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.

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

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

This Saturday, January 21 Beginner Clinic is postponed due to the weather forecast and the many events scheduled at Buck Hill over the weekend.

The 3rd and last clinic will be held on Saturday, January 28 from 12-1 pm.  For more information on the Beginner / Try-it Clinic CLICK HERE

The Events Calendar on our website is temporarily down.  We will get it up and running as soon as the developer fixes the problem.

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.

Buck Hill has changed up the restaurant and catering for the upcoming season.  The Black Diamond Restaurant and Bar opened this Fall.  Buck Hill was looking for a restaurant that will enhance their amenities and guest experience by being open twelve months of the year.  The Black Diamond will also service all of our Buck Hill Ski Challenge events.

Black Diamond owners Ryan and Jen McGunnigle also own Las Tortillas Mexican Restaurant in Rosemount.  The Buck Hill owners had dined at Las Tortillas Mexican Restaurant many times and wanted a similar cuisine and beverage offering at Buck Hill.

Black Diamond is a full service restaurant open seven days a week at 11 am for Lunch followed by weekday happy hour and daily dinner service.  The restaurant offers both Mexican and American cuisines.  They use traditional regional ingredients and put a Mexican Flare and American comfort forward.  Black Diamond offers a full bar with bottle beer, rotating draft beer, signature cocktails, made from scratch margaritas, and quality varieties of Domestic and Imported wine.

Black Diamond will offer Ski Challenge racers their very own menu for pre-orders  prior to heading out to the race.  When teams return from the race, their food will be ready.  The Ski Challenge menu will feature such favorites as Pulled BBQ Pork Sliders, BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos, Cheeseburgers, Wings, Chili, and Chips with Salsa and Guac.  Beer specials will also be offered.

We look forward to a great season with Black Diamond.  Please remember that the room we use for our awards is a restaurant.  No outside food or beverage is allowed.  If you would like to celebrate a birthday, you are allowed to bring in a cake.  Please check with the Black Diamond staff prior to bringing in a cake so that they are aware of it.

To learn more about Black Diamond Restaurant follow this link www.buckhill.com/black-diamond-restaurant-buck-hill/ or like them on Facebook!

Wild Mountain Pre-season start date has been postponed.  We will start the three week series on Wednesday, December 14.

CLICK HERE FOR A FULL SCHEDULE

Buck Hill preseason Friday, December 2 is cancelled
Buck Hill preseason Tuesday, December 6 is cancelled

The following shows a revised schedule for Preseason at Buck Hill

Fridays – Buck – December 9, 16, WEEK 3 will be Thursday, Dec 22

Tuesdays – Buck – December 13, 20, WEEK 3 will be Thursday, Dec 22

We will be combining week 3 for both leagues on Thursday, December 22.
Please note – if you are guest racing on Thursday, December 22, you will take one run on each course like a normal race night.

So far, Wild Mountain Preseason is on a scheduled.  Please stay tuned for updates on this.

Make sure you get your T-shirt size correct by Monday, November 5.  We will be ordering T-shirts for all those registered.  If you have not specified a size, we will guess at a size for you.  To see what size T-shirt on order for you go to our ROSTER Page and then click on the league that you are participating in.

We offer sizes in Men’s – Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL.  Women’s – Small (FS), Medium (FM), Large (FL), XL (FXL).  Kids’ – Youth Medium (YM), Youth Large (YL).

Our T-shirts this season will be a little different than in year’s past.  We will be ordering Gildan Soft Style Tees.  You can go here for more info on that sizing  TEES