Stowe Mountain Heritage Race

Date: March 1, 2026; tentative 6:00 AM start at Stowe XC Center; 1:00 pm awards at Spruce Peak Lodge

The National Guard Association of Vermont, Sunrise Mountain Guides, and Stowe Mountain Rescue are stoked to announce that the Ascend to Victory skimo race is back, with a new name and amazing new race course! We’ve partnered with Stowe Resort and Spruce Peak Lodge to put together the new and improved Stowe Mountain Heritage Race! Stowe is not only the birthplace of US ski touring, but also the slopes where the visionary Minnie Dole earned his turns before going on to found the National Ski Patrol and 10th Mountain Division! Our race will pay tribute to Stowe’s contributions to the ski industry and military with an 11 mile race over 4000 feet of Stowe’s most scenic and challenging terrain.

Like last year, we’ll be inviting our splitboard friends to join in the uphill fun, along with an amateur and open category. Racers should be comfortable skiing groomed black diamond terrain. All ski equipment must be equipped with either brakes or leashes (splitboards exempt).

Our race is capped at 100 people this year and expected to fill, so don’t wait: drop the date on your calendars, drop your registration here, and then drop into the Nosedive trail on March 1st, 2026 for the Stowe Mountain Heritage Race!

Race details and coordinating instructions will be emailed following registration.

Stick on your skins and get ready to rip with us on Sunday 1 March!

Detailed Race Information – pre-race packet with all information required to prepare for the race
Race Course Map – the currently planned course map, which we will keep updated as conditions and weather evolve
Sunrise Mountain Guides Backcountry Ski Clinics – sign up here for backcountry ski clinics held on Saturday 28 February. These clinics are great for family members or friends who might be coming up with you to watch but have never skied backcountry before. Sign up and join Sunrise Mountain Guides on Saturday for a day in the Ranch Valley Backcountry. Payment is directly to Sunrise on the day of the clinic.