The weekend after the lifts have closed for skiing and riding, Crested Butte Mountain Resort will bring back The Ultimate Snowmobiler for the third year. The Ultimate Snowmobiler event, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain States HillClimb Association (RMSHA), is a weekend full of snowmobile and motorsports mayhem right at the base of the Colorado resort, April 8-10.
New this year, there will be lift rides on the Red Lady Express chairlift on both Saturday and Sunday for foot passengers who wish to spectate along the on-mountain course. Snowcat-drawn sleigh rides will be available to shuttle spectators from the top of the lift to various competition venues, and from the base to the venues prior to lift operations. The Ice Bar at Uley’s Cabin will be open for on-mountain food and beverages. Butte 66 will also have live music on Friday and Saturday evening for après-race entertainment.
On Saturday and Sunday, snowmobiles and RZR side-by-side vehicles will be roosting around the resort for the Hill Climb and Winter TerraCross competitions. The Hill Climb competition ascends the black-diamond mogul ski runs Twister and Crystal, with the pros tackling Monument on Sunday during the finals.
In addition to the snowmobile event, sport organizer Joe Duncan of 357 Productions added the Winter TerraCross event, in which racers will navigate RZR side-by-sides through a snocross-style course in the base area. Six machine heats will be on course at once with jumps, bumps and turns. This competition is one-of-a-kind and an incredible spectator opportunity.
It's sure to be an exciting weekend of racing! For more info, visit www.rmsha.net or www.skicb.com.
Full event schedule:
Friday, April 8:
7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Registration and live music at the WoodStone Grille, Grand Lodge in the evening.
Test and Tune all day for competitors
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Butte 66 is open for lunch
Saturday, April 9:
7 a.m. – 12 p.m. Registration in Treasury Center building
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sleigh rides for spectators
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Hill Climb event
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Winter Terracross on the cross-course
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Red Lady Express runs for foot passengers
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Outdoor Grill at The Ice Bar at Uley’s Cabin is open on-mountain at the start of the Hill Climb course
11 a.m. Butte 66 opens for lunch in the base area
5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Live music and awards at Butte 66, upstairs in the Treasury Center
Sunday, April 10:
7 a.m. – 10 a.m. Registration in Treasury Center building
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sleigh rides for spectators
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Hill Climb event
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Red Lady Express runs for foot passengers
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Outdoor grill at The Ice Bar at Uley’s Cabin is open on- mountain at the start of the Hill Climb course
11 a.m. Butte 66 opens for lunch in the base area
5 p.m. Awards at Butte 66, upstairs in the Treasury Center
Photos courtesy Crested Butte Mountain Resort