| Get ready to buckle your boots, slap on your skins, and ski through Minturn’s beloved backcountry! The Vail Recreation District’s 2025 Winter Races continue on Saturday, March 1 with the Meadow Mountain SkiMo & Snowshoe race. Registration is open now at vailrec.com. The Meadow Mountain Skimo & Snowshoe race will begin at 8 a.m. for the expert category and 9 a.m. for the snowshoe, intermediate and beginner categories. NEW in 2025: Snowshoe category! The snowshoe course follows a different route from the skimo course. Skimo and Snowshoe courses will only intersect at the transition zone near the top of the course. This course is a 4K loop with 600 feet of elevation gain and breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. The skimo course is a 2K loop with a mandatory boot-pack area (only experts are required to store the skis on their packs). Experts will complete three (3) laps, intermediate will complete two (2) laps & beginners will complete one (1) lap. This is a great course to challenge yourself and learn more about a new Olympic Sport, SkiMo! Invite your friends to compete and prove that you’re the best skier on the mountain! SkiMo CourseThe course is a 1.4-mile loop with 660 vertical feet of elevation gain. Racers will begin and finish on the bench just above the Meadow Mountain parking lot and race up the open slope to looker’s right (west). Approximately 100 feet above the Everkrisp trail closure, the skin track leads into the trees and includes a mandatory boot pack section. Expert skiers will be required to attach their skis to their packs during the race. Intermediate and beginner racers can shoulder their skis. The skin track leads to the top of the old chairlift. The course then traverses to the south before descending to the ridge and down to the start/finish area. Racers doing a second or third lap will ski to the transition zone before beginning the transition to repeat the course listed above. Each lap will include uphill skinning, downhill skiing and boot pack hiking. Helmets and metal edges are required for this race (avalanche gear is not required). Extra clothing can be stored at a tent near the finish line. Following the race, participants are invited to warm up at Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea in Minturn with complementary empanadas and a warm drink. Snowshoe CourseThe course is a 2.3-mile loop with 650 vertical feet of elevation gain. Racers will begin and finish on the bench just above the Meadow Mountain parking lot and race up the open slop to looker’s right (west). Race registration is available at vailrec.com/register. The cost for this race is $36 early bird/$42 week-of/$50 day-of for adults and $25 early bird/$30 week-of/$37 day-of for students. Online registration will close at 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28. There is no series registration, just individual race registration. Pre-race bib pickup will take place at Cripple Creek Backcountry in Avon on Friday, Feb. 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Race day bib pickup will take place on the bench just above the Meadow Mountain parking lot beginning at 7 a.m. Cripple Creek backcountry is offering 20% off rentals when you show your race bib! After Meadow Mountain, the 2025 Bloch & Chapleau Winter Races wraps up with the festive Krueger Family Shamrock Shuffle Snowshoe & Running Race on Sat, March 15, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day! |
| BEGINNER SKIN TRACK CLINIC – TUESDAY, FEB. 26 | 4-6 P.M. Need to work on your skinning skills before you race? We’ve got you covered! A beginner skin track clinic will be held at Meadow Mountain on Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 4 to 6 p.m. for those new to skimo racing. Taught by local backcountry enthusiast Dawes Wilson, the clinic will go over basic skin track skills including kick turns, traction at the limit, pole use, boot packing and transitions as well as a preview of Saturday’s race course, time permitting. The clinic is $25 and preregistration is encouraged as participation is limited. Bring required race gear: helmet, backpack and tension devices. Register HERE. You do not need to be signed up for the Meadow Mountain Skimo race to participate! |
