LEAGUE RACING STARTS TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024!

Make check in at the first league race run a lot smoother by registering and paying ahead of time!

Before you can participate in a race, you need an online waiver filled out and your registration fees paid. We highly recommend that you take care of this before checking in at your first race. That way you can check in, get geared up and out on the hill a lot quicker!

Click on the link to the right to take care of it now.

RACER CONFIRMATIONS

A confirmation email will be sent out to all rostered racers. This confirmation will include race dates, times, check in information and should arrive in your email box a few days before the start of your league season. It will also include links to registration status, running orders and schedules.

ROSTERS AND RUNNING ORDERS

Rosters and running orders for the season are posted online. Rosters are updated periodically and show registration, waiver and payment status. We do not show personal information online. Each captain has received an updated roster that includes personal information for each team member. Captains will also receive a Captain Packet at the first race of the season with a roster.

Running orders will be posted at check in and at the top of the race run each week. These running orders rotate each week with each team moving down one slot each week. The bottom team on each side will rotate to the top each week. Running orders were determined by the order that team deposits were made.



GO HERE TO SEE ROSTERS & RUNNING ORDERS

COURSE COLORS

The course colors will be Blue and Red at Buck Hill this year. These colors will be used to match the new Start Shack lights! The Blue course will be on Racer’s Right (left looking up the hill) and Red course will be Racer’s Left (right looking up the hill). Results posted on the NASTAR website will still show Orange and Green as course colors.

7/11 COURSE WEEK

This season all the course setters will be picking one week to have a 7/11 course week. What this means is one of the dual courses will have 7 gates and the other 11. We will give each league notice of when this will happen. It most likely will be around week 5 or 6. No need to wear different skis. Your normal race skis should be able to handle each type of course!

MEET YOUR COURSE SETTERS

We couldn't have our races without our great course setters! These guys work hard at making courses fun, different, and safe all while taking into consideration things such as weather, conditions, previous race sets, and snow type.

Below you will find out more about each course setter!

Andrey Ryvlin

• What Leagues/Events do you set: I really enjoy setting courses. I set Wednesday afternoon Ski Challenge, other than Buck Hill I set for Masters, also set at some other areas around the state
• Years Setting at Buck Hill: about 5 years
• What do you do when you are not setting courses: When not setting courses I work as a software developer at Idemia Corp, I like to travel with skis and without, I am busy helping with remodeling projects at my church, I also enjoy playing tennis (when there is no snow on the ground)
• What skis do you race on: Mostly on Atomic skis
• Favorite wax to use: Mostly use FastWax (#1), Swix, and Toko
• Best Ski Challenge/Ski Racing memory: Best Ski Challenge experience was last year at Giants where our team won the big trophy.
• Favorite Buck 54′ food/meal or Drink: At Buck 54 I like beer and good company.
• About Me: Skiing and ski racing is a big part of my life. I’ve been doing it since I was a kid and will keep doing it as long as God allows me to.

Morgan Rapp (aka: Turd Ferguson)-

• What Leagues/Events do you set: Thursday PM SC, Friday GS Clinics, SC State
• Years Setting at Buck Hill: 17
• What do you do when you are not setting courses: Senior Product Owner in digital marketing at Ameriprise Financial. Also, National Sales Rep, Fast Wax Ski Wax
• What skis do you race on: Volkl Racetigers
• Favorite wax to use: Fast Wax HS0
• Best Ski Challenge/Ski Racing memory: The old Friday night family leagues I set for many years, and sending kids from the bottom of the ramp too scared to go from the top
• Favorite Buck 54′ food/meal or Drink: Hot Chicken sandwich
• About Me: “Whenever I’m about to do something, I think ‘Would an idiot do that?’ And if they would, I do not do that thing.” Motto serves me well in life, especially in course setting.

Scott Flanary

• What Leagues/Events do you set: SUN PM
• Years Setting at Buck Hill: 8 years
• What do you do when you are not setting courses: Coach Breck Alpine Ski
• What skis do you race on: Rossignol Hero 23m
• Favorite wax to use: No idea…” Skiing Ian” (Ian Montgomery) is my ski tech.
• Best Ski Challenge/Ski Racing memory: Every Season that Premature Release Dominates the Thursday night SC League

Brent Wasti

• What Leagues/Events do you set: SUN AM 
• Years Setting at Buck Hill: I think at least 12. 
• What do you do when you are not setting courses: Woodworking or Underwater Basket weaving
• What skis do you race on: Blizzard WC GS (25m)
• Favorite wax to use: Dominator Rocket
• Best Ski Challenge/Ski Racing memory: Beating regional pacesetter Jack Miller at State Championships
• Favorite Buck 54′ food/meal or Drink: Pizza
• About Me: I’m not funny.

