Your 2025 GoPro Mountain Games ultimate guide

Starting Thursday, the GoPro Mountain Games transform Vail into a four-day celebration of outdoor sports and mountain culture. Here’s how spectators can make the most of their experience:

What’s new?

• From Dueling DockDogs to the Extreme Vertical and Speed Retrieve, Dog Town is the place to be for reliably family-friendly entertainment. Some of the country’s top canines will showcase their agility, tricks and flying disc skills in the new Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge Experience. Performances and open practice sessions run all four days. Participation is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Three new speed climbing events were added to the Mountain Games’ lineup this spring. The North American Cup Series competition on June 6-7 will feature Olympians Zach Hammer and Emma Hunt. Athletes will go head-to-head on the 15-meter speed wall, racing up an identical route of 20 handholds and 11 footholds. The Speed Showdown on Sunday, June 8, is a bracket-style competition where only the fastest move on.

Athletes to keep an eye on

• The 9-person inaugural Mountain Games Athlete team features a few prominent local kayakers, bikers and slackliners. Minturn’s Rob Prechtl and Haley Dumke will be athletes to watch in the paddle sports and cross-country mountain bike events. Meanwhile, Highline world champion Davis Hermes of Vail will be working slackline shows at the International Bridge each day. The youngest member of the squad, Eagle’s Dax Macomber, won Best Grom at last year’s Jump Jam event. He’s set to return to the Minturn Bike Park for that competition as well as the dual slalom on Friday.
• Fresh off a USA Mountain running silver medal, Mason Coppi will be one of the frontrunners in Sunday’s 20K trail run. 2024 USATF marathon trail champion Brian Whitfield, Gunnison’s Jeshurun Small and YouTube star and Pikes Peak Marathon champion Seth DeMoor should offer a stiff challenge. Boulder pros Andy Wacker and Tyler McCandless are entered in both the 10K and Pepi’s Face-Off. On the women’s side, Ashley Brasovan returns in the 10K, where she finished second last year, just three months after giving birth to a daughter. One local angle to keep track of: Battle Mountain’s star sisters on the slopes and the track, Eden and Ruthie DeMino, are signed up for the 5K trail run on Friday night.
• Longtime Mountain Games legend Nick Troutman returns for the kayak cross, freestyle, downriver sprint and Gore IV challenge. Locals like John Anicito, Jeremiah Williams and Prechtl have been getting in shape throughout the Vail Whitewater Series. Has the Tuesday night series toughened them up enough to take on the Canadian star? Troutman’s wife, Emily Jackson, will likely be a force in the kayak events on the women’s side as well.
• 2023 Bighorn Gravel champion Michaela Thompson has to be one of the favorites in Saturday’s cross-country mountain bike race. But keep your eyes on Vail’s Bayli McSpadden, who is eager to produce a good showing on her home trails.

Tips and Tricks

• Download the official Mountain Games app to navigate all the various venues, create custom schedules and stay informed.
• Arrive early and stay late. The town of Vail is charging for parking in Vail Village, Lionshead and Red Sandstone structures, with free in-town shuttles running throughout the weekend. Those who come in the morning are rewarded with smaller crowds and better views. If you stay until the evening, hop over to the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater for a concert.
• The CoLab Stage in Solaris Plaza is the place for fans to get inspired and learn from creators, influencers and several top athletes. It’s also a convenient central location for accessing several of the outdoor equipment vendors in Gear Town, catching a slackline show or checking out the kayak freestyle competition.

For the kids

• Several free events are offered for younger adventurers throughout the weekend. The Kids Climbing Wall and SUP/Kayak pool are both located in Golden Peak. On your way to The Hangout from the Nature Valley Mountain Plaza, stop in at Camp Coletrain, where kids 12 and under can engage in exploratory hands-on music making. Offered Friday through Sunday, professional instructors offer guidance on guitars, violins, mandolins and ukuleles. Finally, DockDogs is a good place to catch a fun show and meet canine competitors and handlers afterwards.
• Abby Wren is offering face painting for youngsters on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at the CoLab stage.
• If you’re looking for more of a workout, sign your youngster up for the Mud Run. The popular obstacle course lets kids 6 and up dash, crawl and splash their way to the finish. Pre-registration is required.