Great time for a great cause
At the Bill Janss Pro-Am Classic
By JODY ZARKOS
Express Staff Writer
The skiing seventies were a time of groovin’ and movin’.
Astraltunes, gaiters, cheetahs, Demetre sweaters, the
Head Ski girls, streaking, screw-top wine and getting down at Elevation
6000.
With the exception of the bad wine, it all sprang to life
again with last weekend’s 2001 Bill Janss Pro-Am Classic.
The fourth annual event featured three days of good times
and good vibes for a great cause, to raise funds for the Sun Valley Ski
Education Foundation.
And all participants, from the racers, to the sponsors to
the onlookers, hooked into the mood, one of community, love of the sport
and Sun Valley’s classic ski history.
At Saturday’s awards party, Glenn Janss said of her late
husband, "It was an awesome weekend. It was so full of spirit. Bill
would have loved it."
The awards banquet at Sun Valley’s Limelight Room
culminated three days of festivities featuring parties, lunches, and, of
course—ski racing.
In a dual slalom format, 20 teams of six racers each, went
head-to-head on Baldy’s Lower Warm Springs ski run.
Despite the multitude of talent—Olympians Christin
Cooper, Sondra Van Ert, Muffy Davis, Reggie Crist, Mike Jacoby, Terry
Palmer, Tyler Palmer, and Olympic swimmer Dara Torres, plus Baldy
mainstays, world cuppers and pros—the event retained a friendly spirit
of competition and camaraderie.
"Friends of Janss" with Kenny Corrock, Fay
Monsen Kirby, Peder Monsen, Johnny Gudmundsson, Brent Hansen and Mark
Masur placed first with 10 total points.
In second place with seven points was "Team
Verge" with Ben Verge, John Reagle, Deeder Petersen, Andy Berman,
Haley Verge and Terry Palmer.
"The Sliders" beat out "The Acorns" by
one point to claim third. Sliders team members were Eric Carlson, Tag
Kleiner, Jeff Gilberti, Chris Cummings, Ned Post and Erika Whittaker.
"Team R" with Hank Minor, Nick Lewis, Tyler
Ferris, Adele Savaria, Karoline Droege and Pat Bauman won the Speed Cup
for fastest combined runs in Friday’s handicapping races.
The Sun Valley Ski Foundation took time out to honor the
Crist family—parents Roger and Diane, and kids Reggie, Danielle and Zach,
all of whom raced for the Sun Valley Ski Team.
Former SVSEF head coach/program director Lane Monroe
remarked, "You know the Little League parents and I kept waiting for
the push. But all I got was, ‘would you like some help?’
"It’s a tribute to the support the kids got from
mom and dad and it came down through the ski team too."
Hats were off to event co-chairs Kate Berman and Mila
Riggio.
"They did a great job," SVSEF executive director
Sheryl Schowengerdt said. "No detail was overlooked."
Schowengerdt estimated close to $70,000 was raised for the
foundation, which runs four programs; alpine, nordic, snowboard and
freestyle, for 382 local kids.
Four-time Olympic swimmer Dara Torres addressed Saturday’s
throng, which included such skiing luminaries as Dick and Migs Durrance
and Christian Pravda.
"I was very thankful to have youth programs growing
up. The biggest thing I learned was not to put an age limit on your
dreams," said Torres.
