Category Archives: Uncategorized

2017 Team Championship Divisions Set

Divisions have been set for our Team Championships at Giants Ridge.  We still have some teams that are undecided.  Some teams will not have full teams of 10 and some divisions have quite a few duplicate racers.  So, the total amount of teams per division will not reflect the total amount of racers.

LIST BY DIVISION

DIVISIONS LIST OF ALL TEAMS

Running orders and seeding of teams in each division will come out after Week 7 racing is complete.

Saturday:  Divisions 1, 3, 5
Sunday:  Divisions 2, 4, 6
Race times coming soon.

Heavyglare Complete Eyewear Solutions

At Heavyglare we have one purpose and that is to provide people with the highest quality eyewear, no matter what their prescription is. Because we have mastered the art and science of eyewear we and our four-eyed friends are no longer constrained to wearing big, flat, bulky glasses. Prescription wrapped sunglasses are our specialty, but we are confident that we can make any of your eyewear dreams into a reality.

When our doors first opened in 1999 we were at the forefront of a technical revolution. We dove headfirst into the digital world of dotcoms and have never looked back. Our online community now spans the globe and we love being able to connect with our loyal customers and friends. From tweeting, emailing, Facebooking and blogging we enjoy honestly sharing our passion for eyewear and care.

What can Heavyglare do for the Ski Challenge racer?  

There is a huge problem trying to find goggles that can go over a pair of prescription eyeglasses. Typical problems you get when you wear a pair of eyeglasses under a pair of goggles are:

Fogging: Glasses fog up and so do the goggles. This prevents you from being present and able to fully enjoy your activities. You need to constantly pull off your eyewear to try to deal with the fogging. Obstructed vision means you need to make multiple stops.

Glasses Slip/Slide: Most goggles are not made to have a pair of glasses worn underneath them. Due to incompatibilities glasses will slide and slip around inside of goggles. Once again, this leads to distraction, it is frustrating, disrupting.

Uncomfortable: Wearing two pairs of eyewear at once puts extra strain on your everyday dress glasses. Some people find the combination to be distracting and sometimes eventually painful.

WE HAVE THE SOLUTION: the Heavyglare Eyewear Universal Rx Insert. This insert fits into 99% of goggles and it fits snuggly. It doesn’t slide around. It will not just fall out. It allows you to focus your energy and your passion on what matters – living in the moment. (Excluding small children’s goggles and massively oversized edge to edge goggles)

How does the Rx insert combat the three most common problems faced by those wearing both glasses and goggles?

Anti-Fogging Coating: Our inserts can have anti-fogging coatings applied. They stay clear through all conditions. You will not need to stop to clear away the fog anymore. You will be free to be present in your sport.

Firm Placement: The Heavyglare Universal Rx Insert will stay in place. Once you put it in your goggles it will stay there until you take them out. They don’t slip. They don’t slide. They remain in place allowing you to have distraction-free vision.

Weightlessness: This insert weighs only 0.4 ounces. It is incredibly light, alleviating any strain or heaviness that might have been caused by an eyeglasses/goggles combo.

Our prescription goggle inserts can change the way you spend your time on the slopes, trails and various terrains of your life. Don’t let your glasses limit you, experience the freedom of the Universal Rx Insert. Enjoy your time outdoors without letting exhilaration pass you by.

14055 Grand Ave, Burnsville MN 55337
9:00 am – 6:00 pm | Monday – Friday
651-209-7999

The Alpenhof at Jackson Hole

The Alpenhof’s history goes back to the very beginning of Teton Village, which in 1965 first established Jackson Hole as a big-mountain destination ski resort, with an aerial tram to the top of Rendezvous Mountain. Developer Paul McCollister envisaged a European-style village like Switzerland Verbier at the base of the mountain, with a half-dozen owner-occupied-and-operated lodges.

The Alpenhof is all that remains of McCollister’s original vision. The inn was built by the widely traveled New Jersey ski enthusiasts Dietrich and Anneliese Oberreit, who dreamed of running a lodge sensitive to their Swiss and Bavarian roots. Alpenhof opened in time for Christmas 1965 with 30 rooms –the first lodge in Teton Village. Over the next 20 years, the Oberreits added 10 more rooms and a ski shop. Peter Stiegler, brother of Teton ski school director Pepi Stiegler, served for a time as maitre d’hotel.

Alpenhof literally means mountain residence…in the case of Jackson Hole, a four-story magnification. Dominating the Alpenhof’s exterior are pitched roofs and balconies embellished with ornate balusters commonly seen on the classic hotels of Kitzbühel and Garmisch. Inside, the rooms are festooned with carved headboards, the bed tops puffed up with down comforters.

The Alpenhof is within walking distance of the Aerial Tram, Gondola and Teton Village Square.  The warm inviting atmosphere makes this an awesome place to stay!

The Alpenhof has partnered up with The Ski Challenge once again this year to offer our members a fabulous discount on rooms.  Go to the Ski Challenge Website for more information or look for the ad in this newsletter.

CLICK HERE FOR GREAT DEALS FOR SKI CHALLENGE MEMBERS

Jackson Hole – Platinum Sponsor

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has been a long time Ski Challenge Sponsor.  They have hosted our December Race camp for many years and offer Ski Challenge members a great deal on lift tickets.

Jackson Hole opened to the public in 1964.  Before 1961, the area that would become the resort was the Crystal Springs Girl Scout Ranch. Paul McCollister purchased the ranch and formed the Jackson Hole Ski Corporation in 1963 with partners Alex Morley and Gordon Graham. Construction of the ski resort began a year later, and Apres Vous mountain opened with two double chairlifts. The original tram opened on July 31, 1966; carrying 52 people, it took 10.5 minutes to reach the summit elevation of 10,450 ft. The resort officially opened in December 1966.

