Plan Now: Thunderbolt 2010 Ski Race

[billski]

It's here! Seventy five years in the making. You're chance to race the mighty Thunderbolt!

The Thunderbolt Ski Runners have been busy organizing a commemorative 75th Anniversary race on the Thunderbolt scheduled for February of 2010. This one-time event will be a once in a lifetime chance to race on this legendary trail.


The race is currently scheduled for February 20, 2010. It will be a time trial and will include ski, snowboard, telemark and vintage categories. This event is open to competitors of all abilities. Please check back to this page for further information regarding the race and registration. Bump skiers allowed

http://www.thunderboltskirun.com/race.html




FMI,
http://www.thunderboltskirunners.org/
http://www.thunderboltskirun.com/

 

[TheBEast]

I am so IN for this! Let us know when the registration opens. I don't want to miss this one!

 

[Johnskiismore]

YES!! I want to do this!!

 

[wa-loaf]

Cool, does the race include the hike/skin up or is it just the downhill portion?

 

[snowmonster]

I'm interested. Time to start hitting the gym and getting in shape for the season.

 

[billski]

There ain't no way I'm doing this 1.6mile course in 2 minutes. All I gotta say is that they better have a geriatric division for me!

"Course Record: 2 min. 8 sec., set by Per Klippgen in the 1948 Eastern Downhill Championship Race."

p.s., I have not heard back yet on whether you have to earn your turns for the race.

 

[billski]

I like this line:

"Today, the Needle's Eye is just as dangerous as it was back in the
day. Unless you snowplow or side-slip the entire thing, it's tough to
avoid picking up speed in the Needle, as it is not wide enough to
make turns. Instead, it's best just to put your head down, your skis
forward, and schuss it at full speed like your daddy used to do."

 

[Johnskiismore]

I like this line:

"Today, the Needle's Eye is just as dangerous as it was back in the
day. Unless you snowplow or side-slip the entire thing, it's tough to
avoid picking up speed in the Needle, as it is not wide enough to
make turns. Instead, it's best just to put your head down, your skis
forward, and schuss it at full speed like your daddy used to do."

I like! :flag:

 

[ski220]

There ain't no way I'm doing this 1.6mile course in 2 minutes.

"Course Record: 2 min. 8 sec., set by Per Klippgen in the 1948 Eastern Downhill Championship Race."

.

And that was before P-Tex. New course record should be about half of that, don't you think.

 

[riverc0il]

That is almost a 40 MPH average. Even straight lining the entire thing, that would be tough to do! That trail is not the steepest thing in the world so picking up and keeping up that type of speed would be really difficult. Especially if the trail is not packed down and "groomed" out prior to racing as I am sure they did back in the day when it was a premier racing trail.

Won't commit at this point, but this seems like an event that would definitely warrant the drive. Been meaning to knock this mountain off my short list and this even is as historic as any turn earning event could possibly be in New England. Seems like a great way to bring a community together.

 

[billski]

And that was before P-Tex. New course record should be about half of that, don't you think.

Seems to me the real advantage these days is metal edges. How the heck else do you stay in control!

 

[billski]

That is almost a 40 MPH average. Even straight lining the entire thing, that would be tough to do! That trail is not the steepest thing in the world so picking up and keeping up that type of speed would be really difficult. Especially if the trail is not packed down and "groomed" out prior to racing as I am sure they did back in the day when it was a premier racing trail.

Won't commit at this point, but this seems like an event that would definitely warrant the drive. Been meaning to knock this mountain off my short list and this even is as historic as any turn earning event could possibly be in New England. Seems like a great way to bring a community together.

No retro gear for me - I need control!
It will also be one helluva a party. Lots of photos. I'm bringing my cowbell and camera!

 

[ski220]

Seems to me the real advantage these days is metal edges. How the heck else do you stay in control!

If you are schussing, why would you need edges?????

They better put in some control gates to control the speed on the steep, otherwise some racers may end up in the woods. And will they build a kicker over the stream? That would be fun.

 

[Rambo]

I'm looking at the guy on the far right, downhill tuck and airborne. Maybe they better have those saftey nets on the steepest portions, to save someone who might wipe-out, from going into the trees.

 

[billski]

If you are schussing, why would you need edges?????

They better put in some control gates to control the speed on the steep, otherwise some racers may end up in the woods.

Because we are talking about southern New England with its many freeze-thaw cycles and for the most part, ungroomed terrain. There are some pretty hairy turns in there (turn one way, pitch another all on significant steep.) I'm sure racers must have ended in the woods 75 years ago.

 

[ski220]

And will they build a kicker over the stream? That would be fun.

Because we are talking about southern New England with its many freeze-thaw cycles and for the most part, ungroomed terrain. There are some pretty hairy turns in there (turn one way, pitch another all on significant steep.) I'm sure racers must have ended in the woods 75 years ago.

Now just you hold on thar. You neglected to address the stream crossing. A couple of times we HAVE built a kicker to facilitate crossing.

 

[bigschuss]

Just found this forum and joined. Thanks for the interest in the 2010 75th anniversary race. Here are a few details as they emerge...

The race will begin at 9 AM and continue until 2 or 3 PM. Racers will indeed have to climb the mountain just like they did in the old days. There will be a heated tent in the Greylock Glen for racer check in and processing. Racers will then take the Super Highway hiking trail up the mountain. The Super Highway goes from the Gould Farm straight up the mountain. Racers will then check in on the summit at the TB shelter and get ready for their run.

Upon registration, racers will receive their T-shirt, race bib, pertinent info, and a start time by mail. The start time will be a half hour window during which the racer can simply arrive on the summit, check in, and then take the run. It will be a timed event based on real word, chronological time. If you leave the summit at 2:15 and finish at 2: 20, your time would be 5 minutes.

We are still working on this one....but we are almost 95% sure it will not be a timed event for best time. Instead, it will be a timed event for average time, much like an enduro race. This will de-emphasize speed and place the emphasis on running a solid, no-fall run. It will also mean that average skiers have just as good a chance at winning a trophy as the hard-core, gung-ho schussers.

There will be an apres-ski party afterwards in downtown Adams, with an awards ceremony, optional dinner, a band, and lots of beer...

Stay tuned for more details on both of our web sites as they emerge this summer. And if you can afford it, please join our club! This race won't happen without the proper funding. And every $25 counts. Plus you get a cool-ass patch!

Best,
Blair Mahar, President
Thunderbolt Ski Runners
PO Box 171
Adams, MA 01220
www.thunderboltskirun.com
www.thunderboltskirunners.org

 

[skidmarks]

Cool Ass Patch

Got mine in the mail a few weeks ago. It kicks ass!! I'm so excited about the race. Will we be able to skin up?

 

[billski]

Thanks for the details Blair!
Sent my app in last month. I'm ready to go as soon as my patch arrives. Let me get this straight, I put the patch on my big a$$, right? :dunce:

 

[bigschuss]

Yes, the Super Highway is skinable. But there will be all kinds of volunteers on the trail as well, so it might be well traveled and boot-packed.

Bill, your patch and membership card are on the way! Thanks for joining.

We are about to kick off a formal fund raising campaign. Letters are going out to 250 area businesses soliciting donations. And there are now at least 2 articles in the works by National magazines high-lighting the race and the trail. Watch for those this fall and winter.

We also have 2 fully enclosed snow-cats that will be ferrying spectators to the trail and back; for those who can't make the hike but who want to see the race. We are also working on a local Cable access simulcast of the event. Fun stuff! And gaining momentum....