The Sun Valley Telemark Series is marking a milestone in 2005—its 25th consecutive year as the longest-running telemark series in the country.
Series organizers call it the "America's oldest and boldest."
It evolved from the original three-pin downhill series and "Pins of Fear," of the 1970s on Baldy. This winter, the series has five events on Baldy, Dollar Mountain, Soldier Mountain and Hailey's Rotarun.
Besides telemarkers, snowboarders are welcome to participate. No alpine is allowed.
The first event is the Smith Sport Optics classic all-terrain race Saturday, Jan. 8 on Baldy. Registration is from 8:30-10 a.m. in Warm Springs Lodge, with racing at 10:30 a.m. Racers can get discounted lift tickets.
Race director Danny Walton said, "This race incorporates terrain that a skier would encounter on a typical day on Baldy, from bumps to GS to slalom, and it's a lot of fun."
The Rotarun Ripper is slated for Friday, Feb. 11 at the hill west of Hailey. The Leif's Combined for Nordic and telemark is Saturday, Feb. 19 on Baldy and at Sun Valley Nordic Touring Center.
The Bob Marley's Birthday Reggae Race sponsored by Black Diamond and Scott USA and the All-Terrain Telemark Powder 8s race sponsored by Tully's is Sunday, Feb. 20 at Soldier Mountain, Fairfield.
The Kavu Dollar Mountain giant slalom Sunday, March 6.
The infamous Hawaiian Nationals sponsored by Marmot and the Tandem Telemark Challenge sponsored by Backwoods Mountain Sports and D.L. Evans Bank is set for Saturday, March 26 on Baldy.
This year's race series is proud to benefit Expedition Inspiration, the Sun Valley Adaptive Sports Program, the Galena Backcountry Ski Patrol, Avalanche Hotline and Education for Avalanche Awareness.
Last winter's race series helped raise $4,000 for charity.
The Sun Valley Telemark Race Series is non-profit and depends on sponsorship and race entries for support.
Series sponsors are Guinness, the Sun Valley/Ketchum Chamber & Visitor Bureau, Atomic and Sentinel Fire and Security. For more details, visit sunvalleytele.org.
