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Vail Daily column: Club hosts community competition series

Aldo Radamus
Perspectives

As the Vail Valley’s oldest nonprofit, Ski & Snowboard Club Vail has developed many traditions during its 53-year history. Perhaps none ring truer to the spirit of the organization than the Vail Cup, Alpine Town Series and Nordic Town Series.

Each of these events represents the importance of community, as exemplified by the generosity of Vail Valley sponsors who make each series possible and the spirit of locals and visitors alike who come out to compete. These events are made possible by title sponsors The Steadman Clinic and Vail Summit Orthopaedics. Not only do these events provide a great opportunity for locals and visitors to be a part of a communitywide competition series but they also help generate funds “for the kids.”

Steadman Clinic Vail Cup



The Steadman Clinic Vail Cup, the oldest of Ski & Snowboard Club Vail’s community-based events, was started in the 1960s to enable young skiers from the Vail Valley to experience competition in a fun and free series of races. The series has evolved over the years for athletes ages 16 and younger to keep up with new snow sports hitting the scene to include not only giant slalom and Nordic, but also mogul, halfpipe, slopestyle and little big mountain competitions.

There are many dreams sparked and life lessons learned through the vehicle of competitive snow sports. This makes it critical to Ski & Snowboard Club Vail that this series remains complimentary to young locals and visitors. We are grateful to its title sponsors, The Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute, and its presenting sponsor, Surefoot, along with sponsors Alpine Collision, KidSport, Yellowbelly, Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate, Yama Sushi, GoPro, World Cup Supply, TV8 and the Vail Daily for making this series possible.

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All participants receive a complimentary bib as a memento. Prizes, awards ceremonies complete with medals and ribbons and outdoor fun with friends are among the things childhood memories are made of! The Jan. 3 competition was a huge success. Save the dates for the upcoming events on Sunday, Feb. 14 and March 6.

Vail Summit Orthopaedics Alpine Town Series

The Vail Summit Orthopaedics Alpine Town series adults ages 21 and older attracts alpine, telemark and snowboard racers to Golden Peak for a six-part giant slalom series topped off on the final day with the infamous Super-George, aka super-G. You have not truly experienced an Alpine Town Race until you top it off with an apres awards party. Bragging rights take on a new meaning at both the individual and team level with a “medals” ceremony, prize giveaways, a complimentary beverage or two and a delicious spread of appetizers from our apres party hosts. This makes for a perfect ending to a great afternoon of racing.

Many thanks go out to title sponsor Vail Summit Orthopaedics along with The George, Pazzo’s Vail, The Fitz at Manor Vail and The Red Lion for hosting and sponsoring the apres events and sponsors Korbel, Bud Light and SportTube.

Don’t worry about your racing experience. As long as you can comfortably ski down Golden Peak, there is a spot for you individually or as part of a team you form. The Jan. 14 event was tons of fun. Save your afternoons on Thursday, Feb. 4, 11 and 18 and March 24 for what is sure to be one of the highlights of your winter!

Vail Summit Orthopaedics Nordic Town Series

On the cross-country skiing side of things, the Vail Summit Orthopaedics Nordic Town Series held its first two events on Dec. 23 (Alumni Holiday Race) and Jan. 13 with the remaining two events taking place on Feb. 3 and March 19. Events are open to both adults and children, with start times at 4:15 p.m. for lower and middle school athletes and 5:15 p.m. for high school and adult athletes.

In addition to three starts at the Maloit Park Nordic Trails in Minturn, new this year, the Feb. 3 races will take place at Cordillera. An apres awards party with prizes topped off the first two events at The Minturn Saloon, and will be held at Timber Hearth for the Cordillera event and at Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy for the final event.

New this year, the final Nordic Town Series races will be held in conjunction with the Wilson Cup, the longest standing Nordic race in Eagle County. That day Town Series athletes ages 14 and older will compete in the Wilson Cup 20-kilometer freestyle and younger athletes will compete in the 5-kilometer Town Series race.

Many thanks to title sponsor Vail Summit Orthopaedics along with Vail Honeywagon, The Dusty Boot, Wall Street Insurance and Northwestern Mutual as well as our apres hosts and sponsors for making this series possible. Come on out and have some fun with the added incentive of staying in shape all winter long!

Improving skills and the fun of competition and friendships are all part of these recreational competition series. Don’t miss out!

For Vail Cup and Alpine Town Series competitions register in advance (www.skiclubvail.org under the “Events” tab) or the day of the event. For the Nordic Town Series, register at the event. Details can be found at the above tab or by calling 970-790-5122.

Aldo Radamus is the executive director of Ski & Snowboard Club Vail. For more information, go to http://www.skiclubvail.org, email sschmidt@skiclubvail.org or call 970-790-5161.


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