, Easter Bunny, Christmas Girl and Halloween Girl.

Third place went to pro Heather Flood-Daves and her Oktoberfest team with Jack Bunce, Bill Campbell, Kirk Riedinger and Jim Laing.

A new Speed Cup champion has been crowned.

It was Sochi 2014 captained by Seattle's Paul McDonald and featuring Phil Erlanger, Jim Grossman, Matt Murphy and Miles Fink-Debray. They dethroned the longtime "Just Say No," Speed Cup championship team with Kipp Nelson, Steve Brown, Wes Powell, Robin Sarchett and Nick Maricich.

In the coveted "Best Costume," race, first place went to McNeal's well-dressed Holiday girls, primping for their time on the Red Carpet.

Strolling to second was pro Adele Savaria's your-worst-nightmare "White Trash Wedding," sponsored by Koth Sports Physical Therapy. They were John Koth, Muffy Ritz, Pete Smith and Mikie Geron, aka Cooter the Groom, Evelyn the Bride, The Right Reverend, Trixie and Ja'neece.

In third place was St. Patty's Day, sponsored by The Sawtooth Club and Roosevelt Grille, with pro Erika Whittaker, Cameron Leady, Warwick Phillips, Ginger Shields and Keri Desler.

Honorable mention was awarded to the team that made the most spectacular, fully-beaded entrance—the Mardi Gras New Orleans Saints people with pro Will Hovey, Rufus Brown, Liz Brown, Janet Appleton and Glenn Thomas.

Rufus Brown, president of the SVSEF board of directors, withdrew his team from consideration. But they were so, so good, there was no alternative but to grant Mardi Gras the 2010 consolation prize.

Pete Smith won the $2,500 bicycle. Other awards were: Most Inspirational were Leroy Kingland and Angie Eagle; Best Crash went to Sondra Van Ert and Phil Erlanger; and Most Enthusiastic was Evelyn the Bride (Muffy Ritz).




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