By MIKE “A.K.” AKAY
You might not know him, but if you’re a skier, you know his voice. Chris Ernst was first discovered doing back flips off the Siberia kicker at Palisades Tahoe and after retiring from the pro aerial circuit, he became an event promoter and then announcer extraordinaire.
A desire to stay in the ski industry and to innovate led him and ski buddies Nick Perata and Jimbo Morgan to create the skiercross discipline, modeled on the already existing boardercross form of racing. Their first event, held at Homewood in 1996, was Lord of the Boards, the first boardercross event that included both alpine and telemark skiing for men and women and an overall crown to the lord who mastered all three disciplines. That led to a tour at seven ski areas in two states.
A desire to stay in the ski industry and to innovate, led Chris Ernest and ski buddies Nick Perata and Jimbo Morgan to create the skiercross discipline.
In 1999, Chris, then known as “Uncle E,” created the first Skiercross World Championships at Palisades Tahoe and his first champions were Daron Rahlves and Darian Boyle. Darian’s win inspired me to race in the 2001 championships where Marco Sullivan was crowned champion. I was older than 40 then and so nervous signing the release form my hands were shaking out of control. And, coincidentally, that is sort of the point of skiercross: skiing on the edge of control.
The X Games picked up Uncle E’s growing discipline and blew up the sport internationally. Tahoe was exclusive host to numerous X Games qualifiers at Northstar and then Sugar Bowl drawing former U.S. ski team stars, such as Casey Puckett, to Tahoe to win an X Games spot.
The next big step for skiercross came when the FIS became involved and the future of skiercross was centered on the 2010 Olympics. Local Rahlves was one of several American athletes to retire from Alpine racing and join the freestyle team to compete in skiercross. Palisades Tahoe racer Errol Kerr gained notoriety by earning ninth place representing Jamaica.
Uncle E’s contribution to the 2010 Olympics was as technical advocate for the sport and the event’s announcer done with his personal flair for wearing outrageous hats. The announcing portion was nothing new to E because of his vast experience announcing his Lord of the Boards Tour, the X Games, Rahlves Banzai Tour and the aerial event in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
And to think this all started with Uncle E’s vision of skiing with abandon through the trees with his friends, whooping and flying through the air while racing to be the first to the bottom. His modesty for what he has accomplished only allows a thankfulness for the endless list of athletes who all made his dream possible.
For what you have done, our thanks and hats off to you, Uncle E.
A.K. is a lifelong skier, journalist, comedian, chocolatier and owner of Tahoe City Chocolates.
