NEWRY — The River Fund Maine has announced a new enduro/rally style skiing event — Master of the Mountain — which combines the excitement of downhill skiing with the precision of a timed road rally.
The inaugural event will be held Saturday, March 14, at Sunday River Ski Resort and will raise money to support youth in the community, the fundamental mission of The River Fund Maine. Covering all eight peaks of the Sunday River Ski Resort, Master of the Mountain is designed using the segment model of Enduro mountain bike racing with the timed stations model from automotive rally racing with an emphasis on control and precision. As in a marathon, each competitor is chipped and his or her timing on each of the eight run segments begins and ends when the chip is read. A participant is not timed in the transitions from one segment to another. Participants will be clocked at various points on the course to be sure they are completing its every leg and that they are keeping a consistent speed.
The winners will be selected by tallying how close each participant comes to the ideal time as established by a pro plotting the course. As in Enduro competitions, there is more penalty for being faster than the ideal time than slower. Precision and skill are necessary for success. “While the pace of Master of the Mountain is likely to be challenging, the course is designed to involve strategy rather than recklessness,” said Jim Largess, TRFM’s executive director, comments. “The goal is to come as close as possible to the ideal predetermined time on each segment. Of course, we’re talking skiers, here. So, we’ve included one segment everyone can ski as fast as possible: the giant slalom course in the Race Arena.”
There will be one overall winner from the Elite Challenge. This skiing phenom will be awarded a Master of the Mountain custom ski jacket and name inscription on the perpetual trophy which will be on display at Sunday River Resort. The top three finishers in each competition category will be awarded logoed Master of the Mountain challenge beanies. The highest fundraisers will win lift tickets and the Top Fundraiser will win a Gold New England Pass. All finishers receive a Master of the Mountain embroidered patch with year of enrollment.
Checkin will be Friday, March 13; the March 14 schedule is:
* Registration/Check-In from 6:30-8:30 a.m.;
* Mandatory Slopeside Meeting at White Cap Lodge at 8:30 a.m.;
* Start Time at 9 a.m.;
* Finish Time at the Peak Lodge Race Headquarter at 1 p.m.
* Awards at the Peak Lodge Deck at 1:30 p.m.;
* Après ski party at the Foggy Goggle.
Participation is limited. For information about fees and to register, visit riverfundmaine.org/events.
