Uphill/Downhill Challenge — the weak, strong & thirsty

On the heels of the SIA Snow Show (Jan 27-30), the snow sports industry will head up to Winter Park Resort and Devil’s Thumb Ranch for SIA’s On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest and take part in their version of blowing off steam – a classic uphill/downhill race. SIA’s Uphill/Downhill Challenge will be free and open to all demo attendees.

Here’s how it will work – on January 31 at 2P, industry teams will skin 1,700 feet up a marked track at Winter Park Resort to the Sunspot Lodge, remove skins from skis or splitboard or remove snowshoes or ascension skis then descend a marked course down a bump run, through the glades to more bumps, to the base area finish.

Individual Elite/COSMIC racers (likely a US Ski Mountaineering team member) will take an additional lap for a total of 2400′ vertical feet.

“Although it sounds demanding, the Uphill/Downhill Challenge is a super participant-friendly event. Really, anyone can enter and enjoy a nice skin track up to the Sunspot Lodge and ski back down to the base area. The Challenge is also a ‘first-of-its-kind’ opportunity for many Americans to see randonee skiing at the highest level as members the US National Ski Mountaineering team will also be racing,” said Pete Swenson, Director of the United States Ski Mountaineering Association.

“The race team concept is a perfect way to encourage camaraderie and collaboration more than competition, but let’s face it – some of us love to compete,” commented Kim Miller, SCARPA’s CEO.

Industry Teams are based on a three-person combination, but not required to race together. Individual times are combined to determine the team’s overall time. Prizes will be awarded for category winners as follows. The fastest Elite/COSMIC racer wins a pair of SKI TRAB skis and the fastest individual from the Industry Team category will win a pair of SCARPA boots. There’s even a “Bean Counter Bonus” for Industry Teams with a CEO, President or Owner — a five-minute handicap will be taken off their time.

SIA organized the Uphill/Downhill Challenge with support from a number of companies and individuals within the backcountry, randonee, splitboard and telemark communities. The Uphill/Downhill Challenge is a fundraiser for the US Ski Mountaineering team and all funds raised at the Uphill/Downhill Challenge will help fund the team’s trip to Italy for the Ski Mountaineering World Championships February 17-25. Contributions will be collected in the USSMA-labeled jar at the SCARPA booth.

Entry into the Uphill/Downhill Challenge is free; however, contributions to USSMA are appreciated and encouraged and include a beer at the awards at 4pm at West Portal Station Winter Park base area.

Opportunities to contribute also include a raffle. $5 per ticket gets you entered into the raffle at the awards ceremony where there will be thousands of dollars in product given away.
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For rules and entry form, click here or email Pete Swenson of USSMA at ussmaski@gmail.com.

Participants can also register the day of the race by 12:00 noon at the SCARPA On-Snow Demo booth.


– SIA –

SnowSports Industries America (SIA) is the national not-for-profit, North American member-owned, trade association representing suppliers of consumer snow sports products with constituents in the retailer, rep and resort communities. Established in 1954, SIA annually produces the SIA Snow Show, the largest snow sports industry trade show, on-snow demo and networking environment globally, while delivering invaluable data/research reports including the Snow Sports Market Intelligence Report, SnowSports RetailTRAK and Executive Market Summary. SIA also develops marketing products, programs and services such as logistics and Government affairs that help our Members operate more efficiently and increase participation in snow sports. For more information, check out snowsports.org. SnowSports Industries America, 8377-B Greensboro Drive, McLean, VA 22102-3587 (Washington, DC Metro Area). Phone: 703.556.9020, Fax: 703.821.8276, Email: SIAmail@snowsports.org.