WILSON, Wyo. — Still bummed about this year’s Hill Climb cancellation? Well, get excited for next winter’s even higher bar for snowmobile hill climb racing in Jackson Hole.
SledHeads United, a newly assembled outdoor recreation nonprofit, has announced plans to relocate the World Championship Snowmobile Hill Climb event to Glory Bowl next March. Racers will compete on a course climbing up Mount Glory, just east of Teton Pass summit.
“We were inconsolable this winter when we learned we couldn’t enjoy the best weekend of the year for snowmobile racing in Jackson Hole,” SledHeads Executive Director Ivana Geaux-Faust told Buckrail. “So we knew we had to create a more reliable venue for next year at a higher elevation, with even more challenging terrain and hopefully some deep snow.”
Geaux-Faust said the inaugural Glory Climb will start at approximately 8,000 feet of elevation, which is higher than the summit of the historic event held at Snow King Mountain.
Competitors will ride up Old Pass Road, and staging will occur in the summer parking area to the summit up the Glory slide path. Racers will enter the course from the highway, clearing multiple headwalls before navigating a series of challenging gated turns through slope angles between 35 and 45 degrees. There will be no qualifying runs, so all racers will race the course “blind” without a chairlift for previewing the course.
“It’s the steepest venue racers will encounter on the regional circuit, and far more like what backcountry snowmobilers really ride than the races at these hard-packed ski resorts,” Geaux-Faust added. “This event will truly define the most extreme world champion.”
The racers will finish at the summit of Mount Glory, 10,086 feet. Every competitor to reach the summit will get a special commemorative “Glory to the Highest” belt buckle, blessed by Ullr. The fastest time or highest mark set by male and female finishers will receive the coveted “Glory Challis,” filled with 64 ounces of a (still secret) lead sponsor’s energy drink, that must be chugged at the summit within three minutes of the last racer crossing the line for the fastest racer to take home the trophy. Competitors will ultimately descend via a down track in Little Tuckerman’s Ravine, just north of Mt. Glory.
WYDOT regional manager Job Hammer said they can’t wait to support the event, with extra avalanche mitigation each morning of the race weekend to ensure snow stability on the backcountry slope.
“These racers earn the opportunity to qualify for Jackson, so we’re rolling out the white carpet,” Hammer said. “We’re going to make a nice starting ramp across the highway, because the road is snow covered most of the time anyway, so what’s the big deal with having drivers put it into four low for a hundred feet on a weekend day while dodging a few racers?”
Teton Slackcountry Alliance President Nacho Skintrack said he hated the concept: “This is the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard for what should happen on the pristine ski touring mecca of Teton Pass.”
He also noted an upside that aligned with their mission. “I am glad that these sled head fans will have to carpool up from Stilson using our free shuttle and actually earn their viewing spot on the hill without the help of a lift,” he said. “We’ll just consider it another outreach event in building support for our work, whether they love or hate backcountry skiers like us.”
The competitor field will be limited to just 70 racers, with no restrictions on chassis or modifications.
“All racers will compete in the open mod category, where anything with a track can run, instead of hosting dozens of confusing divisions with so many champions like the Dirt Queen events of the past,” Geaux-Faust said. “This is the event for our most elite competitors, and only the best will even get a glimpse of the finish gates. Bring all your tricks and ponies because you’ll need them, racers.”
A $5,000 racer entry fee will increase payouts to the winners. Both the winning man and woman will each receive $100,000 prizes.
When reached for comment about the new event, legacy hill climb promoter Zack “Doo” Longtrack, President of the Jackson Hole Snow Grumbles said, “Glory is just going to eat everyone alive, so I guess we’ll see who survives. My money is on perennial King, Beef Vertus.”
Editor’s Note: If you’re thinking, “This is an unbelievable idea,” you’re right! Remember that today is April 1. This silly idea is just a joke. Happy April Fools’ from Buckrail!
