Skimo races are the fastest growing winter endurance challenge in the country, blending uphill fitness and technique with downhill skills and stamina. The community ranges fro welcoming at the beginner level to intense and competitive as you approach the upper eshalance challenging everyone from backcountry skiers and ski mountaineers who want to test their limits to runners and cyclist that are looking for a new love in the winter.
Cripple Creek Backcountry is proud to sponsor many race series across the country and we have rated the races below from local evening races to world class ultra endurance events.
LOCAL SKIMO RACE SERIES
Sunlight Moonlight Race Series
Located close to our original shop in Carbondale Carbondale, Sunlight embodies a true locals and family experience and their Moonlight race series further shows their unwavering support. With 4 races throughout the season these are the perfect training events to further your skills and test your endurance in a laid back atmosphere that encourages all skill levels
Make sure you bring a good headlamp as these races happen after the sun sets on unlit courses.
Choose from the short or long course option with both to be complete in right about one hours time depending on skill level. The short course goes up to the top of the mountain one time on a challenging track, with steep pitches, kick turns through low angle Aspen trees and a boot pack to further practice your transitions. The downhill is a mellow groomer good for all levels with just enough darkness to spice it up. The long course has a second lap from bottom to the warming hut on top and a steeper ski down Joslin.
Since the course is the same every race you can track your progress throughout the winter and alleviate the stress of route finding once you learn the course.
The best feature is that the Sunlight bar stays open late with a free cookie and the best price on drinks at any ski resort bar!
Vail Rec Town Series
Located around our Avon shop the Vail Rec center is another great beginner opportunity to try a skimo race. These races happen four times throughout the season during the day time and on a unique course every time. These are great for beginners as the courses are friendly and no little sport specific gear is required.
*The first two races are of the “vertical” discipline as they only count the uphill.
Jan 12th Beaver Creek
With 2000 feet of vertical gain this is an uphill only race and expects racers of all type. If all you have are running shoes with traction spikes you are still welcome to come out and see what racing uphill is all about.
Vail Arrowhead Uphill Jan 25th
See how fast you can ascend the 1700 feet of vertical gain from the base of the Arrow Bahn Lift to the top. The event will conclude with breakfast and awards at Broken Arrow Restaurant at the
March 1st Meadow Mountain Skimo
The Meadow Mountain Skimo race is a true “backcountry” race even if it is a very beginner friendly one. This is an amazing experience as you are never in bounds at a ski resort but low angel that avalanche gear and extreme skiing ability is not required. The course winds up through the trees and is sure to test your single track skinning and kick turn ability in this laid back setting.
NEXT LEVEL RACES
Cripple Creek Backcountry is proud to support the next tier of races. Shorter than the “Grand Courses” you can race them faster, with less gear and still push yourself to a marathon level endurance event, without the wear and tear on the body of running!
12 hours of Sunlight
Bigger, better, and bolder in 2025! After an epic first year, we’re back with this thrilling endurance challenge that will push your limits. Whether you’re flying solo or teaming up with friends, this classic test of stamina is not to be missed! This is a unique event as you get to choose the difficulty and team up with friends in this relay race style event
Race against the clock as an individual or in teams of 2 or 4 to see how many laps you can conquer on our 1,800-vertical-foot Sun King uphill route in 12 hours. Skin up, ski down, and repeat and stay warm at the base area while your teammates are carrying the torch. The course is non technical so this is a great for newer participants but an individual can push themselves longer than any other race in the country.
Sunlight Heathen Challenge
The longest running skimo race in Colorado. For a little mountain, the Sunlight Heathen Challenge packs in one of the most beautiful and technical courses in the country. Race through beautiful meadows and aspen glades with nearly 100% single track skinning. Although the ascents are low angle the skiing is steep and challenging with a culminating descent down the Heathen, originally one of the steepest trails in the state.
A short course option features one lap with a variety of transitions and a scenic boot pack and is the perfect next step in your skimo development.
Originally the qualify for the US National team the long course features 3 long uphills, with two unique boot packs and enough kick turns to challenge the most experience racer. The descents are steep thin and harrowing with a rugged ski off the top of neighboring Williams’s peak!
THE GRAND COURSES
Modeled after big European races like the PDG the Grand Traverse and the Power of 4 are some of the longest races in North America.
The Aspen Snowmass Power of 4 and Power of 2
The Power of 4 has over 11,000 feet of vertical spread out on a 25 mile course linking the four mountains of Snowmass, Buttermilk, Highlands and Aspen mountain. The skin tracks are non technical but the duration of climbs are never ending.
The Elk Mountain Grand Traverse
For over 25 years the Grand Traverse has been challenging backcountry skiers and racers of all levels. Skiing 40 miles through the night is never easy as racers face cold conditions, freezing water and high elevations. Don't let the low angle nature of this course fool you his is a true adventure race as much as a ski mountaineering objective and skiing down star pass in the dark is a true challange.