The season has come to a close and with that, we summarize and analyze where we’ve been and where we’re going.  Our demographics and summary are drawn from our annual surveys, our database and of course all our photos taken throughout the season.

This demographic analysis and summary are then put together in booklets and given to each of our participating ski areas and sponsors.  Each ski area is also given a documentation of skier visits throughout the years.

This process is a good way to see how our numbers are aligning with the Ski Industry standards and current trends.

You can see a copy of our demographics and summary for the 2014-15 season here.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Ski Challenge 2015 Championships up at Giants Ridge!  We had a total of 566 racer finishes over the three day event!  (518 taking out duplicate racers).  This, of course, is an increase from the year before probably due to temps being more tolerable than the previous year!

To see more photos from the 2015 Championships CLICK HERE.

SKI CHALLENGE OPEN

We were very happy with the positive vibes we got for the new Ski Challenge Open held on Friday.  We pretty much filled up the race to the max with 90 participants!  Our event was partially sponsored by Hoigaard’s, Joe’s and Pierce.  Prizes from Hoigaard’s, Joe’s and Pierce, were awarded out to the 1st and 2nd place teams along with some Ski Challenge Gear.  Third place team received Smartwool Socks.  Our third to last place team was surprised with ski tunes from Hoigaard’s, Joe’s and Pierce!

NO WAX – Winners of the 1st Annual Ski Challenge Open Race. Pat Hiller, Jukka Mahonen, Mike Berggren, Bill Christopherson, Mark Cater and Ken McAdam.

We plan on expanding the Ski Challenge Open next year to more teams of six and will allow non-Ski Challenge members to also participate!  We will be offering great prizes and another fun awards ceremony in the restaurant/bar for all participants!  The Ski Challenge Open will remain on Friday afternoon of Championships weekend.

RESULTS RECAP

Congratulations to the winning teams for the 2015 Championships!

Division 1 – RE/WAX – BHWEDD – Captain, Pat Hiller
Division 2 – The Young and Edgeless – BHSUNA – Captain, Gary Griffin
Division 3 – Team Mongoose – BHWEDP – Captain, Tom Fredericks
Division 4 – Buck Naked – BHWEDD – Captain, Don Hammer
Division 5 – The Rookies – BHTHUR – Captain, Matthew Lysne
Division 6 – Samurai Squad – WMWED – Captain, Renata Engel
Division 7 – Rut Riders – BHSUNA – Captain, Craig Stubbins
Division 8 – BBC – BHWEDP – Captain, Joe Heinemann

Click here to see all Championship Results

PBR SKI WINNERS

Congratulations to the Pabst Blue Ribbon Ski Winners!

Thor Morales and Mike Bloomquist.

Thor Morales and Pat Dougherty, Hibbing Coach (holding skis for picture). Mike Bloomquist was not available for the photo.

CHAMPIONSHIPS FUTURE

We have some great new ideas for our 2016 championships.  As things change and evolve, we are constantly thinking about how to improve the racing/event experience.  We have looked at new venues, but find that Giants Ridge still seems to be the best for our kind of event.  There are a few other options out there, but don’t seem to offer anything to improve the experience and seem to make things harder to accomplish.  Logistics, parking, (freedom to have a parking lot party), ability to watch races if you are not a skier, are all lost at some of the other areas we have looked at.  Giants Ridge offers us a location where our group can come together and hang out without a lot of “public” getting in the way.

It seems over the years that our racers are looking for more opportunities to race throughout the weekend.  So, we will be expanding our “Ski Challenge Open” race to more teams of 6 on Friday giving all racers an opportunity to race on Innsbruck.  This race is also open to non-Ski Challenge participants.

We are also going to attempt to have all divisions on Saturday going down to five total divisions.  By going to five divisions on Saturday, this allows for us to have Division 3 on Innsbruck!  If need be, we will add a sixth division on Sunday at 10 am.  On Sunday we are going to offer an Individual Championship race which everyone in Ski Challenge is invited to participate in.  Our preliminary idea for this race would be to allow racers two runs on Innsbruck and two on Helsinki.  Awards will follow ranking individuals within their age groups.

GEAR UP FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – 2016

Because we are planning on our Individual Championships being held up at our Championship weekend, we are going to offer a different kind of event the week before Championships hopefully at both Wild Mountain and Buck Hill.  This event will have some kind of gate practice and race.  Possibly a “League vs. League” race.

All of these ideas are in the beginning stages and we hope to get them set as we get closer to next season!

Anyone who races at the State Championships up at Giants Ridge this weekend will have a chance to win a pair of Pabst Blue Ribbon Skis (21 and older participants) and a Thule Roller Bag!

Tickets to fill out will be available at check in.

Tomorrow is the last day to pre-pay for State Championships.  To see a list of who has paid so far you can follow this link:  REGISTRATION SO FAR

PRE-REGISTRATION AND PRE-PAY ARE NOW CLOSED.  PLEASE PAY UP AT GIANTS RIDGE

• $25 per person per Division paid by cash or check to Ski Challenge office by February 25.
• $28 Paid online with Credit Card by February 25
• $30 Paid after February 25 – Up at Giants Ridge – Cash/Check/Credit Card

We still have room in the Ski Challenge Open on Friday.  You can add on to a team up at Giants Ridge.   An Awards Party will be held in the Bar/Restaurant at The Lodge at Giants Ridge at 5:30 pm.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2015 Individual Championships at Wild Mountain Yesterday.  It was a fun day with awesome conditions!  The results are now posted.  You can find them here:  INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS.

It’s going to be a great day at Wild Mountain this Saturday!

Registration is now open to everyone who was in a Ski Challenge league this year – even if you didn’t make the top 20 in your age group.

Pre-registration is now closed.  You can sign up at the hill between 9 and 10 am if you have not already registered.

Come out and get 4 race runs!  Here is the run down:

SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY
9 am – Racer Check in
10 am – Inspection Race #1
10:30 am  – Race  #1
11:30 am – Lunch on your own
12:30 pm – Inspection Race #2
1 pm – Race #2
2:30 (approximate) – Awards

For more info and race format click here.

The Pierce Skate & Ski Crew does it again. Snowsports Industries of America (SIA) has recognized them as the “2014-15 North-Central Shop of the Year” for an industry record 7th time!

The Divisions for State Championships are now posted.  You can view the divisions in two ways:

By Division

By Individual Team

If your Team wants to move up to a higher division, you need to make a request in writing.  We will then determine if there is room in that division after all teams have confirmed that they are or are not participating.  If you want to move down to a lower division, the same thing applies, however your team cannot count in the race nor can your racers be eligible for Individual Fastest of the race awards.

For more information on everything about State Championships CLICK HERE.

Padraig’s Race Registration is now open.
Go here for more information and links to registration.

Team photos will be taken this week and next week.  You can find the schedule on our calendar, or below.

WEEK 4 Photos
BHSAT – January 24 – between races (double race that day)
ALL Sunday races at Buck and Wild – January 25
BHWED DAY – January 28
WMWED – January 28

WEEK 5 Photos
BHMON – February 2
BHTUES – February 3
BHWED PM – February 4
BHTHUR – February 5
BHFRI – February 6
WMFRI – February 6