Ski racing is an intense sport. It does not matter what the level of competition is or whether you’re racing, supporting a family member, or spectating – emotions always run high.

That’s because every competition is action-packed, with racers using their speed, strength, agility, and fitness to battle against the mountain, against one another, and against the clock.

From the beginning levels of the sport, with parents fully absorbed in watching, to the highest levels of national and international competitions, ski and snowboard races are fierce, fun, and filled with anticipation.

They’re also full of impact – on racers, their families, fans, the mountains, and local economies.

Like many things we don’t go out of our way to learn about, ski and snowboard racing’s impacts are not widely recognized. Yet, when one considers all the ages and levels of racing as well as the plethora of different races that happen throughout a season – many of which even regular skiers and riders never see or learn about – ski and snowboard racing’s wide array of community impacts begin to take shape.

It all begins with the variety and sheer number of competitions. That might be something of note for even one mountain or ski area, but with the Olympic Authority and its four venues, there’s definitely a lot going on.

NYSEF, NYSSRA, and USCSA Racing

The New York Ski Education Foundation (NYSEF) offers programming and competitions across all Olympic Authority ski venues, including Belleayre, Gore, Whiteface, Mt Van Hoevenberg, and the Olympic Jumping Complex. In addition to ongoing training that helps young skiers master fundamental skills and rise through the levels of their sports, they are also regularly challenged in NYSEF competitions.

The Hovey Memorial Giant Slalom event at Whiteface, now in its 62nd year, is among the biggest. It’s a long-standing tradition in youth ski racing that features many local racers yet also brings in many others who are learning ski racing at mountains around the Northeast. Past winners include two-time Olympic medalist Andrew Weibrecht and Olympians Tommy Biesemeyer, Haily Hovey Johnson, Patrician Mangan, and Dan Stripp.

At Belleayre Mountain, NYSEF will be hosting NYSSRA U14 slalom and giant slalom state championships March 7-9, 2025, and Whiteface will host the speed portion, NYSSRA U14 super giant slalom state championships February 21-23, 2025.

The New York State Ski Racing Association (NYSSRA) races attract young racers and their families to all three Olympic Authority alpine venues at intervals throughout the season. Gore and Whiteface also host USA Ski Association (USASA) races that attract NYSEF athletes of all ages. USASA is nationwide with thousands of athletes, coaches, judges, parents, and fans.

The U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) races are another series that brings alpine competitions to all three mountains and Nordic races to Mt Van Hoevenberg. These competitions attract NYSEF racers and others from around the country.

Empire State Winter Games (ESWG)

ESWG is a community-driven event made possible through a partnership between the Adirondack Sports Council and communities across the Olympic Region, the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, and our Olympic Authority.

During the three days of competition—this year, January 31 through February 2—people of all ages and abilities will make the trip to the North Country to participate in various competitions, including many alpine and Nordic ski races. There’s a ski and snowboard cross competition and a winter triathlon event.

The largest Olympic-style winter sports event in the Northeast, ESWG is another of our area’s long-standing traditions. It brings thousands of athletes, coaches, and families to our communities for healthy fun and excitement.

North Creek Ski Bowl Events

The North Creek Ski Bowl is a historic hub at Gore Mountain that hosts an annual Nordic race series known as the Citizens Series. This community-oriented gathering encourages winter fitness activities in a fun, non-competitive setting. In addition to classic and skate ski races, the series includes snowshoe events.

These professionally groomed Nordic Ski Bowl trails also host a plethora of cross-country races throughout the season, from the Mid-Atlantic Junior National Qualifier to the Lake George/Glens Falls Invitational to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Nordic Championships in late February.

Holeshot Cross Tour

Another big competition to Gore Mountain is the U.S. Ski and Snowboard’s Holeshot Cross Tour, which this year will run from February 27 through March 2, 2025. These races are specifically designed to bridge the gap between grassroots and World Cup-level Snowboard Cross and Ski Cross events. The series also brings together athletes nationwide to identify the top juniors.

It’s a tremendously exciting series of races with athletes 15 and older (Snowboard Cross) and 16 and older (Ski Cross) traveling to North Creek to compete in this open event. One aspect that makes it even more exciting is that Gore is just one of three mountains in the country selected to hold this important competition.

Lake Placid Loppet

The Loppet began in 1983 and is widely regarded as a quintessential Nordic ski celebration and a favorite among enthusiasts across the U.S. and Canada. The full day of ski race events is open to all ages and abilities, starting and finishing in Mt Van Hoevenberg’s Nordic stadium just outside its beautiful Mountain Pass Lodge.