1964 Olympic gold medalist Josef “Pepi” Stiegler of Austria was hired that same year as ski school director. Jackson Hole hosted World Cup ski races in 1967, 1970, and 1975.

Mountain Characteristics

  • Terrain: 2 mountains, Apres Vous and Rendezvous
  • 2,500 acres of in-bounds terrain
  • Vertical drop of 4,139 feet
  • Base elevation: 6,311 feet/1924 meters
  • Summit elevation: 10,450 feet/3185 meters
  • Uphill capacity: 17,833 skiers per hour
  • Open backcountry gate system accesses over 3000+ acres

Runs

  • 133 Named Trails on the map
  • 50% expert
  • 40% intermediate
  • 10% beginner

Other fun facts

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has the longest continuous vertical rise of any ski area in the U.S rising 4,139 feet from the valley floor to the top of Rendezvous Mountain! Grand Teton National Park was created in 1929 and greatly expanded in 1950 due to the determined efforts of John D. Rockefeller, who purchased and then donated a great deal of the land that is under protection today. Jackson Hole was originally named Jackson’s Hole for Davey Jackson, a mountain man who trapped in this area during the late 1800’s. “Hole” was a term used in that day to describe a high mountain valley.

CLICK HERE for great deals for Ski Challenge Members.

Championships at Giants Ridge

What are the Championships at Giants Ridge?

The Championships are fun filled weekend where all the teams from all 14 leagues come together to compete against each other.  This event is optional.  Teams compete in a division against other teams similar in ranking.  There are six divisions with Division 1 consisting of teams with the highest medal scores and Division 6 consisting of teams with the lowest medal scores.  It makes for a fun time where every level of team can have a chance to win their division.  All Team Division races will be held on Innsbruck.

Friday at Giants Ridge we have a practice available for those racers who just want to run gates before the races begin.  We also have an Innsbruck Open Team race.  This is a fun race that anyone can participate in, even if you aren’t a current Ski Challenge Member.  Teams consist of six racers.  Great prizes can be won!

New this year is a Helsinki Open Individual Race.  Since all team racing is now on Innsbruck, this gives racers who enjoy racing on Helsinki a chance to participate on a race on Helsinki.  This race will be open from 1-2 pm on Saturday and will be a “Jamm” format.  This means that between 1 and 2 pm you can race any time to get your two runs in.  Prizes for specific age groups will be awarded.  As well as an overall award.  More details to come.

For more information about all our weekend events and to register CLICK HERE

2017 Team Photo Schedule

Team Photos are usually taken at the bottom of the race run between first and second runs.  Photos will be posted online for sharing or downloading by week 7.

We do our best to avoid the SIA show and Superbowl weekend.  Please encourage all of your team members to be present on Team Photo day.

BUCK HILL

  • Monday – Week 5 – February 6
  • Tuesday – Week 5 – February 7
  • Wednesday DAY and PM – Week 5 – February 8
  • Thursday – Week 5 – February 9
  • Friday – Week 5 – February 10
  • Saturday – Week 6 – February 11
  • Sunday AM & PM – February 12

WILD MOUNTAIN

  • Wednesday – Week 5 – February 8
  • Friday – Week 5 – February 10
  • Sunday AM & PM – Week 6 – February 12

 

Hoigaard’s – Featured Platinum Sponsor

Hoigaard’s has not only been a long time Ski Challenge Sponsor, they have been in the business for over 120 years!  A long standing tradition of merchandise and service excellence has kept Hoigaard¹s a leader in the outdoor equipment and apparel industry since 1895.  Today, the third and fourth generations of the Hoigaard family continue to uphold that heritage of excellence with their trademark commitment to outstanding selection, product knowledge, and unparalleled customer service.

The staff at Hoigaard’s has always been the key to their success. They love the outdoors like you do. Many of the Hoigaard’s staff participate in Ski Challenge themselves and can pass on their knowledge for equipment and tuning onto you.

Whether you ski, snowboard, camp, paddle, hike, bike or in-line skate, Hoigaard’s is the choice for performance gear and clothing.  Hoigaard’s also offers Ski Challenge members a discount on equipment and services.

Pierce Skate and Ski – Featured Sponsor

Pierce125Pierce Skate and Ski was founded by Walter Pierce in 1936 as family-owned business called “Trading Post’s Skate Exchange” at 9th and Marquette in Minneapolis.  In 1946 a new building was constructed at 3701 Nicollet Ave South in Minneapolis.  John and Barbara Pierce decided to diversify into ski equipment and clothing and changed the name to “Pierce Skate & Ski” in 1965.  Unfortunately, the shop burned to the ground in 1974, prompting John and Barbara to relocate to 9801 Nicollet Ave in Bloomington.  In 1981, Pierce Skate and Ski moved to their current location at 208 West 98th St. in Bloomington.

Pierce Skate and Ski is now owned and operated by its third generation Bart and Terri Pierce. Their son Tyler also works with the family business.

Pierce has been a long-time Ski Challenge Sponsor as well as a supporter of local USSA, high school and Masters racers.  They are a 7-time Midwest Retailer of the year winner.  Pierce Skate and Ski has an award winning and caring staff whose goal has always been to provide customers with the finest equipment, clothing and service.  They actively participate in and have a passion for the sports that they sell.

Stop in to Pierce Skate and Ski for all of your equipment and racing needs.  Mention that you are a Ski Challenge member and receive a discount.  Thanks to Pierce for their continued support of The Ski Challenge and the entire ski racing community!