Loveland Derby
Encyclopedia
The Loveland Derby is the last amateur slalom
ski
race of the year that happens every year at the Loveland Ski Area
near Georgetown, Colorado
. It is the largest and oldest ski race in North America
and is put on by the Loveland Racing Club. This race is a two-day event that starts on Saturday morning around 9:30 and ends on Sunday afternoon around 4:00.
and Florida
to race. The competitors have to be at least 9 years old and there is no upper age limit as long as you have a USSA
ski-racing license. Most people come to this race because it has some of the lowest points of the year, which is good for getting a better seed for the next year. To help lower the points, varsity team members from the University of Colorado
, the University of Denver
, the University of New Mexico, and a few members from the US Ski Team compete.
attire to Mardi Gras
beads.
courses, three of which run concurrently while at normal races there are only two slalom
courses. The derby is also been around for 49 year, which makes it the oldest ski race in North America
. Another thing that distinguishes the Loveland Derby is that it is raced so late in the ski season
and there is such a festive atmosphere around the race.
Slalom skiing
Slalom is an alpine skiing discipline, involving skiing between poles spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, thereby causing quicker and shorter turns.- Origins :...
ski
Ski
A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...
race of the year that happens every year at the Loveland Ski Area
Loveland Ski Area
The Loveland Ski Area is located near the town of Georgetown, Colorado. The area is one of the closest to the Denver metropolitan area and Front Range corridor, making it popular with locals...
near Georgetown, Colorado
Georgetown, Colorado
The historic town of Georgetown is a Territorial Charter Municipality that is the county seat of Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. The former silver mining camp along Clear Creek in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains was established in 1859 during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush...
. It is the largest and oldest ski race in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and is put on by the Loveland Racing Club. This race is a two-day event that starts on Saturday morning around 9:30 and ends on Sunday afternoon around 4:00.
Competitors
There are usually around 500-600 competitors that come from all over the country to compete. Some racers even come from as far away as AlaskaAlaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
to race. The competitors have to be at least 9 years old and there is no upper age limit as long as you have a USSA
USSA
USSA may refer to:*United States Ski and Snowboard Association*United States Snooker Association*United States Sports Academy*United States of South-east Asia*United States Student Association...
ski-racing license. Most people come to this race because it has some of the lowest points of the year, which is good for getting a better seed for the next year. To help lower the points, varsity team members from the University of Colorado
Colorado Buffaloes
The University of Colorado Boulder sponsors 16 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's team are called the Buffaloes or Golden Buffaloes . "Lady Buffs" referred to the women's teams beginning in the 1970s, but was officially dropped in 1993...
, the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
, the University of New Mexico, and a few members from the US Ski Team compete.
The Courses
For this event, Loveland Valley is shut down and the race uses all of the main ski runs that Loveland Valley has to offer. Switchback is the name of the run where half of the men and all of the women compete. Twist is the name of the run where the other half of the men race. Lastly, Double-Dip is the run where the younger aged 9–12 boys and girls race.The Costumes
Although people come from all around the US for the chance at lowering their points, they also come for the fun. Since it is the last race of the year there is a lot of celebration that goes on. People dress up in costumes for the day and will even race in them. Costumes range from grass skirts, to superheroes, to cowboyCowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
attire to Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
beads.
Distinctions
There are many things that set Loveland Derby apart from other competitions. It is the biggest race with around 600 competitors while other races only have around 150 competitors. Also, there are five separate slalomSlalom skiing
Slalom is an alpine skiing discipline, involving skiing between poles spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, thereby causing quicker and shorter turns.- Origins :...
courses, three of which run concurrently while at normal races there are only two slalom
Slalom skiing
Slalom is an alpine skiing discipline, involving skiing between poles spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, thereby causing quicker and shorter turns.- Origins :...
courses. The derby is also been around for 49 year, which makes it the oldest ski race in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Another thing that distinguishes the Loveland Derby is that it is raced so late in the ski season
Ski season
A ski season is a period of time when skiing, snowboarding and other alpine sports are viable in an alpine resort. The season, in reality, corresponds to when ski lifts are running and lift passes are available. Depending on the latitude and altitude of the resort, the season will typically run...
and there is such a festive atmosphere around the race.