The Loppet’s two signature races are a 50k and 25k (or Kort), both of which can be skied in classic or skate skiing techniques, each with different start times. The full day of Loppet events also offers a series of Citizens Challenge Races at distances of 12k, 6k, and 3k designed for those new to racing or experienced skiers seeking a fun community event. Any ski technique is welcome for these mass start events. Designed for friends and families eager to establish healthy traditions, these races attract hundreds of participants each year and their families.

FIS Nordic Junior Worlds

The FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships (JWSC) is an annual event that will be held at Mt Van Hoevenberg from February 11 through 16, 2025. This week of races features three Nordic skiing disciplines – cross-country, ski jumping, and Nordic combined – and is organized by the International Ski Federation (FIS).

Last year, Mt Van Hoevenberg hosted the Nordic Junior Nationals, and this year, the excitement is even higher, as this international event attracts the best young athletes in the world.

NYSPHSAA Nordic & Alpine Ski Championships

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), in addition to bringing to North Creek the previously mentioned State High School Nordic Championships, is also bringing its Alpine Championships this year to Gore Mountain on February 24 and 25. These tremendously popular races bring students and their families from across the state together, with parents, siblings, and other relatives watching intensely and cheering on their favorite racers. Like state championships in other sports, this is an opportunity for young people to grow, achieve, and create memories that last forever.

USSA SuperTour Finals

Presented by the National Nordic Foundation, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association’s SuperTour travels around the country throughout the year. It is recognized by the FIS as the Continental Cup for the U.S. This year’s grand tour will conclude with the finals held on the challenging trails at historic Mt Van Hoevenberg March 26 through 31, 2025, in conjunction with the New England Nordic Ski Association’s Eastern Cup. The week of competition includes freestyle individual racing, freestyle sprint, mixed technique racing, mixed gender relays, and a 40km classic race. Because World Cup Cross Country racing will be completed at this time, many U.S. Team athletes will join other national-level athletes in a thrilling preview of the World Championships.

Racing’s Impact

As we consider this extensive array of races and racing experiences available at Olympic Authority mountains this winter, let’s also consider the extensive array of impacts on our venues and communities. Racing is happening at all Olympic Authority ski venues, and the overall abundance of races, big and small and at all levels of competition, will bring vast numbers of spectators, athletes, coaches, and their families traveling this winter to these destinations.

The sheer number of visitors will be major. Last year, Olympic Authority facilities welcomed 1.1 million visitors, including competitors and spectators, in winter and summer. These ski events contribute significantly to that total and result in economic benefits throughout our communities, including local restaurants, hotels, retailers, and other recreation and entertainment venues.

These events attract travelers motivated primarily by an Olympic Authority venue and the race being held there. They will experience our towns and venues as they join in the excitement of the races, and their stays in our communities will surely impress them, likely also bringing them back for more in the future.

Additionally, many of these races will be highlighted in media regionally or across our state and, in some cases, beyond. That coverage adds to the interest and reputation of our venues and their communities, prompting others to make their own plans to visit.

Today’s quality of our venues, lifted by so many major improvements in recent years, places them among the most sought-after locations for these races and many other major events. In fact, the quality of Olympic Authority venues is beneficial in a great many ways, including these:

    • Attracts events of all levels
    • Boosts spectator attendance
    • Adds value to the experience for all visitors
    • Advanced snowmaking infrastructure makes hosting reliable
    • Offers the highest possible quality field of play
    • Improves athlete safety
    • Increases presence by media by making coverage easier and providing facilities of greater value to broadcasters and reporters
    • Creates a high-quality environment for athlete development at all levels
    • Provides for more environmentally sustainable operations

All of these benefits, events, and the countless people who come to participate or watch are the result of a century-old legacy of winter sport in the Olympic Region and around New York State.

Though nature made our mountains the rugged winter paradise they are, leadership and vision have transformed them into all they are today. These venues are game-changing for the athletes and coaches and their friends and families who come to spectate at these events. That’s because they offer everything needed, as well as an exciting, inspiring history that encourages athletes at all levels to dream big.

The range of ski and snowboard racing this year provides exciting opportunities for vast numbers of athletes and spectators. Throughout the year, as the athletes race against the mountain, against the clock, and one another in thrilling, action-packed events, the tremendous legacy of winter sport in our state will continue to flourish.