Have no fear, snow is almost here ... at Keystone

SUMMIT COUNTY — As yellow leaves fade to brown and that cold, almost tangy fall smell fills our noses, Summit County locals know that snow will be falling in a blink.

And that also means that Keystone Resort is gearing up for yet another ski and ride season, filled with various events like the Burton Amateur Series, the Transworld Snowboarding’s TransAM and the Volcom Peanut Butter and Rail Jam. Other fun events include the Smartwool Ski Cup, LUNA Snowshoe Race Series and the Summit Cup.

According to Katie Adamson, Keystone Resorts public relations coordinator, Keystone’s high-ranked A51 terrain park is popular with Colorado youth, especially from Summit County and the Front Range.

The resort’s event schedule reflects the popularity of the terrain park with amateur competitions featuring slopestyle and snowboarding.

The Burton Amateur Series, held from Jan. 23-25, is an A51 terrain park competition new to Keystone this year. It will feature male and female jibbers from around the country hoping for cash prizes and an invitation to the US Open.

The Smartwool Ski Cup, a speed series featuring downhill and super G on Jan. 6-10, is co-hosted by Team Summit and Keystone.

The 10th annual LUNA Snowshoe Race Series on Feb. 7 is at a new location, the Keystone Nordic Center. Prizes will be awarded for the best female and male tropical-island themed costume.

The Transworld Snowboarding’s TransAM on Feb. 21 is a grassroots, mini-slopestyle competition series for amateur snowboarders created with High Cascade Snowboard Camp.

The Summit Cup, held from Feb. 28-March 1, is an event series with both slalom and giant slalom competitions. Summit Cups, events that have been around for decades, provide a race series for kids and promote ski racing and freestyle skiing.

The Launch, held from April 7-10, is an invite-only terrain park event for kids
ages 9-15.

And Keystone’s final athletic event of the season, the Volcom Peanut Butter and Rail Jam on April 11, is a free amateur snowboard contest series put on for kids (and adults) who love snowboarding.

What’s unique about it is that it has deviated from the established way snowboard contests are run. Instead of having rails or features set up in a row, three rails are dug in side-by-each to create a single, large rail zone.

The event is free on a first come, first serve basis. It also has lots of free prizes and PB&J sandwiches.

“It’s a great way to get kids involved in sports,” Adamson said of amateur events like the TransAM and the Peanut Butter and Rail Jam. “It’s a gateway event for them and a launch for bigger things.”

For more information on Keystone events, visit www.keystoneresort.com.

Caitlin Row can be reached at (970) 668-4633 or at crow@summitdaily.com.