VT Ski Area To Host Race With Real Snow This Weekend

The event begins at 3:00 p.m., with the qualifying period for the cross-country race starting at 4:00 p.m. All skiers 14 or older are permitted to enter the race.

At 5:45 p.m., the fastest eight men and women fill face on in the finals, racing two at a time in single elimination heats. The skate skiing race will see competitors race through the gates and complete a short uphill sprint.

The Mountain Town Get Down isn’t just about watching cross-country skiers test their cardio limits, though. The event also includes live music, food and drink for sale, and games for kids.

Two musical acts will play on Magic Mountain’s deck. Jatoba goes on at 4:00 p.m. After finals, the Weight Band, featuring members of The Band and Levon Helm Band, plays at 6:30 p.m.

The West River Sports Association is a non-profit organization that, according to its website, is dedicated to the “promotion of physical and intellectual development of our area’s youth.” The organization offers youth soccer and cross-country skiing programs.

MTR works to support regional leisure and recreation opportunities.

The funds from the Mountain Town Get Down will support the maintenance of play fields and kids' equipment purchases. General admission and race entry tickets start at $28.52.

Other ski areas throughout North America will host off-season events this summer and fall using a similar snow storage method as Magic Mountain.

Scheduled for June 21, Jay Peak, Vermont’s Solstice Sessions, will feature live music and a small terrain park with real snow. At Trollhaugen, Wisconsin, an annual fall rail jam and festival called Open Haugen also relies on harvested snow.