SKI CROSS:

Bright idea: Support SX star Del Bosco, support smart energy

Jan. 28, 2011

ASPEN, Colorado ― With or without sponsors, Chris Del Bosco does things fast.

 Friday, Del Bosco was the fastest in a field of elite ski cross racers as qualifying kicked off for the Winter X Games Fifteen at Buttermilk Mountain.

Del Bosco, who lives in the nearby Vail Valley but competes for Canada, was sporting a new sponsor on his CASCO helmet ― NOKERO. 

NOKERO, short for No Kerosine, is for Nokero Holdings, a Denver company that touts its product as the “world's only solar light bulb.”

Del Bosco's website, chrisdelbosco.com, said the racer is trying to raise awareness of the world’s toxic and dangerous kerosine use. Nearly 1.6 billion people live without electricity. The fuel they use for light releases more than 190 million tons of carbon dioxide into the air each year, the equivalent of 30 million cars. Nokero’s solar light bulbs are the ideal solution to this problem, and can make for better lives around the globe, according to Del Bosco's site.

Del Bosco is asking his fans to support his racing and his cause, by purchasing a light bulb for $20 at www.nokero.com/ski4light.

Canada dominated ski cross qualifying at the Winter X Games Friday, as Del Bosco and Kelsey Serwa finished first in men's and women's time trials.

Del Bosco was almost two seconds ahead of his nearest rival in the men's event, which featured 27 racers, with a time of 1 minute, 22.52 seconds.

On the women's side, Serwa, of Kelowna, B.C., was the fastest of nine racers in 1:31.29, followed by Fanny Smith of Switzerland (1:31.68) and Whistler's Julia Murray (1:31.75).

Ten Canadian team members go through to Sunday's final rounds, including veteran Stan Hayer of Calgary, who was 21st. Teammate Dave Duncan was sixth Friday in qualifying, with Brian Bennet seventh, Nik Zoricic 10th, Stan Rey 11th and Davey Barr 12th.

"I was feeling really good in training and today I skied really fast. Just nailed everything," said Del Bosco, the defending champion. "There was one little feature I was thinking I could triple in training and with the speed of the race skis I did it."

Serwa, who is leading the World Cup standings and has been the woman to beat this season, praised the work of the team's ski technicians.

"The course sped up quite a bit but the technicians did an awesome job," said Serwa. "I kind of overshot a double at one point but it was so much fun. I can't wait to race against everyone on Sunday. It will totally change the track."

Canada swept the podium in last year's men's final and the women finished second and third. Whistler's Ashleigh McIvor, who was second in 2010 and went on to win Olympic gold, cheered on her teammates after suffering a season-ending knee injury during training earlier this week.

The format at X Games is slightly different to World Cup, with six competitors battling it out in races instead of four. The Aspen course is also bigger and more challenging than most of the tracks racers are used to competing on.

Head coach Eric Archer was pleased with Friday's results and would love to see another sweep Sunday.

"All the athletes skied well today, particularly the girls," said Archer. "For the qualifying runs, they all stepped up and pulled it off.

"There's no advantage out of the start on this course so it's going to be a free for all. They are all excited."

The X Games finals Sunday begin at 11:15 p.m MT.   S-Magazine

— Canada Ski Cross contributed to this report