First, what is the Vertical Challenge?

Originally known as the Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge, the VC has been setting up Giant Slalom racing courses at ski resorts across the region since 1991. The races are short courses with just enough pitch to give a skier or rider a decent speed.

The events are run by a VC team that’s both enthusiastic about the party vibe and dedicated to helping skiers and riders improve. It’s not unusual for racers to set a goal of becoming part of the future VC crew, since mentoring is a big part of the experience.

Race categories are divided between skier and snowboarder as well as by gender, and then broken down into these age groups: ages six and younger, ages 7-9, ages 10-12, ages 1314, ages 15-17, ages 18-25, ages 26-35, ages 36-45, ages 46-55, ages 56-65, ages 66-70, ages 71-75, and the Mack daddy of all categories, perhaps: ages 76 and older.

Racers can step up to the course and take their run at any time during race days. Courses are set up on green-or blue-level trails, giving enough pitch for a newbie to get their bearings and a long-timer to find their speed.

Racing times are tabulated and the top three finishers in each of those categories are awarded gold, silver and bronze medals.

In non-pandemic years, the races have a festival feel, with base area samples, special raffle prizes, and a big base-area party set up for bragging rights, making friends and bonding with the VC team overall.

Anyone who wins a medal qualifies for the annual finals, held during the spring skiing season.

Here’s a cool bonus: The races have been and still are totally free. e. Anyone with a lift ticket for the resort erace spot can race – and win. .

Most years, the VC sets up in an average of 20 regional resorts, , giving skiers and riders a chance to find a race close by or travel to o do many at different spots. Racers like to rack up runs and wins at many spots.