Driller Takes World Pro Ski Tour Opener

Beaver Creek, Colorado, hosted the fastest pro ski racers in the country for the first race of 2019 World Pro Ski Tour (WPST) February 1-2, 2019.

This is ski racing at its best; duel format, head-to-head, not against the clock. Dead-horse start gates, identical race courses, and two pro jumps over 5 and-a-half feet high make the event exciting and fast paced. The steep course was held on lower Bear Trap, under warm temperatures and blue Colorado skies as the racers prepared to charge for the top podium spot.

In its third season, the WPST opener excited the spectators as Garrett Driller out of Montana and former U.S. Ski Team member took the first-place place finish for his first WPST victory.

“Coming to the World Pro Ski Tour as the youngest racer and rookie, walking away with a victory, and racing an awesome event with next level Olympic and World Cup guys, keeps me stoked to race in future tours,” Driller commented. “The WPST is another outlet for ski racers to come to and it revives the wallet for the rest of the season.”

#283 small final – Ankeny edges Leever at finish but not by enough, Leever wins 3rd. Photo credit: Sync Performance

Philip Brown from Toronto, Canada, won the Tito’s Vodka speed time award for fastest time in the qualifier on Friday, with a time of 19.732 seconds. Brown also finished runner-up to Driller in the finals. Taylor Shiffrin, brother of USA’s Mikaela, raced his first WPST run against former Olympian Nolan Kasper but did not advance. Alex Leveer, a Vail local and favorite, finished third overall. Michael Ankeny from Minnesota broke his Pro Tour run of consistent third-place finishes with a fourth this weekend.

Tucker Marshall of Redneck Racing and third-year World Pro Ski Tour racer says, “The World Pro Ski Tour is such an awesome experience for anyone passionate about the sport. Whether you are a full-time athlete or a weekend warrior, you get the opportunity to race head to head, have a great time, and possibly win some serious cash with the big prize purse.”

#222 Tomas Woolson, Tucker Marshall, Robby Kelley, Nolan Kasper – the event turned into a de facto team event with Redneck Racing, Team Drift, Team America battling it out throughout the day. Photo Credit: Sync Performance

WPST would like to thank their sponsors including; Tito’s Vodka, The Red Lion Bar and Restaurant, RXBar, Leki, Fisch, Orbit Wear (to name a few), and the WPST fans and volunteers. A special thanks goes out to Beaver Creek Resort and the Beaver Creek race crew for all of their support and their outstanding hospitality, their expertise and eye for detail made this event an amazing venue.

The second stop on the Tour is slated for next weekend at Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, for The White Mountain Dual Challenge.

Release courtesy of WPST.