Proposed Race Courses
There are two main race categories - Elite and Enduro - that race on the same course. The Enduro category finishes after the 2nd lap, whereas, the Elite continues to do one more.
Important facts
- 90% of uphills (climbing) avoid resort's downhill traffic (if Top Gun run can be closed during AM hours)
- starting the race 15min before the morning opening helps even more
- the proposed courses are flexible to adjustments based weather and avalanche conditions
- they are also flexible to adjustments based on specific requirements
The courses
Start and Finish area:
The specific location is to be determined but we would envision it to be somewhere at the base of the ski area, around the bottom of Lions Express.
1st lap - on Strachan Mt, same for Elite and Enduro:
1st climb goes up Horizon until the first fork to access Top Gun. Then follows the road up Top Gun to its end. Couple of switch-backs in a skin track will take racers to a bootpack that tops out on T-33.
The 1st downhill goes down T-33, Humpty Dumpty and Horizon, where at the bottom racers go right towards Eagle Express to access the snow shoe trail up the Black Mt.
2nd lap - on Black Mt, same for Elite and Enduro:
2nd climb goes up on an out-of-bounds snow shoe trail and takes racers at least to the big corner on the Ricker's run (preferably higher).
Then the 2nd downhill goes on the very left (skier's left) side of Ricker's run. Enduro racers go to the finish while Elites continue on to lap 3.
3rd lap - on Strachan Mt, only Elite category:
The 3rd climb basically copies the 1st climb but continues over the Glades to gain the summit shoulder.
The 3rd descent goes out-of-bounds over the back side of Strachan Mt. At the bottom it connects to a summer trail that travels between Lions and Cypress parking lot. Racers take this trail to head back to the ski area and enter it at the bottom of Top Gun. From there a short downhill to the Finish on the Horizon.
This lap can be altered if conditions are not cooperating (even copy the 1st lap).
