Historically speaking, a Banzai charge refers to a last-ditch effort of Japanese infantry units attacking as a human wave.
This sort of war strategy was used during World War II. Applied to the skiing world, however, the “Banzai” refers to a dangerous, white-knuckle race from top to bottom, channeling competitors through some of the mountain’s steepest, most treacherous terrain. Darron Rahlves, one of the most decorated U.S. skiers, started the Rahlves Banzai Tour a few years ago, attracting some of the best skiers from California, Nevada, and Utah to come “strut their stuff” at a rather unorthodox racing venue.
Typical ski racing, whether downhill, giant slalom, or slalom, takes place on a well maintained track, groomed and iced to utter perfection. After having raced World Cup and Olympic events for years, Rahlves wanted to start something different that would challenge even the biggest names in skiing. The grand tour makes stops at Kirkwood, Alpine Meadows, Squaw Valley, and Sugar Bowl each winter, asking racers to run gates in skier-cross fashion (four at a time) through a course laden with icy moguls, steep pitches, and forced air-time. If it’s any inclination of the inherent danger involved, health insurance is a requirement of registration.
Three members of the University of California, Berkeley Ski Team braved the elements and raced at the Alpine Meadows stop this year. Characteristically, each heat came down to the final precipice, entitled the “minefield.” It forces competitors to straight-line a sixty degree slope covered with icy bumps and moguls, without falling into the back seat and careening into the crowd of onlookers. The best skiers simply sailed down the slope, absorbing each roll like a shock system in an off-road truck. Watching the amateur skiers from behind the gates, edging neck and neck with professional and semi-professional skiers provided me with a sense of inspiration to work up enough courage to register for next year’s Banzai!
