Vertfest 2016

Planning is well underway for Vertfest Alpental 2016 !  We hope you will join the fun on February 13-14.  Improve your skills with a variety of clinics on Saturday, get your race on in the Monika Johnson Memorial Rally on Sunday, or just come on up to demo gear and enjoy the festivities all weekend!

Can't make it on the 13th or 14th?  Check out Vertfest Bachelor on February 6!

can I register my dog to go with me if i enter the Alpental event?

yo tap, hope the bachy event is a grand success!
ski you later:-)

I volunteered at this event when it was still at Crystal, would love to help out at the Aplental party. Let me know if you guys need any help.

Does anyone know if you can register at the race, if not, what is the last day to register?

Thanks,

David

Does anyone know if you can register at the race, if not, what is the last day to register?

Thanks,

David

I don't know about day of, but I'm pretty sure I registered the night before a couple years ago.

Yes - you can register for the race the morning of.

Interested in volunteering? Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sorry - no dogs on the course.

See you all this weekend!

I'd volunteer to enforce strict pro-doping rules at piss pass ;D

But in all seriousness, maybe I'll actually do this thing this time around the sun. What sort of wax is recommended for skins to achieve optimal glide on raincorn? Also, as a season passholder, do I actually need to buy a discounted lift ticket on top of the fee for the race? Seems unnecessary.

FA - I believe you and your four-legged friends are welcome to spectate from the north side of draft dodger ridge and/or atop pineapple pass. From what I've heard, unlike certain girlfriends of Peter Line, your dogs don't even require a leash and are allowed to relieve themselves where they please - preferably in the postholes from those who snowshoe or bootpack in the skintrack

No day ticket needed for passholders. Also the course probably won't go out to piss pass based on the current weather forecast. I'd guess it will turn around at knoll 1 like the last few years.

Entrance to Nash will be.... Interesting.

These guys are pro's, they'll just poop hop those rocks.

Nash entrance was great today, smooth ride. Think light thoughts in the usual spots. After our third trip through today, I didn't need to hesitate.

Ripper down to the end of the Snake Dance traverse, then heavy below. Snake Dance didn't get skied enough Saturday to pack it well.

A safety note: The snow makes a sharp change in character when leaving the packed snow of the Snake Dance traverse. Your knees will thank you if you take three turns to acclimate to the softer/heavier snow before attempting to return to Mach 2.

See y'all tomorrow!

A big thank-you to the organizers for a really great race. Logistically, it was the best VertFest I've attended.

Rain-wise, it was only the second lap that got crazy-wet. Warm 'till the finish, then shivers kicked in as soon as I hit the lodge and didn't stop 'till dry clothes, soup, and pizza.

If you were wondering how wet it got, here's my boots after the return to Seattle.

I'd like to think Monika would've been proud of all the fast women racing up there today!


How warm was it? This warm:

The lack of explanation and consistency regarding the rules of booting with skis on pack vs. shoulders was a bit annoying, but otherwise yes a fun weekend and thanks to all of the volunteers (those tents looked like a good idea!). Then I got to go wring water out of my supposedly waterproof shells.

The lack of explanation and consistency regarding the rules of booting with skis on pack vs. shoulders was a bit annoying, but otherwise yes a fun weekend and thanks to all of the volunteers (those tents looked like a good idea!). Then I got to go wring water out of my supposedly waterproof shells.

It seems like the organizers use the honor system with regards to enforcement of the regs.  As a "rule follower" I find this mildly annoying but understand it's a volunteer run event and trying to get the entire field to wear their helmets and attach skis to packs at booters is difficult.  I was directly behind a participant who staggered up the first boot pack dragging a ski in each hand by the toe binding.  Not real safe for those of us below and not real smart as dropping a ski at that location would've cost them a bunch of time.  I don't see this changing unless the organizers start adding penalty time for infractions. I doubt they will ever take it this seriously as the event is a like a big, fun group of competitive friends trying to beat each other through whatever means possible. I'm always amazed at how many people actually show up to skin up the mountain in the rain!

I appreciate all of the volunteers who were probably as wet as any of us, thanks for your willingness to suffer!

The lack of explanation and consistency regarding the rules of booting with skis on pack vs. shoulders was a bit annoying, but otherwise yes a fun weekend and thanks to all of the volunteers (those tents looked like a good idea!). Then I got to go wring water out of my supposedly waterproof shells.

I was one of the volunteers yelling at folks at the Fan. Unfortunately, the no-carry rule was not clearly communicated to the racers before the race (either in the race rules or by Martin), but it was to us (plus we were told to DNF anybody who would not comply since it is a safety thing), so there was some confusion and frustration. Sorry about that. At least nobody got disqualified in the end.

In years past, the backpack thing was communicated well in the race meeting, but not enforced at the gates. Friends said it got testy this year at the gate.

Clear expectations and simple enforcement seem like the way forward. A little sign at bootpack #1 "Skis on packs!" might limit debate on the subject.

A statement on ski leashes would be rad, too.

Anyone have a link to the results? I neglected to pull a GregL and take pictures of the results sheet for everyone. Next year...

Anyone have a link to the results? I neglected to pull a GregL and take pictures of the results sheet for everyone.  Next year...

I was going to ask the same thing - had another commitment and couldn't be there to take the picture!

Vertfest results have been posted!  We apologize for the delay.  Long story, but we had some problems with a corrupt Excel file and a key person leaving town and locking the original race forms in his house. One of these years we will have flawless timing!

Thank you !