RMPBS News
Ski ballet like it's 1989
4/8/2025 | 2m 49sVideo has Closed Captions
Monarch Mountain and KHEN Community Radio teamed up to revive the once Olympic-level sport
Ski ballet, also known as "acroski" was a two-time Winter Olympics demonstration sport that flourished in the 70s and 80s before fading in the 90s. Decades later, Monarch Mountain and KHEN Community Radio in Salida united to host an end-of-season ski ballet competition celebrating Monarch's 85th season and raising money for KHEN and Monarch's nonprofit, Monarch Mountain Community Outreach.
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RMPBS News is a local public television program presented by RMPBS
RMPBS News
Ski ballet like it's 1989
4/8/2025 | 2m 49sVideo has Closed Captions
Ski ballet, also known as "acroski" was a two-time Winter Olympics demonstration sport that flourished in the 70s and 80s before fading in the 90s. Decades later, Monarch Mountain and KHEN Community Radio in Salida united to host an end-of-season ski ballet competition celebrating Monarch's 85th season and raising money for KHEN and Monarch's nonprofit, Monarch Mountain Community Outreach.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship[piano music] [skis on snow] The great thing about ballet skiing is that you can be expressive, and just be yourself.
[piano music] [skis on snow] It was very dynamic, and everyones so athletic and graceful.
Because its a spectator sport, and it's such a wonderful community.
It used to be really big, and it's kind of gone away.
Honestly, when we first planned this event, we did not expect to get so many people who were passionate about traditional ski ballet.
Her name is Lara.
She was the national champion of the ski ballet in 2000, and this is the first official event in the United States since that nationals championship in 2000, so its been 25 years everybody.
Ballet skiing was professional, I would say, back in the 70s.
And then 80s and 90s, it became a sanctioned event.
Lara Rosenbaum.
“I Dont Care if the Sun Dont Shine” by Patti Page They had competitions all over the world.
In the 90s, I think the struggle of trying to get it into the Olympics as an Olympic event, kind of led to its downfall.
[skis on snow] Here we are again, though, and it's definitely making a comeback.
So everybody, please give it up for the first annual “Ski Ballet on Freeway”!
Woo!
Monarch is excited to partner with KHEN Community Radio in this event.
Monarch is kind of like the right resort, venue, vibe to bring something like this back.
The ski industry has kind of changed in the last 20, 30 years or so, so to be able to be independently-owned and operated for 85 seasons, its something that we're really passionate about and have no plans in ever changing.
Make some noise for Cat in the Hat!
Comin close to the final stretch here.
We are just passionate about making sure that we can help everyone in our community as much as possible.
And it has really turned into bringing people back to this sport!
The ‘ol razzle dazzle!
Buckle up, ladies and gentlemen!
We exist solely just to support the community, and people who love ski ballet, we got to support them, too!
So this has been a huge win-win.
Oh, what a move!
The style, the grace!
Standing at the top with this group of enthusiasts who showed up today to do this, that was just so special.
Everybody make some noise for that!
It means so much to me that people love ballet skiing.
Make some noise!
Cheers, everybody!
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