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Show Celebrity Classic was a real circus for- 'NS'ITT x A A f s i '"Jk f : ( it ? " vr H by Terl Gomes It was dubbed the 10th annual U.S. Ski Team Celebrity Classic or Slush Bowl. But the weather was perfect, the participants were spring-spirited spring-spirited and everybody got a little tan while raising money for the "home team." This year's theme was "White Circus," a name the Europeans gave the World Cup races years ago, and the evening festivities were in keeping with the circus theme. The opening night party, labeled the Ring Master's party, saw the Rusty Nail bar at the Park City Ski Area transformed into the Big Top. Multicolored Multi-colored awnings has been hung to tent the entire inside of the building, and pastel carousel animals shared the space with more than a dozen ice-carved creatures. Entertainment included the Saliva Sisters, Sandy Hackett (Buddy's son), and the David Clayton Thomas band of New York. At the final extravaganza Saturday night the inside of the Park Meadows Racquet Club was carpeted and tented and different international foods were presented in stations around the room. Entertainment was provided by the Blues Other Brothers and Michael Murphy. This year's first-place team was sponsored by Western Airlines. Saturday evening, as they came up on stage, they formed a little conga line behind ski team member Pam Fletcher, who told the crowd, "What can I say? The Western team just flew!" Second place honors went to the team from American Express and third place was won by the newcomers from the Triad Center. Special awards of the evening went to the fastest celebrity, won this year by Steve Kanaly who had confessed earlier in the week that was his goal. And Stewart Campbell, man about the ski hill, won the award at 81 years old for being the youngest skier in the classic. Sam Melville received his own racing bib framed as his award for being the only celebrity to have attended 10 of the Ski Team Classic events. And once again, Subaru was on hand to announce its continued support of the team. Audrey Wagner, director of special promotions for the company, said they would be supporting the ski team for the next five years. "And I say five years because we're going to be here for the Olympics and then the year after that and the year after that!" said Wagner. (Please see related story and photos on page A 12.) There was plenty of brass present for the opening ceremonies at the U.S. Ski Team Celebrity Classic. |