2400 Feet of Schweitzer

By Ben Olson
Reader Staff

Endurance skiers and snowboarders, have we got an event for you! The 2400 Feet of Schweitzer is a unique sunrise top to bottom giant slalom event that begins at the Sky House Lodge at the summit of Schweitzer Mountain and finishes at the Outback Lodge at the base of the mountain. Between start and finish, 2,400 vertical feet and nearly two and a half miles of skiing make this the longest giant slalom in the U.S. The best part? It’s all a fundraiser benefiting 24 Hours For Hank, which helps raise money for cystinosis research.

The race takes place Saturday, March 24 at Schweitzer and is open to alpine and telemark skiers, as well as snowboarders of all abilities.

Map courtesy Schweitzer Mountain Resort.

The unique format of the event will allow for passing even though the run is timed. Seeding for the race will also be unique as participant fundraising efforts will determine which seed they will start in. In other words, the top 10 fundraisers will start in the first seed and so on.

Race categories are divided in two- and four-person teams, though fundraising will be tracked at the individual level and will only count towards that individual’s start seed. Money raised until Thursday, March 22, at 5 p.m. will count for race starting position. If you bring in more than $750 in donations, you’ll also take home a 24 Hours of Schweitzer jacket.

After the race at 9 a.m., an exclusive breakfast will be served at the Outback Lodge. Following the breakfast, teams will complete several challenges around the ski resort throughout the day to gain valuable points for their overall score.

Teams will ski and ride for prizes, bragging rights and most importantly, fundraising for Cystinosis research and Hank’s future. On Saturday evening after the event there will be an awards party and auction that includes food from around the world.

This event is limited to 200 participants, with team prizes awarded for each category, as well as age prizes and top fundraiser prize. Registration fee is $125 per person, plus $100 in pledges. Each member of a team must register. Entry fees include all day lift access, an event tee-shirt, breakfast at the Outback Lodge, limited hotel discounts at the Selkirk Lodge and one ticket to the Awards Dinner and Silent Auction on Saturday night.

Visit www.24hoursforhank.org to register online, or by mail at PO Box 2564, Sandpoint, ID 83864.