Press Release
VC announces FULL schedule, newly Certified By WBENC
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
The Vertical Challenge Ski and Snowboard Tour today announced its 2022 schedule, welcoming a return to a full slate of events for the upcoming season.
“We’re pleased to visit 17 of our favorite resorts across seven states,” said Vertical Challenge owner Heather Clifford. “The protocols we put in place last year helped set us up to hold a complete set of races in 2022.”
The VC also announced its national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by The Center for Women and Enterprise, a regional certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Longtime VC contractor-turned-partner Clifford became 100% owner of the tour in 2021. She takes over for VC founder Frank Tansey, who remains involved as a consultant.
“We’re excited to get this certification,” explained Clifford. “We think it reinforces one of our core values of bringing the fun of winter sports to everyone, no matter their gender, experience, ethnicity, or physical limitations.”
The Vertical Challenge Presented by Chevrolet is a series of free casual ski and snowboard races open to skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities. The tour offers adaptive categories and also looks to engage its participants in raising funds for the state chapters of the Make-A-Wish Foundation in the areas it visits.
The VC stages one-day events at resorts throughout greater New England. The season begins Saturday, January 22 at Mount Southington. It marks the VC’s first visit to Connecticut since 2019. The March 6 date at Camelback will also mark the tour’s return to Pennsylvania for the first time since 2019. The VC will visit Snow Ridge, NY and McIntyre Ski Area, NH for the first time in its 30-year history. VC stalwarts like Jiminy Peak, Cranmore, Pats Peak, Catamount, and Nashoba Valley return to the schedule.
The Vertical Challenge does not charge racers, with costs paid by tour sponsors, including Stonyfield, Dermatone, ALOHA, Northeast Delta Dental, Thule, Xfinity, and presenting sponsor Chevrolet. All entrants need to do is purchase a lift ticket from the host mountain and complete a registration form, which can be done in advance at ski-vc.com. The VC will once again work with NASTAR for racer registration and results. The top three finishers in each category qualify for the finals, which Jay Peak Resort will host Saturday, April 9, 2022.
In addition to the racing, each event includes a festival element, featuring snowy activities for all ages and prizes given away throughout an enjoyable day at the mountain. Awards ceremonies, which organizers executed virtually in 2021, will return live this season in an outdoor setting.
More information about the Vertical Challenge is available at the tour’s official website at ski-vc.com. The VC also maintains social media accounts :
Facebook : facebook.com/VerticalChallenge/
Twitter: twitter.com/skivc1991
Instagram: instagram.com/ski_vc/
2022 Vertical Challenge Schedule
Mount Southington, CT – Saturday, January 22, 2022
Jiminy Peak, MA – Sunday, January 23, 2022
Lost Valley, ME – Saturday, January 29, 2022
Black Mountain, ME – Sunday, January 30, 2022
Cranmore, NH – Saturday, February 5, 2022
Black Mountain, NH – Sunday, February 6, 2022
McIntyre Ski Area, NH – Saturday, February 12, 2022
Pats Peak, NH – Sunday, February 13, 2022
Nashoba Valley, MA – Saturday, February 26, 2022
Ski Butternut, MA – Sunday, February 27, 2022
Snow Ridge, NY – Saturday, March 5, 2022
Camelback, PA – Sunday, March 6, 2022
Smugglers’ Notch, VT – Saturday, March 12, 2022
Suicide Six, VT – Sunday, March 13, 2022
Berkshire East, MA – Saturday, March 19, 2022
Catamount, MA – Sunday, March 20, 2022
Jay Peak, VT (Finals) – Saturday, April 9, 2022
About WBENC
Founded in 1997, WBENC is the nation’s leader in women’s business development and the leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, with more than 17,000 certified Women’s Business Enterprises, 14 national Regional Partner Organizations, and more than 350 Corporate Members. More than 1,000 corporations representing America’s most prestigious brands as well as many states, cities, and other entities accept WBENC Certification. For more information, visit wbenc.org.
