Back in the 2010s, there was this rad little race in Tahoe started by American World Cup alpine racer and freestyle skier Daron Rahlves called ‘Banzai.’ When it first started, Banzai was a grassroots, local event in Tahoe (I forget which resort he first ran it at) where basically anybody in the area was invited to come out and partake in the old-fashioned tradition of beating everybody else to the bottom of the hill. And that pretty much sums up the premise of Rahlves’ concept: just be the first to the bottom.
That exact mentality translated to carnage, if I remember correctly, and it stirred up enough energy that Banzai grew a following over a few years. Then, a decade ago, it just disappeared.
But according to a new announcement from Palisades Tahoe this week, Red Bull is bringing Banzai back next spring.
Banzai “combines big mountain freeride terrain with the head-to-head intensity of ski and snowboard cross,” an email from Palisades reads. “The upcoming event on KT-22 promises to bring back the raw, high-speed energy that made the Banzai Tour a fan favorite, with racers charging down natural terrain features in a no-holds-barred battle to the finish. Palisades Tahoe is proud to once again host this iconic competition where passion, grit, and gravity collide.”
There aren’t many details available for the upcoming event in 2026, including whether or not Red Bull is planning on bringing it back as a regional tour or if it’s a one-off race in Tahoe. Either way, it’s a cool revival.
