It’s time to get competitive — with yourself. Fairmont Hot Springs is bringing back its annual Starlight Challenge where winning isn’t based on speed but on consistency.
“Thirty years ago the event started as a competition between local ski schools,” said Fairmont Hot Springs Resort marketing manager Colleen McKee. “The strategy is based on consistency between runs rather than fastest time, so it creates a fun atmosphere for a range of ability levels.”
For the next four consecutive Friday nights of February, recreational racing teams will converge on the slopes of Fairmont Hot Springs ski hill. Teams of four will compete based on the smallest time difference between two runs per night on a dual slalom-style race course, down which racers will go two at a time. Racers will be properly timed and must cross a finish line.
The winning team will be chosen based on overall consistency over the four-night series with nightly awards also going to the most consistent as well as the fastest individual racer. All award parties will take place at the ski chalet with the overall team award presented at a banquet dinner at the chalet on the last night.
Teams can include skiers, boarders and telemarkers of any level. Nightly drop-in racers are welcome too if they’re unable to race all four nights, and will be eligible for the individual awards but not the team awards presented at the final banquet.
The event will start each Friday night at 7:15 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. at which time the awards will be presented. Registration can be done in advance by calling the snow school at 250-345-6037 or email snowschool@fhsr.com. The cost is $89 per person and includes four Friday night lift tickets, entry to the races, nightly prizes and the banquet dinner.
“There’s no other event like it!’ said McKee. “A healthy competitive spirit and friendly competition haev created an event that we’re proud to host and have a lot of fun while doing so.”
Fore more information, visit www.fairmonthotsprings.com/racing-events.