Reed Anderson

• What Leagues/Events do you set: WEDS PM
• Years Setting at Buck Hill: 20+ (Grizzled vet)
• What do you do when you are not setting courses: Retired from working full time. Play golf, ski, and spend a lot of summertime at the cabin in Northern Minnesota.
• What skis do you race on: Rossignol Master (23M)
• Favorite wax to use: Toko
• Best Ski Challenge/Ski Racing memory: I’m too old to remember.
• Favorite Buck 54′ food/meal or Drink: Surly Furious
• About Me: I have enjoyed Ski Challenge since 1987 and hope my body holds out long enough to continue for years to come.
• *Wednesday PM participants – I wish I could come out and set what I want every week, but sometimes with at least 2 other races on the hill before the evening race, I must set what the hill safely allows. Racer safety is the priority and I appreciate your patience!*

Thor Morales

• What Leagues/Events do you set: MON PM, TUES PM, Ski Challenge NASTAR, Ski Challenge State (King of the Hel), Dabbling with Masters
• Years Setting at Buck Hill: 16
• What do you do when you are not setting courses: Account Representative at Power/mation (Industrial Automation). Attempt to play golf frequently.
• What skis do you race on: Atomic RS 183 (24m)
• Favorite wax to use: Fast Wax Thunderbolt+ 20 (Get it at Joes!)
• Best Ski Challenge/Ski Racing memory: Got told by Daron Rahlves that the course I set for Pacesetter trials ‘Was Decent’.
• Favorite Buck 54′ food/meal or Drink: Gotta be the Wings. I think I get them every night I am hungry there.
• Funny lines to share: “Its Ski Challenge, Not Ski Easy” or “It’s Giant Slalom, not Mini Downhill”.

PACESETTING FOR 2024

NASTAR is not holding any Regional Pacesetting Trials this season. And, with the mild December, we did not have an opportunity to run our own trial. We will be using last year’s pacesetting numbers for the start of the season. We will periodically review numbers and see if any adjustments need to be made.

Because we are participating in NASTAR again this season, we are required to use pacesetters that have been approved by NASTAR. If you are currently a pacesetter in our system and do NOT want to be, please notify Ski Challenge and we will take you off the list. If you are not currently a pacesetter and average a 12 or less for handicap and want to become a pacesetter, contact us and we will get you a number.

GO HERE FOR THE CURRENT LIST OF PACESETTERS AND HANDICAPS.



GO HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PACESETTING

GUEST RACING

You are allowed to guest race two times per regular season race league. The fee is $15. We recommend that all guests register and pay online at least TWO hours before course inspection. If you are unable to do this, you can show up at the hill and pay and sign up there. Follow this link to register:

GUEST REGISTRATION

BUCK HILL INFORMATION

Lift Tickets – must be worn at each event. Tickets will be periodically checked. Buck Hill offers online tickets deals and offers a late night lift ticket deal each night starting at 7 pm. Check it out here: BUCK HILL LIFT TICKETS

Event Center – NO Outside Food or Beverage allowed in the Event Center or Buck ’54 Restaurant. You will have an opportunity to purchase food and beverage at each of our race events.

NASTAR

All results will be submitted to NASTAR. When you view results on NASTAR the course colors will be Orange and Green.

To view results on NASTAR, you are required to purchase a yearly subscription to "Outside Magazine". You can find more information about this at NASTAR.com

RACE CAMP AT JACKSON HOLE

We had a great time at our December race camp at Jackson Hole. We braved two days of new snow and one day of sunshine and awesome snow! The three days included great coaching, lots of skiing, tons of camaraderie, and lots of learning!

You can see photos from our camp here: PHOTOS

You can see video from the camp here on our Youtube Channel: VIDEO

Championships at Giants Ridge

Friday – Sunday, March 1-3, 2024 -Giants Ridge

Championships weekend at Giants Ridge is a fun-filled weekend with a lot of racing! Teams are divided into divisions with teams of similar abilities. There are also additional team and individual races that everyone can participate in, including non-Ski Challenge members! The weekend is finished up with a Sunday Fun-day race day put on by the Midwest Masters that includes a Super G and Slalom race. 

Look for upcoming information on a Saturday night event where we can all get together and celebrate the season, win some prizes, and see who is crowned King and Queen of the Hel! More information to come.

LODGING

Rooms are filling up fast! Get yours reserved today! Follow the link below and click on Lodging for links.

The Lodge at Giants Ridge - 10% off if made online

The Villas - 10% Off

Comfort Inn & Suites MT Iron - Great Room Deals

Follow this link for information on the weekend events, lodging, and much more!

Season Passes