Bud Light Vail Uphill Draws Top Running Talent
Some of the nation’s top runners, skiers and snowshoers will converge at Vail Mountain on Feb. 12th for the Bud Light Vail Uphill, part of the Winter Teva Mountain Games (WTMG) presented by Eddie Bauer. WTMG will be held in Vail, CO, Feb. 10-12.
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FEBRUARY 2, 2012 (Vail, Colo.)—At 7 a.m. on Sunday, February 12, some of the nation’s top runners, skiers and snowshoers will converge at the base of Vail Mountain to determine who can climb over 2,200 feet the fastest. The Bud Light Vail Uphill, a two-mile ascent on groomed ski trails from the base of Lionshead to the top of Eagle’s Nest at 10,328 feet.
Despite its daunting elevation gain, the Bud Light Vail Uphill is expected to be one of the most popular events at the inaugural Winter Teva Mountain Games presented by Eddie Bauer (WTMG), taking place in Vail, Colorado, February 10-12. Vail local and Everest-summiter Ellen Miller is working with the Vail Valley Foundation, organizers of WTMG.
“The Vail Uphill is one of Vail’s most popular races and we’re thrilled it’s part of the competition lineup at the new Winter Teva Mountain Games,†says Miller. “Since you can ‘pick your grip’ for ascending the mountain, you’re guaranteed a great workout!†says Miller.
Participants enter one of three divisions based on their equipment choice: Heavy Metal (telemark, AT and splitboards), Track Skis (edgeless skis) or Open (running shoes, snowshoes or traction device such as Yaktrax). The $5,000 prize purse will be divided among the top finishers across all divisions.
Among the professional athletes competing is multiple national snowshoe racing and XTERRA off-road triathlon champion Josiah Middaugh as well as world-class adventure racer and current Colorado Snowshoe Champion Travis Macy of Evergreen, Colorado. Women favored to reach Eagle’s Nest first include members of the U.S. National Mountain Running Team Anita Ortiz, Brandy Erholtz and Megan Kimmel.
Both Middaugh and Macy are also running the 10k Cross Country Snowshoe Race taking place on Saturday, February 11, doubling their chances for podiums over the weekend.
Kimmel is among a group of versatile athletes competing in the Ultimate Mountain Challenge, which compiles results from three WTMG events taking place over three days: the Nordic Freestyle 10k ski race, Eddie Bauer Ski Mountaineering Race and the Bud Light Vail Uphill. The winners of the Challenge’s pro division will receive cash awards and be named the Ultimate Man and Woman of the Winter Teva Mountain Games presented by Eddie Bauer.
Registration for the Bud Light Vail Uphill is just $35 and is available now at www.tevamountaingames.com or on race morning for $45.
About Winter Teva Mountain Games presented by Eddie Bauer
Winter in the Rockies will never be the same as professional and amateur athletes converge on the mountains and villages of Vail for a celebration of adventure sports, music, art and the great outdoors. The Vail Valley Foundation’s first-annual Winter Teva Mountain Games presented by Eddie Bauer feature competitions in mixed climbing, mountain biking, Nordic and telemark skiing, ski mountaineering and snowshoe racing with $60,000 in prize money on the line, along with a one-day vertical challenge in Vail’s legendary Back Bowls. The winter festival in Vail comes to life with free concerts, films, an interactive expo area, demo events and of course, dogs. The Mountain Games will be held February 10-12, 2012. For more information, visit http://www.tevamountaingames.com. Follow Teva Mountain Games on Facebook and @TevaMtnGames on Twitter.
