Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge race at Beaver Creek

Contributed by tom. March 2006.

Copper was a zoo on Saturday -- fortunately we missed it, running errands in Denver. We didn't want to ride there on Sunday, and headed to Beaver Creek to meet up with Jeff and Kim Cooper. Scott and his brother Greg came too. Beaver Creek was outstanding -- good snow, very few people, and we had a great time.

In the early afternoon Jeff and Kim headed over to race -- it was the Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge. Neither Lisa nor I ever raced before, but since it was a free race on a pretty easy course we decided to join the fun. And it was excellent! It was the first time on a carving board that I had to follow a pretty precise line, trying to go as fast as possible but still be in control. We all did well -- Jeff got the fastest time on the mountain, though it wasn't clear if Scott didn't match it. Kim got second place in her age division, Lisa got the first (GOLD MEDAL!) in hers, and I got third. Besides getting the medals, we all qualified for the Mountain Dew Finals in Steamboat Springs -- which means a free lift ticket! We'll be there to race and to enjoy the mountain.