Looking for some après action off the hill? We’ve got that. February 18^th we’ll have an Après Ski Party with Headphone Union playing old school funk mixed with classical rock from 2 to 5pm in The Alpine Bar. Better yet- grab a $5 Hurricane to celebrate Mardi Gras.

In its second year, The Rahlves Banzai Tour will come back to Alpine on Thursday and Friday (Feb. 23rd & 24th)! This electrifying event combines the competitive excitement of ski and boarder cross with the speed-thrill of a downhill. Watch as competitors show off their skills down Alpine’s notorious Beaver Bowl- known for its gnarly steeps and features.

Don’t miss the weekend of February 25th and 26th! The Ice Bar Kick-off Party will commence on Saturday at 12pm featuring live music from DJ Zeb Early on the Alpine Bandwagon, the ultimate stage setting propped up on an actual snow cat.

The slopes are looking good and so is our event calendar. Now all you need to do is come check it out for yourself. We’ll see you out there!

The weather was perfect – 70 degrees. The nicest weather I have ever skied in.

The snow was cold, and in excellent condition. Lots of people were out there to enjoy it.

I couldn’t have asked for a more fun time. Skiing really is a family sport!! What a way to end the season and celebrate the 4th of July weekend.

Have a great summer, and see you all next year!!!

The winning trick came from snowboarder Brandon Reis for his double cork 10.

Team Gray, scored the best high-five for their three-man, one on a barrel, two front-flipping-by-while-high-fiving display, taking best team. Team members Peter Kukesh, Sean Collin, Andy McDowell, Davis Souza and Austin Simonpietre gave $500 of their loot to the Shane McConkey Foundation and $500 to the Alpine Meadows Ski Foundation.

Grete Eliassen was the best female around and Parker White the best male.  Grete gave her $500 to the NeuroRecovery Network, Parker White to Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, and Reis to Ski Duck.

Check out all the photos of Trains here:

Conditions were right on the edge of what’s safe and what’s not.  I think it really pushed all of the skiers and riders in the Banzai on Beaver Bowl to their highest performance.  At that level of terrain and challenging conditions, I think it brought out the absolute best in all the skiers.  Everybody had to ski as hard as they possibly could.

Unfortunately, I missed the second stop of the Banzai Tour.  I was out at the Winter X Games and World Championships for Ski Cross.  So, coming into the last stop, I was excited and really wanted a chance to go against Daron Rahlves in the super final, and got off to a good day in qualifying, coming in second.

It was nice and sunny on qualifying day, and then, come race day, somebody invited all the fog and a nice snow storm in.  It was quite amazing racing;  four skiers at a time down a moguls run with white-out conditions.  I found it rather exciting and one of the more unusual and extreme races I have ever done in my life.

I had a great day going, won all my heats, and came into my final round.  It was time to put the best run I had out there.

I got off to a good start, but then got tangled up in the first corner, and, from there, just battled my way back through and was able to come down in third place – a little disappointed.

I really wanted a chance to make it into the super final, but nothing to put your head down about.  I got third place.

I want to thank Daron Rahlves for an amazing series, and I can’t wait for the series to get off again next year.  Hopefully, we’ll kick it off again at Alpine Meadows – Beaver Bowl Banzai 2012.

If you missed it, check out our photos below, and if you were there, go to www.sfgiants.com/fanphotos, select the date, and gallery number 55 to find your photo with the trophy.

Check back here later for video of the festivities as well.

If you were there, see if you made the pictures, and if you weren’t check out all the action you missed.

Buster Blue

The goods up for raffle

The big winner

Freeheelers tackled The Buttress, dropping cliffs, straight-lining shoots and making perfect tele-turns. One may have made a call to his mother mid-line (GNAR points) and another rocked a helmet, boxer shorts and knee pads for his run.

Keep an eye on the Tough Guy Productions page for results, and check back here for video of all the action.

Competitors dropped big cliffs, threw a couple flips, and one guy was even skiing with wooden sticks for polls and a raccoon tail trailing behind his helmet.

Keep an eye on the Tough Guy Productions page for results, and come out to see the finals of The Buttress on Sunday!

But for now, have a look at a slideshow of all today’s action:

Results (with podiums) are at the end of the video, or you can check the FIS website for full results.