February 23, 2009 E-MAIL PRINT

Around the Region: Make 'em burn at Wildcat

by Marty Basch/

Wildcat hosts the 100K Vertical Challenge March 2. (photo: Wildcat)

Wildcat hosts the 100K Vertical Challenge March 2. (photo: Wildcat)

Quads will be burning during Wildcat's Make-a-Wish 100K Vertical Challenge March 2. At last year’s 100K day, 25 of the 28 participants completed at least 48 runs via the famed Lynx Trail’s 2,100-plus vertical descent from summit to base. All ages and disciplines are welcome to participate, but there is a limit of 40 participants, and a minimum $250 in pledge donations to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire must be acquired.

The world's top snowboardcross and slalom riders will be at Sunday River Feb. 26-28 for a couple of World Cup races. PGS is Feb. 26 and snowboardcross Feb. 28.

A couple of Plymouth State University students have organized the Airing for Autism Snowboard event Feb. 27 at Waterville Valley to benefit the Autism Society of New Hampshire. Entry fee is $20.

The Billabong Flaunt It Women's Series stops at Waterville March 1. It's an all-girls slopestyle and rail jam snowboard contest aimed at being fun and giving amateur girls a chance to Flaunt It. Each event will be a qualifier for the Flaunt It Snowboard Series Finals in Canada. The winner from Waterville's event will have airfare and accommodation to the series finals at Mont Tremblant.

The ever-popular Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge continues its tour of New Hampshire with events at Crotched in Bennington Feb. 27, Gunstock Feb. 28 and Pats Peak March 1.

Pats Peak is hosting the ninth annual Childhood Cancer Lifeline fundraiser Feb. 28 and March 1. The event supports New Hampshire families who have children with cancer. Bands, raffles and auctions are planned.

The NASTAR course at Wachusett is the site for the Special Olympics Massachusetts on Feb. 28 and March 1. The Princeton mountain also has a Wednesday night park series slated for March 4 and 18.

Bring at least two non-perishable food items to Jiminy Peak on Friday, Feb. 27, and save $15 on a lift ticket. On Saturday, there is a slopestyle competition.

The Burke Mountain Sled Dog Dash is a family-oriented event for pet enthusiasts Feb. 28 to March 1. Come see some of the world's most competitive sprint racing teams compete against each other in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Enjoy food, children’s games, activities and more at Burke Mountain.

Big Air comes to Jay Peak, also in northern Vermont, on Feb. 28. Skiers and riders huck themselves off a jump, spinning and grabbing. They will have two chances in the preliminary round to see who will be in the finals. The finals will be based on two jumps per competitor.

Are you an après ski addict? Then head to the Wobbly Barn for the March 1 “Grand Finale” of Jack’s “Taste of Tennessee Week,” as bartenders from up and down the Killington Road and beyond compete to mix the best Jack Daniel’s cocktail for 2009.

The Sugarloaf Outdoor Center attracts elite racers to the EISA Eastern College Championships, hosted by Colby College (Feb. 27 and 28).

"Maine has become the epicenter of Nordic skiing in the United States," Andy Shepard, chief executive officer of the Maine Winter Sports Center, said in a statement. "We are home to more NCAA Division 1 Nordic ski teams than any other state in the U.S. The four colleges — Bates, Bowdoin, Colby and the University of Maine-Presque Isle — attract the best skiers in the country."

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