CONWAY, NH (March 2, 2018)—Ski mountaineering has become an increasingly popular way to explore the mountains in the last decade, and in the ski and snowboard world, the term “earn your turns,” is almost as common as “how’s the weather?” With this popularity comes a desire to compete.

The Winter Wild race series tasks competitors with traveling up a mountain and racing back down to the finish line. Races have been held across New England this winter, including at Pats Peak and Whaleback Mountain in early February, and with upcoming races at Gunstock Mountain Resort (March 3), Waterville Valley Resort (March 10), Ragged Mountain Resort (March 11), and Cannon Mountain (March 17).

But the Winter Wild series isn’t your typical ski mountaineering race. Competitors can travel uphill with equipment such as cross-country skis, randonee or telemark skis with touring skins, snowshoes, microspikes, or winter running shoes, and snowboarders without a splitboard can travel up on foot carrying their snowboard. They must also return down the slopes in the same manner in which they traveled uphill, so skiers and snowboarders have an advantage when it comes to getting downhill quickly. Racers are broken into categories based on the equipment they choose, and are scored based on age groups.

“New Hampshire’s ski mountains are an amazing fit for our Winter Wild races. Beautiful sunrises, breathtaking mountain top views, and challenging courses are exactly what the Winter Wild experience is all about,” says Robin Allenburke, Assistant Race Director for the events.

If ski mountaineering is more than you bargained for, chairlift-serviced skiing and Nordic skiing at Ski New Hampshire’s member resorts is available through at least the month of March, and beyond for some ski areas. Typically, March tends to be one of the snowiest months in the Granite State, and the ski areas are offering exciting events and activities to keep the experience fun both on and off the slopes, such as pond skimming, 80s days, and cardboard box derbies.

Ski New Hampshire is the statewide association representing 34 alpine and cross-country resorts in New Hampshire. For more information on ski areas, trail conditions, vacation planning, and updated winter events at Ski New Hampshire resorts, visit SkiNH.com. For statewide travel info, visit visitNH.gov.

Contacts:

Karolyn Castaldo, Communications & Marketing Manager at Ski New Hampshire
603.745.9396x205 | Karolyn@SkiNH.com

Robin Allenburke, Assistant Race Director at Winter Wild
IronMom40@metrocast.com

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