Uphill racers from all walks of the ski industry clad in Lycra, Polartec, jean shorts, and down began with a joyous parade through the ski booths slopeside at Copper Mountain Resort.
“This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend, the end
Of our elaborate plans, the end
Of everything that stands, the end”
Mr. Morrison couldn’t have said it any better.
After weeks of globetrotting, hitch-hiking, couch surfing, pedicab-jousting, smog dodging, gear geeking, gathering inside convention centers for ski industry tradeshows, and of course blogging, things are finally wrapping up for many industry insiders.
The last major tradeshow for many is the Snowsports Industry Association (SIA) Show in Denver which finishes with an on-snow demo held at Copper Mountain Resort. This year’s event took place under rare sun/snow showers. The highlight is the Uphill Challenge. The race includes categories for elite COSMIC racers, industry individuals and three member teams. First, second and third places win custom cowbells of monstrous proportions.
Officially the race began by crossing past the backcountry ski tents.
The men and women clad in this years tightest lycra took the lead.
Following closely behind was the rest of the industry wolfpack.
Eric Henderson, from Dynafit, proved that you cannot win solely on the up, you need to have style, and a proper tuck on the way down. We hear he perfected his perfect race tuck form on his multiple descents of the Grand Tetons.
Cosmic race organizer Pete Swenson and the top 3 finsishers in the Elite division.
Kim Miller, president of Scarpa USA, wins this years award for skimo jokester.
The presidents of the United States of America. Of Backcountry ski brands that is. Chris Sword, President of Salewa North America, Kim Miller, CEO of Scarpa North America, and Jonathan Lantz, President of LaSportiva North America.
Local shop owners duked it out in friendly fashion. Cripple Creek vs. Summit County.
Dynafit took the win in the industry team category.
First time uphill ski racer Annelise Loevlie, ceo of Icelantic Skis, with Kim Miller.
Michael Hagen and his Hagan skis crew showed a strong representation.
Cripple Creek Backcountry shop intern played hookie from high school and raced well.
These girls all finished with huge sweaty smiles across their faces.
Joseph Risi was raised on pasta and meatballs in the “backwoods” of Long Island before seeking higher education in the mountains of Vermont. Always looking for adventure, building treehouses, working too many odd jobs around the world he now lives in the Aspen area of Colorado.
