Rise & Shine, Buttercup!!

Join us for an exciting Winter Wild season of uphill racing!

About the Race

The Winter Wild series has been running since 2010 and has an established following of enthusiastic early risers, all ages and abilities, who travel to various ski areas throughout New England. Setting off moments before sunrise, participants race uphill. They quickly trade headlamp beams for mountain views and race back down to the finish line. The collective energy of crisp air filling your lungs, the squeaky snow under foot, boundless enthusiasm of the group, and the heart-pumping workout of an early morning mountain adventure will have you agreeing, there’s no better way to start the weekend! Join us for this year’s Winter Wild events. Come for one or join us for the series; everyone is welcome!

What to Expect
  • Multiple categories
  • NEW option to begin early
  • Incredible raffle prizes
  • Spirited racing
  • An inclusive atmosphere where all are welcome
  • Beautiful mountaintop sunrise
  • Like-minded athletes
  • Endless smiles
  • Hearty winter workout

Winter Wild Uphill Series

Winter Wild is an uphill race series with a twist; the start AND finish are at the bottom (what goes up must come down). Grab your skis, grab your snowshoes, or just grab your favorite winter running shoe/ microspike combo and join us for some winter fun. Do you like first tracks? Great; us too! Each event takes place before the mountain even opens. We’ll be up and down before the lifts start running.

When Winter Wild first began, uphilling wasn’t quite so popular. Nowadays, most athletes and resorts are aware of this fun way to earn your workout and your turns. With years of experience and a better understanding of how uphilling benefits local ski resorts and the community it’s solidified its place as a regular winter pastime. Some athletes choose to run with sneakers and microspikes (our most popular category), a few prefer the added workout of snowshoes, and some enjoy skiing uphill in the ‘heavy metal’ category. Call it skinning or alpine touring, whatever you call it, it has added a whole new dimension of fun and purpose to winter recreation. We’re proud to continue to be a part of the uphilling movement and are dedicated to working respectfully with our local ski areas so that it continues.

Note: We are beyond thrilled to be taking over this race series and working to revive its enthusiam, dedicated following, and goal to get more people outdoors. Although dealt a late start this year, we'll offer two late-season events and continue with a bigger, more awesome lineup for next season! Let's get this party started!

Chad Denning started the series with his adventure organization, Team AMP (Athletes Multisport Partnership). Chad was an amazing father, husband, teammate, friend... he encompassed Team AMP's mission to inspire active living in all that he did as the New London, NH Recreation Director; within his role at the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps; through the hosting of various fun runs, after school programs, and in his day-to-day personal adventures as an accomplished ultra-runner, community member, and adventure racer. After Chad passed away unexpectedly in 2014 atop Mt. Moosilauke, Brandon Baker scooped up Team Amp and carried it proudly as a tremendous friend, allowing Chad's memory and mission to live on through his established events. As Team AMP moves forward with other races and happenings, Chris Gagnon and Meghan Underhill are thrilled to take on the Winter Wild torch and move forward with the enthusiasm, energy, and experience needed to propel Winter Wild into this season and beyond.

Rules to participate
  • Whatever you wear up the hill is what you descend with... (For instance: if you snowshoe up, you will snowshoe down and be listed in the snowshoe category).
  • There is one exception to this rule and that is if you would like to use a snowboard you may carry it on your back up the hill and then snowboard down. You will be listed in the Heavy Metal Category. You cannot leave anything stashed anywhere on the mountain! Whatever you go up with, you must return with to the start line. Leave No Trace.
  • If you use poles up the hill, then you must go down the hill with your poles.
  • Helmets are required if you are skiing! A ski helmet or bike helmet will work. It’s for your own safety!
  • No sleds or blades will be allowed.
  • Acceptable devices are: XC Skis, Randonnée or Telemark Skis, snowboard, snowshoes, Microspikes or similar foot traction... or just plain running shoes.
  • Sign those waivers!
  • Additional guidelines added based on the requirements of our hosting ski resorts
Categories
  • Open Category (Microspikes, running shoes, Yaxtrax, studded shoes, etc)
  • Snowshoes
  • Skis
  • All categories above include a Challenged Athlete Division
Age Groups
  • Male & Female 18 & under (Free), 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+
Racing Age

Age group will be determined by your age on May 1st of the racing season. We want people competing in the same age group throughout the series so please be aware and register accordingly.

Points (Resuming in '23/'24 season)

All finishers will receive points. If you do not finish or participate in an event, you will receive 0 points for that event. Points will be distributed as follows: 1st 100, 2nd 90, 3rd 80, 4th 70, 5th 60. All other finishers receive 25 points.

Tie Breakers

Ties in point standings will be settled by:

  1. Highest placing athlete at final event.
  2. Athlete who participated in highest number of events.
  3. A battle of rock, paper, scissors… after all, this is for FUN!

Resuming for the '23/'24 season, champions will be recognized during the awards ceremony at the final event of the season.

The "All Mountain" Challenge. We are challenging running clubs/ teams to a dual so to speak. When you register for any WW event make sure that you identify your club/ team so we can track points from participants to crown the "King of the Mountain" at the end of the series. Team scores will consist of the cumulative Top 3 overall scores for each race in the series. Bragging rights on the line!

Upcoming Winter Wild Events

Cranmore Mtn Resort, NH
March 18, 2023

A 2.7 mile counterclockwise lap with nearly 1200' of vertical!

Wildcat, NH
April 1. 2023

Our season closer with proper vertical gain and views.

Location TBD
December, 2023

Get ready for another exciting morning at your local ski hill.

Location TBD
January, 2024

Get ready for another exciting morning at your local ski hill.

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