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Racers ready! Four skiers pull back on the start gates, ready to push off the instant the command is given. They concentrate on the upcoming battle for the hole shot. The countdown is given and in a flurry of colored bibs, racers immediately work to edge each other for the lead. Upon finding the best line through the tricky course filled with berm turns, whoopdees, and massive table top jumps, they finish by airing over a car for cash prizes, bragging rights, and a possible trip to the 2005 Winter X Games. We’re not talking about Tuesday Town League—no, this was the first-ever Subaru Rocky Mountain Skiercross Classic, held Feb. 22, 2004 at Telluride Ski Resort, CO.





The ten seconds till gate drop are the longest you'll ever experience.

The sport of skiercross has grown steadily over the past five years. FIS skiers and young athletes alike fuel the steadily increasing level of competition. Once known as a sport of gratuitous carnage and general mayhem, skiercross has matured over the past five years into an exciting, yet civilized race of skill and technical prowess. As racers gain skill, times are faster, finishes closer, and courses become more challenging. Skiers hit a gap jump over a Subaru WRX right before the finish line at the Rocky Mountain Skiercross Classic—the car was driven off the mountain unscathed.

Sun Valley, Idaho's Reggie and Zach Crist, seasoned skiercross pros, took a one-two sweep in spite of intense competition from other racing icons like Eric Archer and Ryan McCullough, as well as a field of impressive local talent—some of whom had never skied a skiercross course before. Older brother Reggie had the fastest time trial, and won each of his heats on his way to the overall victory. Zach raced hard, trying to catch his brother in a close final, snagging second place, with McCullough in third. The Rocky Mountain Skiercross Classic marks the first time in over three years of racing together that both Crists have stood on a skiercross podium at the same time.





(L to R) Ryan McCullough, Reggie Crist, and Zach Crist.

The women’s division drew fewer numbers than the men’s, but racing was just as strong. The small field at Telluride allowed four women to race a series of three heats. None of the four were eliminated. Instead, they were awarded cash each heat, based on their placing. Whistler, BC’s young talent, Ashleigh McIvor, took the overall victory, winning two of the three heats. Meeker, CO’s Suzan Dole grabbed second, and Canadian skiercross powerhouse Anik Demers placed third.





(L to R) Anik Demers, Ashleigh McIvor, and Suzan Dole.